Into the Tunnel (co-DM SteveK) Wednesday January 8th, 2014 8:34:37 PM Bosk heals Anrete fully and the barbarian takes his smiling face to near the front of the group, but only Garrett ventures into the cave to see what he can see, smell, hear, or taste. So the little Halfling is first, followed by Anrete, but the others are still somewhat in a jumble at the tunnel entrance.
Beri does indeed turn himself into an Earth Elemental. Because the experienced man of nature can use his Wildshape as an Elemental Body II spell, he still has some decisions to make: small or medium elemental? Both have their advantages depending on the intent of the druid. (with EB II, it is the caster's choice)
Restlin has a sword, but laughs at himself; he KNOWS he is no melee warrior!
Sesha pats her Broom and contemplates that summoning spells may be worth something down under the Wold.
....................................
Garrett can sense a large body of water somewhere nearby down the tunnel. The smells and echoes are pretty clear to the little man even if he can't see: the tunnel is pitch dark. Only Beri and Sesha has Darkvision to observe things even 60 feet ahead of them!
Sesha looks at the sun and realizes it has been 30 minutes since the Iron Adventurers cast their original defensive spells at the glade of trees before they ever went into the canyon. And she may be in what might be disbelief as she reckons 10 minutes have passed since they won the battle at the forts (taking into account time chasing Mahlice and returning, interrogations, healing, and looting.)
There is a feeling of anticipation, that Khar can't be too far away, and that the Spear and Cauldron may yet be turned back towards their useful purposes and not corrupted to evil... but time grows short!
....................................Notes
1. Anyone can nominate Hero Points to the DM; I would love hearing the reasoning of the heroic deeds! :-)
2. Time: Since Grove: 30 minutes (many spells are expired!) Since Battle: 10 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 1 round
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Wednesday January 8th, 2014 10:23:06 PM
OOC: Sorry, forgot to mention Gloomy grants me darkvision 60'. I also have permanent see invisible cast on me.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Thursday January 9th, 2014 5:41:40 PM
ooc: Bosk's Dark Vision is still active for another 5 hrs and 30 mins.
Into the Tunnel (co-DM SteveK) Thursday January 9th, 2014 7:34:38 PM
Sesha, Beriothian, Restlin, and Bosk all can see 60' with Darkvision, and this lets them see a damp tunnel 20 feet wide, 30 feet tall, and going into the side of the mountain.
Restlin's See Invisibility doesn't note anything more than Sesha, Beri, or Bosk.
Garrett, however, while he can't see a thing because of the darkness, has felt the damp, and the smell of more water, and the sound of an echoing cavern of water somewhere ahead. The little man knows the Tunnel leads somewhere...
....................................Notes
DM Hint: Highlight to display spoiler: {Garrett is the only hero who has rolled any skill or Perception rolls, and so is the only one who can notice anything other than obvious generalities. Still, with such a high roll (Perception: 40!) the monk has learned all there can be to learn from the entrance of the Tunnel. To stop Khar Avon from becoming a lich and recovering the Cauldron of Ma'ab and the Spear of Eberyon, the Iron Adventurers will have to go inside and seek him out.}
Time: Since Grove: 30 minutes (many spells are expired!) Since Battle: 10 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 1 round
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Thursday January 9th, 2014 8:18:20 PM
Garret looks back to the others and says, "Looks like a nice place for a bad guy to live. Let's go see if anyone is home!" With that he turns and starts working his way carefully down the tunnel.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells d20+14=26 ; Thursday January 9th, 2014 8:50:41 PM
As Bosk peers into the gloom he whispers to the others, make sure those who can't see have a torch or light of some sort. I have a flint and steel in addition to some oil, if it will help.
Perception = 26
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+21=24 ; Thursday January 9th, 2014 9:12:05 PM
Beriothian moves along with the others, scanning as best he can for any that seems out of place. Hopefully there will be no surprises along the way, though with each step he becomes slightly more paranoid from the lack of danger. He makes a special note to glance at the ceiling as he goes, both to look for traps and to avoid hitting his head on anything and making noise (since he's not quite used to being this size).
perception=24
ooc:as a druid you don't need to keep track of my wild shape time, the effect lasts for 1 hour per druid level so I'm good for 10 hours.
spell list 0 (4)- Detect Magic, Light, Create Water, stabilize 1 (6)- *Elf Vision, obscuring mist, Faerie Fire, Entangle, cure light wounds x3 2 (6)- *Faerie Fire, Fog Cloud, Warp Wood x2, Flaming Sphere(x2) 3 (5)- *Glibness, Sleet Storm, Greater Magic Fang, Spike Growth, stone shape, Daylight 4 (5)- *Lesser Planar Ally, Spike Stones x2, Freedom of Movement, Air Walk x0 5 (3)- *Awaken Spells with * are Fey domain spells (and not included in spell counts)
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20+12=22 ; Thursday January 9th, 2014 10:32:54 PM
Restlin peers into the dark and listens for any clues as to what may be ahead (Perception: 22). If he's lost concentration, he'll recast Detect Magic again and continue scanning the way ahead for any auras.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Friday January 10th, 2014 3:21:05 PM
Sesha makes note of the room and also casts a spell, one that reduces her size substantially. She winks at Garret and stands back to back with the monk, tip-toeing to reach even height.
"If not for the white hair and crazy black skin I've got someone might take us as siblings!"
She then recites a little spell that's often brought her a bit of luck.
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+15=26 ; Friday January 10th, 2014 7:10:25 PM
"Anrete can't see a thing! Anrete taking out torch?"
-------------------------------- Perception: 26
Into the Tunnel (co-DM SteveK) Friday January 10th, 2014 8:18:45 PM Beriothian has become a Large Earth Elemental (ooc: knowing that he can have chosen to be Medium or Small when he first used the Wild Shape. Please annotate Beri's Wild Shape bonus' for Elemental Body III as a Large Elemental.) He looks carefully with his Darkvision but can't see anything dangerous. He moves along with the others.
Bosk calls for light for those who can't see. Anrete takes out a torch and the minotaur successfully lights it, giving off bright light for 20 feet and 20 more feet of shadowy light (so the ceiling is in shadows. Once that is done, they follow the group.
Restlin takes the time to cast Detect Magic, knowing he will have to maintain concentration of the cantrip and that he will have to take a little time to study an area to actually see any magic. (ooc: see spell area, duration, and description.) He follows the group and the speed of the others doesn't let Restlin to stop and take a detection.
Sesha turns herself small and gets up to Garrett, playfully commenting that she is now alike enough to be, well, very distantly related in some unusual fashion! :-) As Garrett was the one who went ahead, it is actually the Monk and Witch that lead the group down the damp tunnel! Sesha can see 60 feet ahead, but Garrett can only see 30 feet before the dim light of Anrete's single torch is swallowed in the darkness.
With no marching order, the group is led by Garrett and Sesha in a sort of Brownian movement, watching for the shadows or rock ceiling, or traps to reach out and attack the Iron Adventurers...
Yet nothing happens. Sesha is the first one that can see the vast underground lake after 10 minutes of walking. Soon the group is on a gravel-and-stone ledge only a foot above its dark and cold waters, a hollow drip, drip, drip from some water falling into the lake. There is no light other than Anrete's single torch, but echoing across is a susurrus that sounds like a living thing, but so far away that nothing more can be discerned.
............................
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Friday January 10th, 2014 9:14:21 PM
Garret looks out over the water and kicks a pebble into the water. He looks over at the witch and says, "Can that broom of yours turn into a boat, or do you want to start flying us all across this thing?"
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20+14=32 ; Saturday January 11th, 2014 5:30:26 AM
Restlin wonders if this is more illusionary terrain. He pulls his dagger and swishes the water a bit, all the while looking for auras.
Will: 32
If it is real...
"Well...that's water all right. I can levitate and get pulled along behind Sesha's broom. That should speed things up."
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+21=37 ; d20+1=12 ; Sunday January 12th, 2014 8:16:21 PM
Staring into the darkness the large earth elemental scans the area. He pays close attention to where the dripping is coming from, trying to determine if it's a natural and harmless formation, or whether it's man made and possible something more sinister.
Images flash through his mind of the last trapped pool of water they came across, with a reverse gravity force throwing them towards the spike's on the ceiling, the water itself blocked by some sort of force field. Is this what eventually happens to adventurers, that every thing of beauty is instantly viewed upon with suspicion? Perhaps there is no choice, the alternative would be to allow yourself to blindly run towards your death.
perception=37 knowledge (dungeroneering)=12
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Sunday January 12th, 2014 9:41:05 PM
ooc: Bosk said he would be 2nd in marching order on 01/7/14
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells d20+14=31 ; d20+14=30 ; Sunday January 12th, 2014 10:29:09 PM
Bosk walk cautiously as he scans the area for danger, making sure to check in every direction including the ceiling and flying in the air. As he walks he draws his weapon...waiting.
Perception = 31 Perception, check for traps = 30
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Sunday January 12th, 2014 10:36:25 PM
ooc: and I'll take rear to not block people's view
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Monday January 13th, 2014 8:55:54 PM
Checking in. Anyone seen our DM?
co-DM STeveK: why yes :-) yes I have!
Hey everyone, need to give you my Real Life status update. I moved to Maryland to start a new job, and now only have woldiangames access at night when I get home. So posts are going to be late at night on Monday-Friday. I will make sure there is 24 hours between posts.
Hope everyone will enjoy the conclusion of "the Sword and the Spear", and we may want to refresh knowledge gotten from Ma'ab's Temple at the party with Torm and also from the Monks at Wayfarer. It may just be important...
Into the Tunnel (co-DM SteveK) Monday January 13th, 2014 8:59:49 PM Garret looks out over the water and kicks a pebble into the water, suggesting a way to cross.
Restlin looks and sees that the water is not illusionary terrain. He pulls his dagger and swishes the water a bit, all the while looking for auras.
Beriothian stares into the darkness, occasionally seeing drips from the ceiling into the water below; a natural and harmless formation. If he laments of innocence lost, the stony druid makes no outward sign.
Bosk walks right behind Garrett and Sesha (ooc: thanks! I missed that) and cautiously scans the area for danger. There is no movement or traps that the great minotaur is aware of on the surface, of the water, walls, ceilings, or flying in the air.
Anrete keeps his torch in one hand and the barbarian stays silent.
............................
The dark water is undisturbed except by Restlin's dagger and Garrett's stone. Aside from the dripping, Beriothian and Bosk both hear from somewhere over the water in the darkness, the sound of... well, not really sure, but it could be... chanting.
............................
Each hero gets 10,300xp and 1 Hero Point (for unorthodox tactics) from the last fight!
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 1 round
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday January 13th, 2014 9:25:33 PM
Beri turns his head in the direction of the my and points silently. He holds off a moment to see what the others will do since he doesn't want to start casting a spell and bring the enemies upon them before they are all ready.
spell list 0 (4)- Detect Magic, Light, Create Water, stabilize 1 (6)- *Elf Vision, obscuring mist, Faerie Fire, Entangle, cure light wounds x3 2 (6)- *Faerie Fire, Fog Cloud, Warp Wood x2, Flaming Sphere(x2) 3 (5)- *Glibness, Sleet Storm, Greater Magic Fang, Spike Growth, stone shape, Daylight 4 (5)- *Lesser Planar Ally, Spike Stones x2, Freedom of Movement, Air Walk x0 5 (3)- *Awaken Spells with * are Fey domain spells (and not included in spell counts)
ooc: Please do not shout out a spell and alert them of our presence before we are all ready... not that we do that every other fight :)
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Tuesday January 14th, 2014 8:41:40 AM
OOC: I don't think stealth is an option at this point...
Restlin is out of spells and tricks that will get everyone across the water. He can levitate and get pulled behind, but that's about it.
"It's going to take forever for Sesha to ferry us across. We probably don't have forever. I mean, I'm not one to rush headlong into danger (previous combat aside, obviously), but if we take our time we're going to be facing a lich, not a wizard. We can always just swim, though some of you metal clad folks may not think that's a great idea.
"Maybe there's a boat somewhere, or maybe we can go knock that door off its hinges and use it as a raft. Actually, I like that idea. It was a wooden door, right? Bosk, you're all big and enlarged right now. Could you rip it off it's hinges or something? Heck...I bet that hobgoblin shack up there has tables we can turn into rafts if we hurry. Caius and I can go check it out!"
The wizard grabs the warrior and heads back quickly as he can...which isn't that fast since he's still sooooooo tired from that stupid ray.
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+15=21 ; Tuesday January 14th, 2014 8:44:54 AM
Anrete slot his everburning torch over his shoulder, and free his arm as he examines his surrounding.
------------------------------------------------------------------ ooc: Anrete takes out his everburning torch previously.
Perception: 21
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] d20+4=7 ; Tuesday January 14th, 2014 4:17:13 PM
Sesha is ready to ferry folks, but at Restlins suggestion lets the idea drop.
She does peer into the darkness, but is far more interested in her new fun-size to spend much time on scouting.
[Perception: 7]
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+20=23 ; Tuesday January 14th, 2014 7:22:54 PM
Garret scouts up and down the edges of the shoreline for any sign of a boat, raft, or other way that others may have crossed the water into the darkness while the others run back for a makeshift raft.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Tuesday January 14th, 2014 7:23:10 PM
(Oh, and that was a perception roll: 23).
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Tuesday January 14th, 2014 8:09:19 PM
Bosk quickly goes through his inventory. 4 ladders, a 39.5ft pole, a chain, and a 10ft pole. Not sure what to do Bosk takes the 39.5t pole and checks the water depth.
Underground Pool (co-DM SteveK) Tuesday January 14th, 2014 9:08:42 PM
Ideas come up and out until Bosk finds he actually has a 39.5 foot pole... wow, someone was a grinch for yuletide!
Anyways, the minotaur finds the water is only 4 to 5 feet deep. The variation in depth is because the cavern floor is uneven under the water.
Anrete tucks his Everburning Torch in a convenient strap allowing BOTH of his hands to be free to do... whatever. And since the 'torch' doesn't burn, it is an easy solution!
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 2 round
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Tuesday January 14th, 2014 9:33:06 PM
ooc: I wanted to remind you again that as a level 10 druid Beri keeps his form for 10 hours... don't want to unexpectedly shift in the middle of the fight :)
ooc: SteveK: just for that, I will make sure Beri walks into an anti-magic field and turns back! :-)
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20+2=5 ; Wednesday January 15th, 2014 4:56:08 PM
Restlin turns around when he finds out how shallow the water is.
"Hey Bosk, can I borrow that 10 foot pole? I don't trust myself not to drown right now."
Using his boots of levitation to levitate 2" up, he'll push himself over the water using that pole...assuming Bosk isn't stingy and lets him borrow it.
"Garret, if you'd like to ride piggy back I think I can handle ferrying you across. The rest of you all need to lay off the sweetcakes for a while before thinking about it."
***
That leave Caius, Bosk, Anrete, and Beri w/o a means over. Beri's an easy fix since he can burrow under it or just turn into a water elemental. Bosk will only be waist deep. That leaves two metal-armor clad adventurers.
***
Caius rushes back out and looks for anything that can be used to float across the lake on. A table, a door, anything.
Perception = 5...hopefully it's obvious.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Wednesday January 15th, 2014 6:47:55 PM
Garret agrees to climb up on Restlin and turns back to the smaller Sesha, "Hey, does that broom still work for you being a little person?"
Underground Pool (co-DM SteveK) Wednesday January 15th, 2014 7:35:16 PM
Restlin uses levitation and borrowing Bosk's long pole to push himself (and Garrett perched on his shoulders) across the pool. If anything bad happens, Garrett is going to have to be off of Restlin or thier actions may interfere with concentration and ability to fight...
The others stay on shore, waiting.
..................................
Khar Avon Cave Restlin and Garrett are 10 feet across the pool.
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 3 round
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Wednesday January 15th, 2014 9:00:36 PM
Sesha scowls and sucks in her tummy.
"Honestly Mage Priest. You think I'm letting you go alone again?"
She unhooks and broom and grabs glides forward alongside the other two.
"Casters up front, Melee in the back behind the big bog of doom. Sounds like a solid tactic..."
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Wednesday January 15th, 2014 9:18:22 PM
"Alone? I'm not alone? Garret's with me, see? Just because he's little doesn't mean he doesn't count, doll."
Restlin grins stupidly, but waits for Sesha and the others before proceeding further.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells d20+14=25 ; d20+14=18 ; Wednesday January 15th, 2014 10:50:59 PM
ooc: Sorry about the missed post. For some reason I was thinking I had until 10:00
Bosk is unsure how safe the water is, but unable to come up with a better solution he activates his magic headband and grows even larger (cast enlarge person on self) so he can move more easily through the deep water. He then pulls out another potion of enlarge person and reduce person and offers it to any of the others stuck on shore if they need them to help cross. Cautiously enters the pool, prepared to quickly jump out should it turn out to be acid or something unpleasant. If it appears safe he will offer to carry the others on his back or in his arms.
Perception = 25 Perception to look for traps = 18
ooc: Bosk now takes up 15 cubic feet, Huge sized and tall (15ft reach, 30 with reach weapon)
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 Thursday January 16th, 2014 3:34:43 AM
"Thanks Bosk.", Anrete accepts the offers and gulps the potion, before waddling into the water.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Thursday January 16th, 2014 9:17:18 AM
Caius will take Bosk's offer of a ride over the water should it prove safe.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Thursday January 16th, 2014 8:17:54 PM
Garret glances back at the suddenly huge Bosk and says to Restlin, "Perhaps we should let the huge one lead the way."
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Thursday January 16th, 2014 9:23:49 PM
Assuming the ground is rock Beri will keep his form. With his current size and weight he should be able to walk across a stone floor no problem. However, if the ground is mud Beri will transform into a large earth elemental and fly across.
ooc: technically an anti-magic field still wouldn't give you a need to track the rounds Beri has been an elemental :)
ooc: SteveK: OK, ya got me there. :-) The timing is not specifically tracking Beri's duration, but to give the Players and Heroes a sense of how much time has elapsed since they have been in the Tunnel.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Thursday January 16th, 2014 9:44:45 PM
Bosk nods and takes the lead.
Underground Pool (co-DM SteveK) Friday January 17th, 2014 6:12:08 AM
Ooc. Sorry. Fell asleep. Posting next tonight.
Underground Pool (co-DM SteveK) d20+10=27 ; d20+10=13 ; d20+10=13 ; d20+10=12 ; d20+10=25 ; d20+10=11 ; Friday January 17th, 2014 5:26:17 PM Sesha scowls at the Mage Priest as she gets her broom and teases the others about the tactics of having the casters lead...
Restlin can give just as good as he takes, grinning stupidly at his own antics, and waits for the others before proceeding further.
Bosk can't come up with a better solution than growing even larger and walking through the liquid. His active imagination is proved exaggerated as he enters the pool and learns that it is just ... water. The minotaur takes the lead and wades towards where the chanting was coming.
Anrete thanks Bosk as the barbarian accepts the offer of an Enlarge potion before waddling into the water.
ooc: Is Caius still with the group?
Garret glances back at the suddenly huge Bosk and rethinks leading the way. (ooc: what an understatement! :-)
Beriothian keeps his form, the floor of the underground lake is solid rock. The large earth elemental walks across a stone floor no problem.
..................................
The heroes move deeper into the damp cavern, the sloshing of water from the three Large (and Huge) heroes echoing around the chamber and making it hard to hear. (All have -10 penalty on Perception for hearing). The immediate effect is that the heroes can no longer hear the chanting...
The only real light continues to be Anrete's Everburning Torch and the barbarian and Garrett can only see within a 40 foot circle of Anrete. All the other heroes have Darkvision and can see 60 feet from their location. The pool ends in a dry tunnel that continues into the mountain, but Bosk has other concerns.
Bosk, plowing through the water like a juggernaut is most of the way across the black water, when animated corpses erupt out of the depths, their bloated forms strong and grasping! As cautious as the heroes are, they are hardly surprised, but the water concealed the undead so well that the guardians are on top of Bosk and Anrete!
Four try and grab Bosk and two are on the barbarian, but they can't connect to the well-protected heroes!
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 6 rounds
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Friday January 17th, 2014 9:21:44 PM
OOC: Caius is riding the very large Bosk at the moment. I'll keep playing him until it's time for him to move on.
DM SteveK - Caius has agreed to guard the tunnel entrance to make sure no one sneaks up on the Iron Adventurers. :-) Easy exit.
Restlin watches the water zombies rise and start...flailing about ineffectually?
"What is this? You think these are zombies? RESTLIN THE WIZARD KNOWS ZOMBIES. These are just...bloated corpses who don't know when they're outclassed."
The MagePriest reaches up and grabs offers a hand to Garret, giving him leverage to attack these things. When he does, Restlin gives the halfling a bit of his luck.
***
Bit o' luck domain power to Garret: Any D20 during this round can be rolled twice. He can choose which result he uses.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] d100=66 ; Saturday January 18th, 2014 12:07:23 AM
Dubious of these creatures do any real physical harm to Bosk or Anrete, Sesha casts a small cantrip which detects poisons, trying to see if there are any secondary threats within these undead.
[Ley roll 66 = Success]
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+20=35 ; d20+14=26 ; d20+14=22 ; 2d6+1=10 ; Saturday January 18th, 2014 9:27:38 AM
Garret takes a glance up the cave (Perception 35) just to be sure the group isn't being ambushed, then attempts to use the leverage of Restlin and strikes out towards a nearby zombie (Attack 26. Yes, with the re-roll! If it hits: 10 dam).
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Saturday January 18th, 2014 10:16:25 AM
ooc: Bosk cast hide from undead on himself and the group. The spell has 30 minutes left.
ooc: DMSteveK - Sorry about that, but Bosk doesn't have the Hide from Undead Spell posted in his post, either in the name or "below the line". The DM can't remember everything without help from the Players, I'm sure you understand.
The attack stands.
Securing the Compound XPs (Co-DM JonathanT) Sunday January 19th, 2014 6:51:00 PM
OOC: Sorry to but in here but it has been long overdue. SteveK has been real busy so I'm jumping in to give out the XPs for the last scene.
Here's the summary of xps: 10,300 xps each - counting only the 6 PCs that finished the battle (it was only 6, right?). This includes all the monsters, the four leaders (including Mahlice), the obstacles (illusion trap, walls, etc.), and role-play. Also, each one gets 1 Hero Point for their bravery, unorthodox tactics, and what-not during the battle. (That's just 1(one) hero point, not one for braver, one for etc.) :)
I loved the way you guys used resourcefulness to pull yourselves together and overcome the obstacles. I do regret that not all the things your tried worked, but I was extremely relieved that you kept your mental faculties and found work-arounds.
Those things that you tried that didn't work all that well, be assured that it at least kept your oponents busy and unable to do worse. :) I would list the Hero Point Action Award of each but you know what you did. You either healed, killed, or became a thorn in the enemy's tuckus. It all counted for your victory as a group. And it certainly was an extremely tough one.
I've already listed the magical loot, which you have already taken. Presumably, if you survive, or for those that do survive, you'll do a more detailed search of the compound on your way out. So the GP loot will be given out then.
I'm sorry for any weirdness, mis-interpretation of rules, and rule adjustments I inadvertently or purposely made to keep the game flowing but it was all with the intent to be to your benefit as a whole.
If there is still anything that puzzles you that you'd like to ask about, feel free and I'll do my best to explain.
Good luck vs Khar, and may the Force be with you. :)
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Sunday January 19th, 2014 6:57:07 PM
ooc: I know the attack still stands, but will my spell work next round, or must I use my pearl of power and recast it?
DMSteveK: Yes, Bosk will still have the Hide v Undead work next round. Zombies are unintelligent (even as strong as these happen to be) so they will not get a saving throw to overcome the spell. Be aware - If any warded creature attempts to channel positive energy, turn or command undead, touches an undead creature, or attacks any creature (even with a spell), the spell ends for all recipients.
James Dietz posting for Will / Beri AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday January 20th, 2014 1:02:06 AM
The large elemental can hardly believe it when the zombies pop out the the depths and attack the group. Quickly the elemental glides forward and casts detect magic in the direction the chanting was coming from in hopes that he can spot any trouble heading their way before it reaches the group.
James Dietz posting for Will / Beri AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+12=32 ; d20+12=18 ; 3d8+6=19 ; d20+10=23 ; 3d8+6=18 ; d20+10=17 ; 2d6+3=11 ; d20+9=15 ; 2d6+3=9 ; d20+5=16 ; 3d8+6=20 ; d20+10=11 ; Monday January 20th, 2014 2:00:57 AM
Bosk is shocked to see the zombies pop out of the water despite having had cast hide form undead on the group earlier, and he assumes that they must be responding to the waves in the water rather than tot he group itself. As they spring forth from the ground the cleric's death watch kicks in and instantly recognizes them as undead, unfortunately the spell did nothing to help reveal their presence when they were out of sight. (are these zombies special to be able to move and attack in one round?)
He then thanks Gargul that he cast Magic Circle against evil and the both him and all party members within 10 feet of him are protected. If the zombies were summoned they cannot physically touch the cleric or anyone within the circle unless attacked first (see protection from evil)!!!
The Grim Avenger immediately falls back to his training, taking advantage of his dark vision, natural reach, and blind fighting ability. With a blindingly fast swing the cleric buries his sword deep into Skeleton #3 (natural 20). He then follows up on attacking the zombie until its life force is returned to Gargul for judgement, at which point it will switch targets. (If #3 is defeated move to #5. If defeated move to 4, 6, 2,1 in order).
Actions ------------------------ AoO - Hit #3 With Bastard Sword for AC 33 (natural 20, confirm crit 19) for 19 dmg (32 if crit) (Bosk has bind flight, reach, etc) Atk With Bastard Sword, Hit #3 for AC 23 for 18 dmg Atk With With Armor Spike, Hit AC 17 for 11 dmg Atk With Natural Weapon / Horn. Hit #3 for AC 15 for 9 dmg 2nd atk with Bastard Sword hit AC 16 for 20 dmg 2nd Off hand atk for improved twf , hit AC 11 (Natural 1, Fail)
Active Spells:
Nemesis Insight -- 5 hrs 30 min Chill Touch -- 6 Charges Death Watch -- Permanent Dark Vision -- 5 hrs 30 min Long Strider -- 5 hrs 30 min Ghost Touch -- Permanent Magic Circle against evil -- 30min Hide from Undead -- 30 min
Spell List: Legacy Item: Death Watch (Permanent ), Feather Fall (Once Daily at CL 1) (used -Darkvision) Domain: True Strike, Locate object (Fly used already) Level 0:, Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison Chill Touch Active w/ 6 charges Level 1: Divine Favor, Protection from Evil, Detect Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (Hide from undead used) Level 2: Silence, (Summon Monster II, Consecrate, Nemesis Insight used) Level 3: Dispel Magic (Summon Monster III and Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law used)
Special Agile Feet - 3 Uses Left Chill Touch - 6 Charges Left No Channel Energy Left Pearl of Power - NOT used yet Two weapons have poison applied: BLUE WHINNIS poison to his left horn cap and MEDIUM SPIDER VENOM to his flail
Dark Walk - No uses left (I used it twice and am assuming "one minute per level" is referring to Grim levels, not total levels for number of uses)
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+15=21 ; d20+10=15 ; d20+5=13 ; 3d6+20=36 ; 3d6+20=31 ; 3d6+20=30 ; Monday January 20th, 2014 8:48:57 AM
Mildly surprised by the undeads, Anrete swiftly draws his cake-cutter and hack wildly at the puny undeads.
---------------------------- Quick draw 2h-sword Power Attack 1 @ 1: AB21 DMG36 Power Attack 2 @ 1: AB15 DMG 31 Power Attack 3 @ 1: AB13 DMG 30
---------------------------------------------- Rage left (12/25 rounds) Enlarged (?? rounds): +2 Str -2 Dex -1 AC -1 AB
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Monday January 20th, 2014 11:57:42 AM
Garret watches with awe as Anrete hacks and slashes all around.
Underground Undead Pool (co-DM SteveK) Monday January 20th, 2014 2:19:48 PM
OOC: Hey Everyone! I think we need to reset for a round.
I have just reminded everyone that Jon and I will not normally re-set for anything other than death of a PC or mission failure. However, something simple as this Hide from Undead has great repercussions for the near, near future, and I think it would be best for everyone to be on the same sheet of music.
1. Hide from Undead can be cast on 1 person per level, and Bosk has cast it on all heroes in the party.
2. Unintelligent undead (like... water zombies) do not get a saving throw.
3. If ANY warded creature attempts to channel positive energy, turn or command undead, touches an undead creature, or attacks any creature (even with a spell), the spell ends for all recipients.
Sooo... the Iron Adventurers will be able to walk through the water zombies without them being aware of the IA as long as no one touches or attacks.
The heroes move deeper into the damp cavern, the sloshing of water from the three Large (and Huge) heroes echoing around the chamber and making it hard to hear. (All have -10 penalty on Perception for hearing). The immediate effect is that the heroes can no longer hear the chanting...
The only real light continues to be Anrete's Everburning Torch and the barbarian and Garrett can only see within a 40 foot circle of Anrete. All the other heroes have Darkvision and can see 60 feet from their location. The pool ends in a dry tunnel that continues into the mountains.
Bosk, plowing through the water like a juggernaut is most of the way across the black water, when animated corpses erupt out of the depths, their bloated forms grasping at the air. It is imediately apparent to every hero that the zombies do NOT see the heroes. Further, with a little clever movement, the heroes will be able to avoid touching them and continue out of the water with the Hide from Undead spell intact.
.................................
Water Zombies AC15 1 2 3 4 5 6
Khar Avon Cave
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 6 rounds
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Monday January 20th, 2014 2:27:18 PM
Garret blinks as he looks again at the undead. He whispers, "Keep going, I don't think they see us."
Underground Undead Pool (co-DM SteveK) Monday January 20th, 2014 2:49:03 PM
Just a reminder - now that there is a reset, all Players can get the current active effects on a 'below the line' for their PC Post. :-)
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Monday January 20th, 2014 3:37:06 PM
Restlin nods & carefully maneuvers his pole around the undead. Last time he tangled with zombies he almost had his face taken off. He's pretty sure he could take one now, but doesn't feel like finding out.
It's rough going for the wizard. All he wants is a nap in his nice, overstuffed mattress back home. He tries to push the thoughts aside and carry on.
***
Current spells: Mage armor
Persistent effects: Darkvision 60', see invisible
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Monday January 20th, 2014 4:44:41 PM
ooc: I might be wrong, but I think channel positive energy would only effect the undead if they are targeted. If channel energy is used to heal us it does not effect the undead, and damaging undead does not heal party members in the same radius.
As the bloated forms rise out of the water and grasp wildly at the air the cleric offers up a silent prayer of thanks to the god of life and death that his hide from dead spell appears to be working. After all the times their enemy has based their attacks off previous encounters with the group to render them ineffective, it is nice to finally be on the other end of the equation. In truth, he was a little disappointed when there were no undead waiting for them at the wall.
Quickly he recalls all he knows about the lich ceremony. The best time to perform the ceremony is at 2:00 during the eclipse. That should still give them some time, however the cleric has no idea what will happen if he tries to perform the ceremony earlier. In the Book of Three is written that the Cauldron and the Spear are two of a set of three magic items closely associated with the primal Powers of Maab and Eberyon. The Cauldron is a symbol of life, like Maab's womb and the female Power, and sustains with food and can even bring the dead back to life. But Maab also has a darker side, and sages have speculated that the Cauldron's magic could be perverted to create unlife. The Spear of Eberyon can penetrate any armor or shield, an obvious reference of the male Power. Again, sages in the Book of Three have speculated that the Spear can also pierce metaphysical and mystical barriers. Together, they can provide great boons to the community in the light, or, on the darkest day in the year, to set aside the normal progression of life and death.
As the undead move about him he looks at the zombies and makes note of their condition (are they in fact undead or under a spell making them just appear that way)....suddenly a terrible thought occurs to him and he recalls the debate at Torm's feast, The very land could be influenced by evil -- desecrated by the land's ruler who summoned outsiders to defeat his enemies, fighting battle after bloody battle, murdering innocents and torturing captives in the blistering heat of the day -- until these acts begin to affect the desert itself. As he watches the water spit forth the waterlogged abominations the comment that earlier seemed so theoretical and abstract now sits tearing and boring into his mind...This is the site where Eberone was so long imprisoned...The Wold's Cradle...
Actions If no one objects Bosk will continue 60 ft in the direction he heard the chanting coming from. (I believe that is East and that all party members can keep up with that pace. If not, I will go the pace of the slowest in the group towards the sound of the chanting while avoiding the zombies so as to leave my spell intact.
Active Spells:
Nemesis Insight -- 5 hrs 30 min Chill Touch -- 6 Charges Death Watch -- Permanent Dark Vision -- 5 hrs 30 min Long Strider -- 5 hrs 30 min Ghost Touch -- Permanent Magic Circle against evil -- 30min Hide from Undead -- 30 min
Spell List: Legacy Item: Death Watch (Permanent ), Feather Fall (Once Daily at CL 1) (used -Darkvision) Domain: True Strike, Locate object (Fly used already) Level 0:, Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison Chill Touch Active w/ 6 charges Level 1: Divine Favor, Protection from Evil, Detect Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (Hide from undead used) Level 2: Silence, (Summon Monster II, Consecrate, Nemesis Insight used) Level 3: Dispel Magic (Summon Monster III and Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law used)
Special Agile Feet - 3 Uses Left Chill Touch - 6 Charges Left No Channel Energy Left Pearl of Power - NOT used yet Two weapons have poison applied: BLUE WHINNIS poison to his left horn cap and MEDIUM SPIDER VENOM to his flail
Dark Walk - No uses left (I used it twice and am assuming "one minute per level" is referring to Grim levels, not total levels for number of uses)
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday January 20th, 2014 8:18:16 PM
ooc: Thanks for posting for me yesterday Bosk.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday January 20th, 2014 10:48:46 PM
Beriothian walks along carefully, a little unsettled by the undead just ignoring them. This isn't the first time the Iron Adventurers were in this situation, however last time it was a trap. Beri had barely managed to get open up a door in a poisoned room to allow for their escape when he heard shouts that the trap had been sprung in the previous room and moments later the room erupted in a huge explosion. Yes, the druid was convinced that not attacking these zombies right now was the way to go.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Tuesday January 21st, 2014 1:27:12 AM
Sesha is quiet, even though she might not need to be. She stays near the back of the group, still on her broom.
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 Tuesday January 21st, 2014 9:39:34 AM
Fatigued by the previous battle, Anrete almost nodded off and dreamt that he hacked at some undead.
Shaking his head to clear his mind, Anrete realised that the erupting undeads did not notice his existence, and taking the halfling advise, Anrete walk carefully pass them.
--------------------------------------- Rage left (12/25 rounds) Enlarged (?? rounds): +2 Str -2 Dex -1 AC -1 AB
Underground Undead Pool (co-DM SteveK) d20+4=24 ; d20+4=23 ; d20+4=11 ; d20+4=5 ; d20+7=15 ; d20+6=24 ; d8=3 ; d20+4=18 ; d20+4=14 ; d20+4=7 ; d20+4=12 ; d20+4=16 ; d20+4=10 ; d6=6 ; Tuesday January 21st, 2014 12:40:50 PM Garret looks again at the undead and urges his friends to keep going.
Restlin maneuvers his pole around the undead, punting himself above the water and remembering his last personal encounter with zombie. He fondly thinks of his missing creature comforts before trying to push the thoughts aside and carry on.
DM OOC: Spell description says any attempt to channel positive energy. It doesn't need to be directed at the undead for the spell to end. My take on reading the entire spell description is that it is actually a very poor spell for combat. Much better used for sneaking around insignificant battles designed to weaken the heroes.
Bosk is happy to finally be one step ahead of the enemy! The minotaur's great knowledge of undead confirms that these are actual zombies, probably laying in the same waters they were drowned in as guards for the chamber beyond. He considers his Woldology and the nature of the natural wold and comes to the conclusion that this place could not have been the Wold's Cradle, but it IS being affected by the current evil that has made these caves his home: Khar Avon. Bosk continues to lead the others forward.
Bosk recalls all he has learned about the lich ceremony, especially from the Book of Three: - The ceremony is best done at 2pm this day and the heroes are three hours early... good! - The darker side of the Cauldron can create undead. - The darker side of the Spear can pierce metaphysical and mystical barriers... like between life and death - Together, on the darkest day in the year (today), to set aside the normal progression of life and death.
Beriothian walks along carefully, like Restlin, the earth elemental thinks of other encounters and traps.
Sesha is quiet and stays at the back of the group, still on her broom.
Anrete fondly dreams of hacking some undead, but he shakes his head. Taking Garrett's advice, the Large barbarian carefully walks past them. ..................
Deftly avoiding the flailing water zombies, the Iron Adventurers emerge from the cold, dark waters into the cold, damp, dark tunnel.
Ahead, the tunnel soon opens into another cavern and Bosk can see a figure at the very limit of his vision, holding a long pole or spear and straddle standing a large rounded object.
Yet there are worries closer to home, for rising out of the floor comes a grasping hand! A voice follows; echoing and full of malice. "Fleshy things! Promised I and my children can feast on all fleshy things not with the Master. Die and become my children...." (ooc: Bosk Religion DC 18 Highlight to display spoiler: { It is a Greater Shadow. It and it's Shadow minions are incorporeal and harder to turn, but can be killed by normal attacks.} Bosk remembers at the door that he did detect disembodied spirits somewhere in this place, and here they are! It seems that these undead ARE intelligent, and some are not fooled by the Hide from Undead spell. They are obviously not summoned and so are not repelled by the Circle vs Evil.
Bosk is caressed on the hoof by the Greater Shadow, temporarily losing 3 Strength!.
Five more hands reach out of the walls, but two only grope, hoping to catch someone by accident. The other three are directed by malicious will!
A Shadow reaches for Garret, missing the agile monk!
B Shadow reaches for Bosk, missing badly!
C Shadow gropes for Sesha, missing!
D Shadow gropes for Anrete, barely missing!
E Shadow reaches for Bosk, missing badly!
.................................
Water Zombies AC15 1 2 3 4 5 6
Shadows AC 15 ; incorporal; half in stone (so 50% miss chance even with ghost touch) A B C D E
Greater Shadow AC 18; incorporal; half in stone (so 50% miss chance even with ghost touch)
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 6 rounds
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells d20+4=17 ; Tuesday January 21st, 2014 2:24:23 PM
ooc: Did you give the enemy attacking Bosk a 50% miss chance? Per the FAQ under uncorporeal (ex): ... enemies have total concealment (50% miss chance) from an incorporeal creature that is inside an object. DMSteveK: They are halfway out, can be attacked by the PCs, and so the ruling doesn't come into play. If the incorporal creature was only trying to touch the PC as he/she passed, the PC would not be able to retaliate, and then it would be a 50% miss.
Also, can you tell me if my attacks against these enemies will benefit from Nemesis Insight. The target of my spell was Khar Avon and those who serve or aid him DM SteveK: Bosk gains his +1 insight bonus on attacks, spell DCs, and poison DCs against the Shadows and Zombies, for they are clearly working for Khar Avon.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+14=22 ; d100=67 ; 4d6+1=16 ; Tuesday January 21st, 2014 6:55:36 PM
Garret, seeing a few of the hands, but little beyond Bosk, scrambles to the ground and over to the nearest hand (to AI13). As the hand grasps outward, Garret kicks it back towards the wall.
*** Attack Shadow E: Hit AC:22; 50/50 (high is good, right?): 67. Damage: 16
Below the line stuff. I feel like I should put something here. :)
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+1=10 ; d20+14=22 ; d20+14=30 ; 2d6+7=14 ; 2d6+7=15 ; Tuesday January 21st, 2014 9:58:39 PM
Beriothian sees the shadowy hand reach out and glide across Bosk. Realizing that these shadows are actually a threat, and seeing Garret start attacking, the massive elemental lifts his arms and sends them crashing into the elemental 'a'
knowledge (religion)=10 slam 1 attack=d20+14=22 damage=14
slam 2 attack=d20+14=30 damage=15
****** spell list 0 (4)- Detect Magic, Light, Create Water, stabilize 1 (6)- *Elf Vision, obscuring mist, Faerie Fire, Entangle, cure light wounds x3 2 (6)- *Faerie Fire, Fog Cloud, Warp Wood x2, Flaming Sphere(x2) 3 (5)- *Glibness, Sleet Storm, Greater Magic Fang, Spike Growth, stone shape, Daylight 4 (5)- *Lesser Planar Ally, Spike Stones x2, Freedom of Movement, Air Walk x0 5 (3)- *Awaken Spells with * are Fey domain spells (and not included in spell counts)
ooc: are there any other details you would like me to include in my posts regarding my elemental form?
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20=2 d20+5=17 Tuesday January 21st, 2014 11:19:05 PM
Combat breaks out, and Restlin figures those zombies they left behind will come to join it. He can't stop them, but he can make them think they're blocked off.
Casting silent image, Restlin causes the illusion of a rock wall to appear across the length of column AC. He hopes the zombies won't figure it out.
He lets the 10' pole fall to the ground and lowers himself the 2" to the ground before moving towards the middle of the group (AF11). He draws Gloomy from its scabbard as he moves.
(Will DC for the illusion is 17)
***
Silent Image: Concentration
Current spells: Mage armor
Persistent effects: Darkvision 60', see invisible
AC is 12/11/10 this round...yikes.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells d20+9=20 ; d20+9=19 ; d20+9=19 ; d20+5=21 ; d20+5=18 ; 3d8+3=16 ; 3d8+2=16 ; 2d6+2=12 ; 2d6+2=13 ; 2d6+2=8 ; d100=57 ; d100=40 ; d100=20 ; d100=37 ; d100=42 ; d100=56 ; d100=90 ; d100=1 ; d100=27 ; d100=29 ; Wednesday January 22nd, 2014 2:03:07 AM
The horned cleric's lips curl up slightly into a smile that never quite reaches his eyes as the strength is sapped from his body. His contempt for the unholy abominations of unlife burning in him like a breeze lighting up hot coals. I suppose that is supposed to make this a fair fight... The minotaur spits as he bares his teeth, hackles raised. He unleashes upon the thing in a blur of furry with deadly speed as his Ghost Touch weapons strike at the spectral form.
Actions - Full Attack Greater Shadow (I think that is G and that it does not have concealment since it is not in a wall, is that correct? If not use the d% with each attack. Also, does the Greater shadow have a 10ft reach to have been able to hit Bosk to drain his strength? ------------------------
Atk With Bastard Sword, Hit AC 21 for 16 dmg (Roll for concealment = 57 HIT!) Atk With With Armor Spike, Hit AC 20 for 12 dmg (Roll for concealment = 40 , rerolled w/ blindfight = 20miss) Atk With Natural Weapon / Horn. Hit for AC 20 for 13 dmg (Roll for concealment = 37 rerolled w. blingfight = 42 miss) 2nd atk with Bastard Sword hit AC 22 for 16dmg (Roll for concealment = 56 HIT!) 2nd Off hand atk for improved twf , hit AC 19 for 8 dmg (Roll for concealment = 90 HIT!) ooc: Str dmg was already deducted. +2 bonus to hit added for nemesis insight instead of +1, because Bosk is higher than CL4)
Active Spells:
Nemesis Insight -- 5 hrs 30 min Chill Touch -- 6 Charges Death Watch -- Permanent Dark Vision -- 5 hrs 30 min Long Strider -- 5 hrs 30 min Ghost Touch -- Permanent Magic Circle against evil -- 30min Hide from Undead -- 30 min
Spell List: Legacy Item: Death Watch (Permanent ), Feather Fall (Once Daily at CL 1) (used -Darkvision) Domain: True Strike, Locate object (Fly used already) Level 0:, Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison Chill Touch Active w/ 6 charges Level 1: Divine Favor, Protection from Evil, Detect Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (Hide from undead used) Level 2: Silence, (Summon Monster II, Consecrate, Nemesis Insight used) Level 3: Dispel Magic (Summon Monster III and Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law used)
Special Agile Feet - 3 Uses Left Chill Touch - 6 Charges Left No Channel Energy Left Pearl of Power - NOT used yet Two weapons have poison applied: BLUE WHINNIS poison to his left horn cap and MEDIUM SPIDER VENOM to his flail
Dark Walk - No uses left (I used it twice and am assuming "one minute per level" is referring to Grim levels, not total levels for number of uses)
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Wednesday January 22nd, 2014 9:21:17 AM
Sesha does little this round except observe. If possible, she raises her altitude a little to avoid being close enough for a floor grab. Sadly, she doesn't have many other options.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Wednesday January 22nd, 2014 7:25:09 PM
Checking in
Underground Undead Pool (co-DM SteveK) d100=45 ; d100=92 ; d20+11=22 ; d20+4=12 ; d20+4=20 ; d20+4=13 ; d20+4=15 ; d20+4=17 ; d8=6 ; d4=4 ; Wednesday January 22nd, 2014 9:28:01 PM
ooc: The Shadows (and Greater Shadow) are all half-in/ half-out of the walls (the GShadow half out of the floor) They can all be seen and attacked, but have 50% miss chance because of that concealment (irrespective of ghost touch abilities) ................................
Garret quickly moves and strikes one of the Shadows hard!
Beriothian sees the time for subterfuge has passed and slams two earthy arms into a Shadow, one missing from concealment, but the other connecting solidly.
ooc: recommend Beri "below the line" have the following: Wild Shape;Elemental Body III (Large Earth Elemental) bonus: earth glide, +6 Str, -2 Dex, +2 Con
ooc2: Beriothian doesn't get any other bonuses... he doesn't get 2 attacks per round because he is an elemental. He gets 2 per round because he is a 10th level druid. His melee attacks are +10/+5. In this case, they both hit anyways, one missing from concealment and one hitting (DM rolled %)
Restlin figures those zombies they left behind will come to join, so he casts silent image of a wall to block their undead minds from seeing the Iron Adventurers. Then the mage drops the long pole while moving to a more protected area and drawing Gloomy.
Bosk's lips curl, his contempt for the unholy unlife burning like hot coals. It doesn't matter that the Greater Shadow is five feet closer than the minotaur thought (DM map mistake), it doesn't matter that it is trying to hide within the floor for more protection. All that matters is it soon will meet Gargul.
ooc: Nemisis Insight is +1 per every 4 caster levels. Bosk is CL6. Therefore, Bosk only gets +1 bonus for nemesis insight. Bosk will get +2 Insight Bonus when he reaches CL8.
Sesha feels that she can do little besides avoiding the Shadows and raises her altitude a little to avoid being close enough for a floor grab.
Anrete moves into a defensive stance to avoid the Shadows. (Not posted at time of DM post, so DM put Anrete into Full Defensive mode to increase AC this round.) ................................
The zombies, having no brains to speak of, would completely ignore any mind-affecting effect such as charms, compulsions, phantasms, or patterns. What Restlin is concentrating on, however, is a figment, and the visual of a wall completely fools the zombies who all slide once more beneath the water.
ooc: OK, I was all set to have the zombies charge through the illusion, but on reading, it looks like zombies ARE affected by some illusions! Learn something every day!
The Greater Shadow has no care of the bits of itself smashed out of existance, it only wants to drain Bosk from all his strength! "Sssss, fall and become my children!", it hisses, and passes another hand through the minotaur! Bosk takes 6 Strengh damage!
A Shadow reaches for Beriothian, missing!
B Shadow reaches for Bosk, striking the minotaur! Bosk takes 4 Strengh damage!
C Shadow gropes for Anrete, missing!
D Shadow gropes for Anrete, barely missing again!
E Shadow reaches for Garret, missing badly!
And on the far edge of Bosk's darksight, Khar Avon, standing on Ma'ab's Cauldron and clutching Eberyon's Spear continues to chant.
.................................
Water Zombies AC15 (All defeated by a 1st level spell!)
Shadows AC 15 ; incorporal; half in stone (so 50% miss chance even with ghost touch) A 15 B C D E 16
Greater Shadow AC 18; 40 dam (incorporal; half in stone (so 50% miss chance even with ghost touch)
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 8 rounds
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Wednesday January 22nd, 2014 9:52:23 PM
ooc: thanks, and I'll double check the rules tomorrow to make sure any equipment bonuses are correct... can't remember off the top of my head and don't have my notes on my phone... in hind sight that's something I should mark in my character sheet (Bosk, remind me to add that this weekend)
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells Wednesday January 22nd, 2014 10:16:10 PM
ooc: Did shadow B ever make a roll to spot Bosk since he should be invisible due to HIde from Dead.
Also, does Bosk know why the creature is at -37hp when he did 40dmg? I already reduced the damage due to a lowered strength score.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20=2 ; d20+12=25 ; Thursday January 23rd, 2014 8:43:04 AM
Restlin sees the effect these things are having on the mighty Bosk & figures the taur could use a little good luck!
Taking a 5' step to AG11, the wizard lightly touches Bosk's shoulder. "Hang in there, buddy. You've been in worse scraps than this!" Still, he lets some of his luck rub off on the taur.
***
Move: 5' step to AG11 Standard: Domain power: Bit o' luck - Bosk can roll every D20 twice and choose the best result this round.
ATTN Bosk and Anrete! You each get a +1 to attack rolls, skill checks, and saving throws for being within 5' of a Mendicant.
AC this round is 12/11/10 again...double yikes!
Concentration check to maintain illusionary wall: 25
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+17=31 ; d20+12=30 ; d20+7=25 ; d100=10 ; d100=71 ; d100=62 ; 3d6+20=32 ; 3d6+20=31 ; Thursday January 23rd, 2014 9:00:55 AM
Finally recovering from his surprise, Anrete turns and hacks viciously at the shadow threatening Sesha.
"No worry Sesha-drow-witch, Anrete will save ye!"
ooc: Sorry. Was so bz with work I forgot a day went by.
Full Attack C Power Attack 1: AB31+2(flank) Conceal10 (Missed) Power Attack 2: AB30+2(flank) Conceal71 (Passed) DMG32 Power Attack 3: AB25+2(flank) Conceal62 (Passed) DMG31
effects Rage left (12/25 rounds) Enlarged (?? rounds): +2 Str -2 Dex -1 AC -1 AB Within 5ft of Mendicant: +1 AB +1 Skill +1 Sav
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+14=24 ; d100=15 ; d20+14=29 ; d100=66 ; 4d6+1=20 ; d20+9=16 ; d100=3 ; d20+9=28 ; d100=98 ; 2d6+1=8 ; Thursday January 23rd, 2014 5:25:00 PM
Garret goes into full attack mode, spinning and kicking. To the untrained eye, he might look like a small child having a tantrum, but at least some of his attacks manage to hit the shadowy creature half-in the wall.
OOC: Attacking E: Hit AC roll/miss %(high is good)/Damage: 24/15/miss 29/66/20 16/3/miss 28/98/8
Total Damage: 28
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 d20+4=8 ; d20+4=22 ; d20+4=16 ; d20+4=24 ; d20+4=22 ; d20=12 ; d20=14 ; d20=1 ; d20=12 ; 3d8=14 ; 3d8=7 ; 2d6=4 ; 2d6=10 ; 2d6=3 ; d20+4=14 ; d20+4=17 ; d100=53 ; d100=48 ; d100=22 ; d100=48 ; d100=18 ; d100=60 ; d100=18 ; d100=19 ; 2d6=6 ; Thursday January 23rd, 2014 5:57:22 PM
As the shadows attacks land on the horned cleric he feels the strength leave his body and his sword becoming heavy in his hand. He realizes that another round of attacks like that and he would no longer have the strength to draw in breath. Suddenly he feels Waard's blessing upon him as Restlin grants him the lucky touch...hopefully it will be enough to end this quickly. Once again the cleric twists about, his skill with the blade covering for his sudden loss of strength. If he manages to kill the great shadow he will take another 5ft step towards the cauldron.
Actions - Full Attack Greater Shadow. If it is defeated attack E then C then B. 5ft step towards cauldron. ------------------------
Atk With Bastard Sword, Hit AC 23 for 14 dmg (Roll for concealment = 53 HIT!)
Atk With With Armor Spike, Hit AC 24 (16 was rerolled) Crit confirmed at 22 for 14 dmg (Roll for concealment = 48 , increased to over 50 if greater shadow is still alive using a hero point to HIT!!!)
Atk With Natural Weapon / Horn. Hit for AC 18 (15 rerolled) for 3 dmg (Roll for concealment = 22 rerolled w. blingfight = 48 miss)
2nd atk with Bastard Sword hit AC 15 (13 was rerolled) for 7dmg (Roll for concealment = 60 HIT!)
2nd Off hand atk for improved twf , hit AC 13 (1 was rerolled) for 6 dmg (Roll for concealment = 19 HIT!)
Active Spells:
Nemesis Insight -- 5 hrs 30 min Chill Touch -- 6 Charges Death Watch -- Permanent Dark Vision -- 5 hrs 30 min Long Strider -- 5 hrs 30 min Ghost Touch -- Permanent Magic Circle against evil -- 30min Hide from Undead -- 30 min
Spell List: Legacy Item: Death Watch (Permanent ), Feather Fall (Once Daily at CL 1) (used -Darkvision) Domain: True Strike, Locate object (Fly used already) Level 0:, Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison Chill Touch Active w/ 6 charges Level 1: Divine Favor, Protection from Evil, Detect Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (Hide from undead used) Level 2: Silence, (Summon Monster II, Consecrate, Nemesis Insight used) Level 3: Dispel Magic (Summon Monster III and Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law used)
Special Agile Feet - 3 Uses Left Chill Touch - 6 Charges Left No Channel Energy Left Pearl of Power - NOT used yet Two weapons have poison applied: BLUE WHINNIS poison to his left horn cap and MEDIUM SPIDER VENOM to his flail
Dark Walk - No uses left (I used it twice and am assuming "one minute per level" is referring to Grim levels, not total levels for number of uses)
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Thursday January 23rd, 2014 6:03:15 PM
ooc: Since Bosk has Death Watch, can you please let me know how close to death the enemies attacking me / being attacked by me are.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+14=26 ; d20+14=21 ; 2d6+7=12 ; 2d6+7=9 ; Thursday January 23rd, 2014 9:00:15 PM
Seeing Bosk being drained Beri mentally goes through his available spells but finds none that can save the taur. He decides to do his best to take out the shadow in front of him (A) before it does any more damage
slam 1 attack=d20+14=26 damage=12
slam 2 attack=d20+14=21 damage=9
********* Wild Shape;Elemental Body III (Large Earth Elemental) bonus: earth glide, +6 Str, -2 Dex, +2 Con
ooc: reviewed the rules for polymorphing, posting here for your reference: Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function). Items that require activation cannot be used while you maintain that form.
+3 (deflect) Ring of Protection +1 Resistance +4 Constitution +2 Wisdom +4 Natural Armor +2
spell list 0 (4)- Detect Magic, Light, Create Water, stabilize 1 (6)- *Elf Vision, obscuring mist, Faerie Fire, Entangle, cure light wounds x3 2 (6)- *Faerie Fire, Fog Cloud, Warp Wood x2, Flaming Sphere(x2) 3 (5)- *Glibness, Sleet Storm, Greater Magic Fang, Spike Growth, stone shape, Daylight 4 (5)- *Lesser Planar Ally, Spike Stones x2, Freedom of Movement, Air Walk x0 5 (3)- *Awaken Spells with * are Fey domain spells (and not included in spell counts)
Khar Avon's Death (co-DM SteveK) d20+4=15 ; d4=3 ; d100=63 d100=81 Thursday January 23rd, 2014 9:04:05 PM
Restlin takes a step towards the minotaur and lightly touches Bosk's shoulder, giving him a bit o luck from the Mendicant!
Anrete recovers from his surprise, the barbarian turns and hacks viciously at the shadow threatening Sesha, eliminating its existence in one blow! Because he doesn't have to move, Anrete pivots and sends another Shadowy soul to Gargul! (ooc: in a table-top game, each attack would be rolled and resolved separately. We normally can't do that in PbP, but if the PC can reach another opponent without moving... why not?) :-)
Garret goes into full attack mode, spinning and kicking and another Shadow blinks out of existance!
Bosk feels the strength leave his body and realizes another attack may end even his strength to draw breath. Waard's blessing comes upon him and he prays he can end this battle quickly. Though weak as a kitten, his first swipe with his bastard sword ends the Greater Shadow's unlife! An armored spike and a second swipe kills the other Shadow threatening the great minotaur. But the second attack misses the last Shadow (ooc: 19 is below 50% and is a miss).
Bosk thinks on his Deathwatch ability. Realizing that it is a cone-shaped emanation only 30 feet long, he knows he can only determine the status of one creature per round (as a free action), and so chooses the only opponent left within 30 feet. Bosk's spell confirms what the Grim already knows.... the Shadow is 'undead'.
Beriothian feels his best support of the critically weakened Bosk is to kill the Shadow attacking him. His first fist ends its life! (ooc: Beri's attack was only +10/+5 on his 2 attacks. DM rolled for miss chance and the first attack hit, killing the Shadow.) .................................
Very quickly, there is only the chamber beyond! (ooc: ignore Shadow A on the map. DM posted the same time as Beriothian, and so I corrected my post, but didn't take the 10 minutes to redraw, save, share, and post the map.)
And in the chamber beyond the tunnel, the room suddenly lights up! There he is, Khar Avon, standing on Ma'ab's Cauldron and clutching Eberyon's Spear. Both of the artifacts are glowing enough to light the room, but the drow doesn't seem to be bothered.
"Fools!", he shouts, "You have wasted your time and drained your powers. It is not the best time to complete my ritual, but it is a better chance than chance falling to your blades. Pierced with the Chaos Spear that bends reality, the Warped Cauldron will bring me reborn into a stronger, mightier self! Just as it heals living bodies, it will accept my body dead with the Spear to become master of death itself!"
They seem to only be mad ravings of a defeated opponent until.... Khar Avon impales himself in a flash of blood-red light on Eberyon's Spear!!!
He staggers, coughs, gleefully watching his glowing blood drain into Ma'ab's Cauldron, one foot on either side of the lip....
The Cauldron of Ma'ab, once gently glowing in a healthy gold, flickers and changes to a jaundiced yellow. Magic thrums throughout the cavern!
.................................
Water Zombies AC15 (All defeated by a 1st level spell!) 5 Shadows all dead Greater Shadow dead
Khar Avon stands astride the open Cauldron with the Spear in his body.
Time: Since Grove: 40 minutes Since Battle: 20 minutes Since Beri Wild Shaped: 10 minutes, 8 rounds
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20+9=11 d20=13 Thursday January 23rd, 2014 9:32:10 PM
Restlin thinks he knows what's going on...maybe. Who can tell in situations like this?
ANRETE! THROW GARRET AT HIM! DON'T LET HIM FALL INTO THAT CAULDRON!
Moving quickly, Restlin digs something out of his pack: a heavy, unpleasant tasking fruitcake. Taking careful aim, he lets loose and hurls it at Khar.
***
Move: Retrieve fruitcake from pack. Standard: Attack with fruitcake, hitting AC 11 for a negligible amount of damage. I'm trying to knock him off that cauldron.
AC: 23/22/21
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Thursday January 23rd, 2014 9:44:39 PM
Bosk looks around desperately....
Is it possible to use a Hero Point to interrupt Khar Avon before he impales himself, considering he was kind enough to tell us his plans before acting
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+8=18 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 8:29:56 AM
"Huh?", Anrete shrugs and swiftly reach out and grabs at the halfling before hurling him at Khar Avon.
--------------------------------------- Quick Draw Garret Throw @ KA: AB18
effects Rage left (12/25 rounds) Enlarged (?? rounds): +2 Str -2 Dex -1 AC -1 AB Within 5ft of Mendicant: +1 AB +1 Skill +1 Sav
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+7=18 ; d20+2=17 ; d8+6=12 ; d8+6=13 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 8:33:59 AM
OOC: Should do a full attack
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 d20+4=8 ; d20+4=21 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 10:31:45 AM
Can Bosk determine a way to interrupt the spell (knowledge rolls below)? Specific ideas are healing him so the spear wound will not kill him Silence spell if he suspects the spell needs more words Will being in Bosk's protection from evil spell grant him protection from evil and hamper the lichification spell
Knowledge Religion = 8 Knowledge Arcana = 21
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] d100=74 ; d4=3 ; d20+6=8 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 1:27:52 PM
Sesha panics as the Greater Shadow leave Bosk an emaciated creature, sapped of muscle and strength. She was getting to like the big creature, surprised at how much they had in common.
She directs her spectral hand behind Bosk, trying to soothe and restore some of the damage done to him.
Then, seeing Garrett hurled like a missle, she pursues, gaining as much altitude as she can as she studies the cauldron and the spear.
She gently prods Pot-pots psyche.
"Please keep scanning for more spirits. The last ones snuck up on us!"
[1] Standard: Lesser Restoration - Bosk (3 Str damage healed) [2] Move: AP 13 [3] Perception: 8 (Looking for other enemies)
[4*] Pot-Pot has Telepathy and can locate all Witches, Spirits, and Incorporeal undead within 800ft.** DMSteveK: Not quite on Pot-Pot. Pot-Pot can SPEAK but can not LOCATE. Pot-Pot has to know the Witch, Spirit, or Incorporal is there in the first place. a. Spirit Cauldron lvl 9: (Woldipedia): It also gains telepathy with witches (including master) and all spirits and incorporeal undead, within long range (400 ft + 40 ft/level). b. Telepathy (Su)(PCB Intelligent Magic Items): Telepathy allows an intelligent item to communicate with its wielder telepathically, regardless of its known languages. The wielder must be touching the item to communicate in this way.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 d20+33=38 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 3:05:56 PM
The cleric feels a little strength return to his body thanks to the witches spell. The massive minotaur is little stronger than the average man on the street, but the fury coursing through his blood will not allow him to back down. It was a power hungry mage like the one in front of him that was responsible for his parents death because he too sought to become a lich. Years of hatred come flooding back to him in an instant. The feeling would have been overwhelming if it had not been for his Avenger training which taught him to control and focus his emotions. He was weak, wounded, and worn out and he knew this maneuver would take everything he had. Tapping into some unatural reserve of power his eyes turn cold, as if death itself was staring down the wizard, and the cleric charges forward with ungodly speed and force. He can feel his weakness, and the strike would normally have been too feeble to accomplish anything, but today it has anger and the memory of his parents behind it.
Actions ------------------------- (free action) Use a hero point to gain an extra action Cast True Strike on self (additional standard action from hero point) (Charge and bullrush Khar, CMB w/ truestrike. Beats CMD 38. If successful I knocks Khar back 5ft + 5ft for every 5 by which the attack exceeds khar's cmd. Also, I believe Khar should be flat footed and loose his dex bonus for standing on the cauldron like that as described under acrobatics and narrow surfaces. DMSteveK: I believe Acrobatics only comes into play when the person is moving over a narrow surface and rolling for Acrobatics skill check as described under acrobatics and narrow surfaces. Sorry, no.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Friday January 24th, 2014 3:25:04 PM
ooc: Almost forgot
Active Spells:
True Strike -- 1 round Nemesis Insight -- 5 hrs 30 min Chill Touch -- 6 Charges Death Watch -- Permanent Dark Vision -- 5 hrs 30 min Long Strider -- 5 hrs 30 min Ghost Touch -- Permanent Magic Circle against evil -- 30min Hide from Undead -- 30 min
Spell List: Legacy Item: Death Watch (Permanent ), Feather Fall (Once Daily at CL 1) (used -Darkvision) Domain: True Strike, Locate object (Fly used already) Level 0:, Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison Chill Touch Active w/ 6 charges Level 1: Divine Favor, Protection from Evil, Detect Chaos/Evil/Good/Law (Hide from undead used) Level 2: Silence, (Summon Monster II, Consecrate, Nemesis Insight used) Level 3: Dispel Magic (Summon Monster III and Magic Circle against Chaos/Evil/Good/Law used)
Special Agile Feet - 3 Uses Left Chill Touch - 6 Charges Left No Channel Energy Left Pearl of Power - NOT used yet Two weapons have poison applied: BLUE WHINNIS poison to his left horn cap and MEDIUM SPIDER VENOM to his flail
Dark Walk - No uses left (I used it twice and am assuming "one minute per level" is referring to Grim levels, not total levels for number of uses)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20=18 ; d20+14=15 ; d20+14=20 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 5:08:58 PM
Garret bends his legs and attempts to aid Anrete when he throws the halfling.
OOC: Yeah, I don't think this is in the rules. Anyway, can I roll an "aid another?" That's an 18. An attack while flying through the air? 15 Bleh -- if it's needed, I'll use a hero point to re-roll that one: 20 Ugh.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Friday January 24th, 2014 8:05:18 PM
ooc: any plants down here for entangle to make use of? SteveK: None obviously apparent. Beri could make a Perception roll to see if he spots any that are not obvious or just try it and see what happens.
Wild Shape;Elemental Body III (Large Earth Elemental) bonus: earth glide, +6 Str, -2 Dex, +2 Con
spell list 0 (4)- Detect Magic, Light, Create Water, stabilize 1 (6)- *Elf Vision, obscuring mist, Faerie Fire, Entangle, cure light wounds x3 2 (6)- *Faerie Fire, Fog Cloud, Warp Wood x2, Flaming Sphere(x2) 3 (5)- *Glibness, Sleet Storm, Greater Magic Fang, Spike Growth, stone shape, Daylight 4 (5)- *Lesser Planar Ally, Spike Stones x2, Freedom of Movement, Air Walk x0 5 (3)- *Awaken Spells with * are Fey domain spells (and not included in spell counts)
Khar Avon's Death (co-DM SteveK) Friday January 24th, 2014 8:31:57 PM
ooc: Hey guys, I'm having a hard time trying to decide how to adjudicate the distance Anrete and Garret (by pushing off) can get. Any help for any pertinent rules would be great.
a - The throw is like throwing an improvised weapon. Max range is 10' per range increment and max of 5 increments, but Garrett weighs so much more than any normal improvised weapon, but with a 22 Strength, Garrett is only 20% of Anrete's light load (which is equivalent to a normal human with 10 Strength throwing a spear (6lbs).
b - The throw is like Garrett jumping with Anrete helping. This could work like an Acrobatics roll plus Anrete's Strength Check vs Acrobatics DC of horizontal feet x2 (without a running start)
c- The throw is like a Jump check, but using Anrete's Strength check instead of an Acrobatics Check. (This is simplest to do, and I usually favor simple as better. But this is so unusual to the rules, I'd like to see what innovative rulings anyone can come up with. :-)
d- something else.
..............
Any ideas?
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+21=25 ; Friday January 24th, 2014 9:14:42 PM
Beriothian quickly scans the area around the target for any signs of usable vegetation
perception = d20+21=25 ;
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 d20+6=8 ; Saturday January 25th, 2014 12:23:04 AM
Str Check: 8 (crap).
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Saturday January 25th, 2014 7:55:52 AM
Hmmm...
Putting on my DM hat...
Whatever solution is adjudicated, I would think there has to be a way to combine the two characters in some way. I hadn't thought about the acrobatics, but that certainly makes sense to be a part of it -- maybe that's the "to hit" part of the action.
I'm trying to picture "real life" -- when someone picks up something to throw it, they'd usually swing it back to get momentum... but at the same time, having worked with acrobats, I know the concept of one person aiding another with their own strength to avoid that and actually add more strength is there...
I did find this thread: http://forum.rpg.net/archive/index.php/t-502961.html discussion about it, where the general consensus seems to be, "Heck, I don't know, we just do it." There seemed to be more discussion about how to determine whether the target is hit -- it seems obvious that something with a 22 strength can easily throw a 33-pound object, even with a crappy strength roll. More of the discussion seems to be about how to determine the hit -- use the target AC and an attack roll with a -4? use the bull rush? Acrobatics?
If you use the comparison of the 6-pound object -- how far can you throw a 6-pound object? Pretty far, I'd say. Accurately? At 40 feet, across the room, I bet I can throw a 6-pound dumbbell through a window 95% of the time...
I don't know if that helps, but that's my two cents.
Tossing Haflings (Co-DM JonathanT) Saturday January 25th, 2014 12:25:06 PM
According to the map, if Garret Jumps, Anrete will be hindered by Bosk's huge size to allow Anrete's large size to get in there and give Garret a decent boost, being squeezed. An Acrobaticts check for the Jump, then a Grapple check to grab hold of Khar.
If Anrete throws Garret, he has the reach to grab Garret 10' away, then it would be a toss from Anrete's current possition, but Garret would not get to aid in the throw. Treat the throw as any other bulky object. Even though Anrete's strength is 22, Garret isn't very aerodynamically shaped. If the throw is successfull, Garret gets his Grapple check to grab hold of Khar. If the Grapple is successful, this could knock Khar off balance.
My two cents. :}
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+50=58 ; d20+13=28 ; d20+21=39 ; Saturday January 25th, 2014 2:04:18 PM
To summarize my numbers from previous posts & a couple more (use whichever you like):
Aid Another: 18 To Hit: 20 Acrobatics (Jump): 62 CMB: 28 And just for fun, Stealth (so he won't see the Garret-missile coming): 39 SteveK: LOL!
Khar Avon's Death:Really! (co-DM SteveK) Saturday January 25th, 2014 4:48:41 PM
Restlin thinks he knows what's going on, and calls on the Large Barbarian to throw Garrett. "Don't let him fall into that Cauldron!", he shouts. Trying his own hand, he pulls out... a solid as a rock fruitcake and chucks it at the fatally wounded drow, but the distance is too great and the shot is wide anyways. The fruitcake hits the unyeilding stone and shatters into lots of little pieces!
Anrete shrugs and, reaching out, he grabs Garret before hurling him at Khar Avon! His rage and Enlarged size gives him phenomenal strength, and Garrett uses his hurtles through the air...
(DM decision: One character tossing another character should use the Bull Rush (unassisted) or Acrobatics Skill Check without needing a running start (assisted). I'm going to allow Anrete's throw to negate the need for Garrett to get a running start on his Acrobatics (Jump) check)
ooc2: the grab-and-throw will be a full round action
Garret bends his legs and attempts to aid Anrete when he throws the halfling. The little guy flies across the Cavern and slides by Khar Avon as the drow dodges even Garrett's heroic kick!
Sesha directs her spectral hand behind the severely sapped Bosk and soothes him of some of the terrible strength loss. Then, seeing Garrett hurled like a missile, she pursues, gaining as much altitude as she can as she studies the cauldron and the spear. Pot-Pot gurgles away merrily, a little girl voice singing in Sesha's mind. "Flying, flying, I like flying!"
Bosk thinks hard. His knowledge of religion yields him nothing, but he certainly knows a spell is happening! He feels a little strength return to his body, but it is fury that gives him purpose. This power hungry mage like the one responsible for his parents death also seeks lichdom. Weak, wounded, and worn out, Bosk levels everything he has into a charge across the dark cavern, striking like the proverbial bull. Khar Avon flies off of his perch over the Cauldron a full 15 feet away. "NNNOOOOoooo... cough, cough * "
Beriothian looks about, but this cavern is of hard stone and deep beneath the earth. The druid spots no plants to entangle anything. .................
Garrett, Bosk, and the flying Sesha are closest, and by Darkvision and the glow of the Spear and Cauldron, they clearly see Khar attempt to stand and stagger towards the Cauldron. It is only a couple of steps before he winces and a look of clarity comes across the drow's face. "My vengeance..." he pleads, and falls, the Spear driving through his body to clatter on the floor.
Eberyon's Spear is now completely covered in Khar Avon's blood, and much of his blood is also inside Ma'ab's Cauldron. The diseased and evil colours of the artifacts paint a horror scene in the cavern. Bosk (right next to the Cauldron) and Sesha (from her flying vantage) can see Khar Avon's blood inside the Cauldron is beginning to move and swirl!
It doesn't look like the Iron Adventurer's job is quite over!
..............
HERO POINT - for Restlin for figuring out the magic puzzle first.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Saturday January 25th, 2014 6:24:14 PM
Bosk weighs his options for a moment, unsure what to do. Restlin, you still have prestidigitation prepared, Right? Cast it on the cauldron and spear and get rid of that blood if you can. The cleric curses himself for having used his consecration spell to heal the group as opposed to his silence spell. His mind races...
The spear kills. The cauldron grants and restores life and heals wounds. Killing someone with the spear while in the cauldron gives them unlife. The cauldron was corrupted by evil blood spilled by the spear. Perhaps my blood, with a protection and magic circle against evil spell will restore the cauldron...
Bosk looks into the cauldron and waits to see if Restlin can remove the tainted blood before sticking his hand in.
Funny he thinks. Maab separates the gods of the Wold from the gods of testing, yet I follow both.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20+21=30 ; Saturday January 25th, 2014 7:21:22 PM The spear can pierce any armor or shield... I know it's not optimal, but we could destroy the cauldron with it before the anything can happen. It could always be repaired later by someone more powerful than us. Beriothian also quickly glances around, hoping a Phylactery of some sort was needed for the ceremony which they might destroy before the lich has a chance of being created.
DMSteveK: Beri's druidic eyes miss little and there is a crystal decanter laying in the shadow of the Cauldron on the opposite side of Garret.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) d20+17=21 ; d20+15=18 ; Saturday January 25th, 2014 10:06:10 PM
Restlin listens to Bosk's suggestion, and tries to decide if it will work before acting.
***
Spellcraft: 21 - Will that work?
Knowledge, Arcana: 22 (4 luck points used) - What's actually going on here, and can Restlin figure out how to stop it?
DMSteveK: Restlin remembers the Caravan Master at the party back in Hook City saying that the Cauldron was blessed by Ma'ab herself to be fertile, able to heal and feed a great many people every day. Bathing in the Cauldron even washes away all manner of ills
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 5 (fatigued) Sunday January 26th, 2014 2:25:06 PM
"Water," says the wizard. "We need water in this cauldron right now. No time to explain, just make it happen! There's water back in that pit still. Anrete and Garret, come with to fend off those zombies if they still feel like attacking."
If no one has buckets, pots, etc to carry water, or if no one is able to cast create water or has a decanter of endless water, Restlin will suggest the cauldron be carried to the pool of water and get filled there.
The wizard, meanwhile, digs into his pack. He opens a small sandalwood box and pulls out one of three vials of clear liquid that get poured into the cauldron (holy water). He also adds a small amount of light violet oil (plain ol' lavender oil...one must have his priorities when one takes a bath). Lastly, he pulls out his trusty shaving kit, which he once used to stand toe-to-toe with a blue dragon, and takes out a small bar of flowery-scented soap.
...because by Wardd, what Restlin really needs right now is a good washing.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Sunday January 26th, 2014 2:33:24 PM
Bosk starts casting his create water cantrip repeatedly to fill it with fresh water.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+20=30 ; Sunday January 26th, 2014 3:46:00 PM
Garret starts to move towards the zombies when Bosk starts casting his spell. Garret cautiously backs away when Restlin starts preparing for a bath... He glances around to ensure that there's not another hallway or back exit from this place (Perception: 30).
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 (fatigued) Sunday January 26th, 2014 5:51:58 PM
"Oh brother...Bosk you are the BEST. I was not looking forward to getting into zombie water. If this kills me, you get to keep all my stuff. Well, except for Gloomy. Sesha gets that."
Restlin drops his pack, pouches, and assorted other stuffs that he carries. "Avert your eyes, little witch," he quips before removing his robe. Naked, armed only with a bit of small, but very nice soap, the wizard climbs up into the cauldron and starts washing. The water is likely cold, but a bath is still just what his tired, battered body needs.
"If I were to choose how I was to die, this would likely be it," he thinks to himself before lathering up his hands and scrubbing his face clean. He tries not to think of the blood...
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Sunday January 26th, 2014 6:55:29 PM
The HUGE minotaur shrinks back to large size, but still refuses to let Restlin bathe in the cauldron. It was my idea and is therefore my risk to take. The cleric then sticks his wounded arms into the cauldron before Restlin can argue. There is no way the minotaur's pride would allow the wizard to risk his life while the cleric watched Restlin do something he suggested.
ooc: If necessary Bosk will use his last potion of reduce person to bathe. Someone please remind me after this module to purchase more potions of enlarge and reduce person...If I survive this.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Sunday January 26th, 2014 6:55:29 PM
The HUGE minotaur shrinks back to large size, but still refuses to let Restlin bathe in the cauldron. It was my idea and is therefore my risk to take. The cleric then sticks his wounded arms into the cauldron before Restlin can argue. There is no way the minotaur's pride would allow the wizard to risk his life while the cleric watched Restlin do something he suggested.
ooc: If necessary Bosk will use his last potion of reduce person to bathe. Someone please remind me after this module to purchase more potions of enlarge and reduce person...If I survive this.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Sunday January 26th, 2014 9:03:59 PM
Beriothian speaks out in Terran, hoping one of the others will translate. Look over there in the shadows! I see some crystal object, I think there's a chance it's his phylactery. Hand me the spear, if that's what it is we need to destroy it. If the others agree, and if upon closer inspection it does appear to be his phylactery, Beri will do his best to destroy it
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 Monday January 27th, 2014 3:49:35 AM
Slightly confused by surge in activities and a lack of target to hit, Anrete splits his attention between the distant zombie and the blood splattered cauldron.
effects Rage used (12/25 rounds) Enlarged (?? rounds): +2 Str -2 Dex -1 AC -1 AB Within 5ft of Mendicant: +1 AB +1 Skill +1 Sav
OOC: yoz guyz, can someone help me sub for the next 2 days? I am taking a super short trip.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 (fatigued) d20+15=27 ; Monday January 27th, 2014 6:34:02 AM
Restlin glares at Bosk with genuine irritation.
"Ok...A: I'm pretty sure the bath was my idea. B: Death by lightly scented bath is not an appropriate death for you, but my goodness man, it's totally appropriate for me. Restlin the wizard...he died how he lived."
He pulls his robe back on. "Could have at least told me before I got all naked. Hmph."
Hearing that there may be a phylactery, Restlin grudgingly walks over to inspect it.
Knowledge, Arcana: 27 - Is that a phylactery? If so, is it any danger at this point?
If Restlin's not 100% certain it's harmless, he'll advise Beri to stab it with the spear.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Monday January 27th, 2014 10:27:10 AM
Bosk suddenly realizes he didn't explain his entire plan out loud. At most the wizard might have noticed him about to stick his hands in the cauldron. I failed to save Zeoll at the bell and we failed to rescue you when trapped in the temple of the Illithid. I could not take the loss of another friend. If something were to happen to you while I sat by and watched...
The Cauldron and the Spear (co-DM SteveK) Monday January 27th, 2014 11:00:15 AM
On the side of the Large Cauldron there is a small discussion. Beri identifies a crystal container that could be Khar Avon's planned Phylactery. Restlin looks at it and knows that Phylacteries can be any number of shapes but are very expensive. A quick look determines that this could have been Khar's planned Phylactery, but it is without magic or soul or substance. It looks to just be a very nicely made crystal decanter.
Bosk wants to wait for an opportunity to clean the blood out of the Cauldron before sticking his hand inside to stop the swirling blood, but Restlin gets the idea they need to completely immerse themselves in Ma'ab's Cauldron. "A Bath!", the skinny wizard shouts!
The scramble to get zombie lake water ends as Bosk begins conjuring water out of thin air. The water seems to disrupt the blood, and so the minotaur keeps pouring it in. Every 6 seconds, 6 gallons of water splash into the Cauldron. Good thing too, because it takes Bosk over 3 minutes to even fill half of the cauldron! But at last, there is enough water to give someone a good bath.
(ooc: Create Water = 2gal water/level = CL6 = 12 gallons. Large Cauldron = 100 cu feet = 1/2 full 50 cu ft. 1 cu ft = 7.48 gallons. 50 cu ft = 372 gallons 374/12 = 31 rounds.)
While filling the Cauldron, Restlin gets naked and gets his bath equipment. "If I were to choose how I was to die, this would likely be it!" Maybe he said it to himself, maybe he accidentally said it out loud. Either way, it pretty much wraps up the Mendicant's attitude about grubby adventuring, doesn't it?
But then there is the matter of who gets the bath, for both the now-only-Large minotaur and the skinny medium-sized wizard argue about who is going to do the selfless act of immersing themselves in a half-full magical cauldron with remnants of blood in the water that a mad wizard was using in a magical ceremony to create a lich! Maybe it is the blood, but Restlin grudgingly gives way to allow Bosk to bathe.
...............
It is a Large Cauldron, and so the Large Bosk can still fit in. With a little maneuvering, he can even get his head to duck under water (good thing his genotype is not based on a longhorn!). And the Cauldron sparkles in a glittery cascade of whites, goldens, and greens. Underwater, Bosk feels like the Cauldron is squeezing, urging him to emerge...
The entire cavern is lit as bright as day with the Cauldron's light as Bosk stands and gets out of his bath. He feels new, reinvigorated, and the wold around him looks fascinating and bright, like everything has the opportunity for reaching its potential. The Cauldron's magic has washed away all temporary effects, ills, hurts. It may be that Restlin added a little lavendar to the bath, because Bosk also smells like a fresh field of flowers! (Bosk is at full hit points, all strength, and all magic dispelled)
The Iron Adventurers have defeated Khar Avon and saved Ma'ab's Cauldron for good! Yet Eberyon's Spear remains glowing dimly an angry red, forever turned to the fickle side of chaos and evil...
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 d20+4=22 ; d20+4=23 ; d20+13=27 ; Monday January 27th, 2014 12:45:06 PM
As Bosk exits the cauldron he feels his strength returning to him. Looking at Restlin he gives an apologetic smile. Sorry, but I couldn't let you take the risk. The cleric then holds a hand out to Restlin...and grabs him and plops him into the cauldron. Now that I know it is safe, I couldn't forgive myself if I let you miss out on the opportunity of bathing on Maab's Cauldron. My honor and pride upheld, so too should your desires be fulfilled. ;)
As Restlin takes his impromptu bath in the now crystalline waters Bosk ponders what putting some of the water from the cauldron onto the spear would do as well as the effects of casting consecration on the spear (removes desecration).
Actions ------------------ CMB to dunk Restlin in the Cauldron (grapple) = 27 (beats Restlin's CMD of 21)
Knowledge Arcana on washing or consecrating the spear- 22 Knowledge Religion on washing or consecrating the spea - 23
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 (fatigued) d20+12=30 ; Monday January 27th, 2014 1:00:07 PM
Restlin wonders if he couldn't just wash that blood off the spear in the cauldron. He gives that a shot...
While cleaning the cutlery, Restlin yawns hardily. He figures the danger has mostly passed & lets the fatigue he's been fighting wash over him. He pulls the now clean spear from the cauldron and inspects. Good or evil, he places it down before moving away from the cauldon. He'll be darned if he's carrying that thing back.
He walks back to Bosk (who smells better than he every has, btw) and looks the avenger square in the eyes. "You are a good and noble friend, Bosk Deox. There are few in this world I would rather have at my back than you. However, our time on this world is short and few of us get remembered as much as we like. The story of Restlin, the over-clean wizard who took a fatal bath to save mankind from an evil lich...that's a story that would get some play in taverns across the Wold. I'm not looking to die, but if I ever get the chance to possibly sacrifice myself in a manner so well suited to my own personal idiom, you will not take it from me again."
It was not phrased as a question. However, now that his piece has been said, the wizard's jovial personality returns.
"Now, since you're strong again and I am very, very tired, I hope you don't mind if I spend the return trip perched on your shoulders. I'm not sure my legs would do anything but slow us down at this point. Before that, though..."
Restlin casts detect magic and peers around. As victors, loot is their right...by gosh!
Perception: 30
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Monday January 27th, 2014 1:56:01 PM
Restlin's words cut deep. Having grown up as a young minotaur on Minotaur Island, Bosk is very much of the mind the might makes right and that being so much larger and stronger than Restlin such a risk should naturally fall upon him, yet the wizard makes it sound as though the cleric did him some dishonor...speaking of a poetic death sung about in taverns across the Wold...it is as if he should have been a bard rather than a wizard.
Trying to make amends, although not fully sure why (he doesn't have very high charisma), Bosk picks up the spear and hand it to the bathing Restlin handle first. Your story will yet be sung, but Gargul does not wish to meet you again for many years. Just be careful not to pierce the cauldron with the tip. The cleric hopes Restlin's idea works to heal the spear...
ooc: I think I posted as Restlin was typing and he is unaware he is currently bathing...
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 (fatigued) Monday January 27th, 2014 3:02:16 PM
OOC: Yup, the fringe benefits of PbE :D
In my head, Restlin is saying this while buck naked in the cauldron. If it's large, he's probably only visible chest up.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday January 27th, 2014 7:13:06 PM Well, that was a close call. Could someone with detect magic take a look at this crystal container and make sure it's safe? It looks valuable and would be smart to grab, but I don't trust anything in this cave to be as it appears.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Monday January 27th, 2014 7:21:43 PM
ooc: On a side note, can this container also be used to hold Wold's Blood?
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] d20+20=36 ; Monday January 27th, 2014 8:20:30 PM
Garret watches the fighting over the "bath" water with amusement. He sniffs the air and says to himself, out loud, "Bath? Whatever for? I could use a snack, though..." He continues to look around for another exit or anything else of note (Perception: 36).
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Monday January 27th, 2014 10:28:44 PM
Sesha is not quite sure that it's safe. There was still the issue of the Mages blood being inside of the Cauldron, unless she missed something.
She had a spell that could purify curses, but it likely wouldn't affect an artifact such as this. She watches as Restlin and Bosk prepare to use the cauldron, and wonders if it works like her.. much more feminine pot-pot.
Careful to avert her eyes from the naked Minotaur and Wizard-Priest, Sesha engrosses herself with the Crystal.
She had some experience with a spell that trapped souls in jars, she ponders about both the value of the vial and ...
Sesha groans loudly, then huffs and tromps towards the naked Restlin and the Cauldron.
"I've collected some interesting components before, but nothing like this."
She closes her eyes as she hovers her broom over the top of the cauldron and leans down, collecting water from the cauldron in one of her own vials.
"A minotaur and Mage-priests lavender bath water mixed with the blood of a necromancer prepared in Maab's Cauldron. If this isn't a unique component then one doesn't exist anywhere in the wold. I wonder if I'll ever find a use for this!"
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Tuesday January 28th, 2014 3:41:39 PM
Garret pulls an old piece of bread out of his belt sack and munches on it.
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Tuesday January 28th, 2014 4:20:47 PM
As Sesha collects her bathwater Bosk pulls out his "spatula of corpse retrieval" and collects some remains of the wannabe lich (and greater shadow is it has remains) for spell components and his future Tauric Totem Bag. Each of the remains he places in the center of one of his wooden holy symbols, both a token of his victory and tribute in recognition to the god the helped him.
The Cauldron and the Spear (co-DM SteveK) Tuesday January 28th, 2014 8:15:45 PM
Bosk exits the cauldron and plops Restlin inside for the wizard's own bath. Sadly, Bosk feels that from the knowledge learned at Ma'ab's Temple in Hook City and the Library at Wayfarer that Eberyon's Spear is beyond normal magic to affect. It is another cursed and powerful item that has come into the hands of the Iron Adventurers. Following Sesha's lead (ooc: below) Bosk pulls out his "spatula of corpse retrieval" and collects some remains of the wannabe lich (there are no remains of the Shadows) for spell components and his future Tauric Totem Bag.
Restlin too realizes that the Spear is now cursed. Washing the blood off only cleans the outside. Clean now himself, the Mendicant casts detect magic and peers around, the only items glowing with magic (besides the IA themselves) are certain items from Khar Avon's corpse.
Beriothian exclaims in Terran Highlight to display spoiler: {"That was a close call!"} He may speak more but I don't think anyone understands the grinding and clashing of rocks voice that is the Earth-Elemental/Druid.
Garret watches the fighting over the "bath" water with amusement. "Bath? Whatever for? I could use a snack, though..." He continues to look around for another exit or anything else of note, only finding the items on Khar Avon and the crystal decanter.
Sesha is not quite sure that it's safe: being a Witch means she knows the power of blood! She is careful to avert her eyes from the naked Minotaur and Wizard-Priest, and Sesha engrosses herself with the Crystal. It is definitely NON-magical, and while it appears that it could hold just about anything except Woldsblood, the monetary value is most interesting! Then Sesha gets a sudden inspiration, and collects some bathwater for later 'tinkering'. "A minotaur and Mage-priests lavender bath water mixed with the blood of a necromancer prepared in Maab's Cauldron. If this isn't a unique component then one doesn't exist anywhere in the wold." Sesha knows that to 'tinker' with spells, her substituted material components must be gathered personally by the witch (ooc: roger!), and it must be appropriate. It's certainly going to be interesting what spell would be appropriate with THIS bath water, but.... one never knows!
Anrete keeps guard, just in case anything comes down the Tunnel. Just for fun, the barbarian wades into the water and waits for the zombies to attack, making short work of them. The fight is over in less time than it takes for Bosk to fill the Cauldron!
........................
It is pretty clear the Iron Adventurers have come in the only entrance to this cave. Checking and re-checking pretty well confirm that there are no hidey-holes or secret passeges, and there is literally NOTHING in the cavern except for:
the cursed Eberyon's Spear - price unknown (did I mention cursed?) the not-cursed Ma'ab's Cauldron - price unknown the crystal decanter - price, 120,000gp Bracers of Armor +4 Ring of Protection +3 Ring of Counterspells Scrolls (Flame Arrow, Mirage Arcana, Persistent Image, Transmute Mud to Rock, Cat's Grace -- Mass, Chain Lightning), Robe of Bones, empty
.............................
HERO POINT for Bosk for being the first to get into the Cauldron
EXPERIENCE POINTS - All heroes gain 30,000xp for the rest of the adventure. This should put everyone at 11th level. If your PC is not at 11th level with this experience, your PC gets enough experience to be at 155,000 experience and gains 11th level.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Tuesday January 28th, 2014 8:22:22 PM
ooc: We did have someone that could translate for Beri in this form right? Otherwise I will shift out at this time
Bosk AC: (+2 against evil -2 huge size) 31/16/28 CMD:28 HP 86 of 88 Spells STR-13 Tuesday January 28th, 2014 8:42:57 PM
ooc: If you need, signal me. I have a magic item that can cast Comprehend Languages. It expires in 4-5 months and I likely won't use it unless it is to talk to a party member in another form.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 75/82 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 (fatigued) Wednesday January 29th, 2014 12:10:17 AM
Restlin speaks darn near everything...except for goblin, evidently.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Wednesday January 29th, 2014 9:48:59 AM
As the group packs up Kahr's belongings Bosk quietly reminds everyone that on the other side of the illusionary wall lies several water zombies waiting to greet them and that he group is no longer under the effects of hide from undead. We should make sure we are healed and buffed up before heading out. Additionally, I would like to torch this guys corpse to make it harder for his men to attempt resurrecting him...although I wouldn't be surprised if that spear has a death effect associated with it.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Wednesday January 29th, 2014 10:25:50 AM
Sesha winks at Bosk as she finishes packing away her new component.
"Sorry Bosk, but while you were bathing Anrete already splattered the water zombies. I'm afraid its a boring ol' hike back home."
She whistles merrily, contemplating what - if any - of the loot appealed to her. After her offensive ineffectiveness, she was heavily considering spending a part of her share on the blasty scrolls.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:31/29/26 HP:86/93 Ki:10/12 CMD: 29] Wednesday January 29th, 2014 1:34:43 PM
As the group is drying off and gathering up to return home, Garret takes a closer look at the bracers, and then back at his own. He says, "Hey, I believe I could make use of those bracers. They are a bit shinier than the ones that I have."
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Wednesday January 29th, 2014 2:54:27 PM
Restlin is very pleased with the way this all turned out. Never before has he been this clean at the end of an adventure. He briefly considers claiming the cauldron as their own, but figures some folks may take issue with that.
That spear, however, is now property of the Iron Adventurers as far as he's concerned. It belongs in the vault installed back in their tower.
He mulls over the treasure: those scrolls like nice; he'd like to scribe them if at all possible. He has a similar ring of protection. That ring of counterspells would be neat, but he's not too drawn to it.
He has no problem with Garret taking the bracers. His magic is more effective.
He will absolutely insist the bodies of the dead are cremated. One can't be too careful with necromancers.
Once all that's done, he's ready to go!
The Cauldron and the Spear (co-DM SteveK) Wednesday January 29th, 2014 6:48:56 PM Restlin speaks darn near everything...except for goblin, evidently, and he is able to interperet for Beri while the druid is in elemental form... Wow... ANY elemental form!
Bosk learns the water zombies are dead because Anrete was bored while watching Bosk put water in the Cauldron. That only leaves torching Khar Avon's corpse. As Powerful Adventurers, the group has a number of ways to do this and scatter the ashes to make it that much harder for any minions to bring him back from the dead... That is, if they are morally strong enough to stand in front of Gargul in the first place!
Sesha winks at Bosk as she finishes packing away her new component, tweaking the minotaur about nothing but a boring ol hike back home. Treasure is on her mind, and she contemplates what Khar Avon had on his person...
Garret takes a closer look at the bracers and puts up a claim for the ones Khar Avon has no further use for.
Restlin is very pleased with the way this all turned out. Never before has he been this clean at the end of an adventure! He also mulls over treasure.
Anrete doesn't want a bath. What fer? He walked through water; wasn't that enough? And there don't seem to be even any cave bugs to cook a decent meal either. The barbarian decides it is time to go by saying. "Time to Go." ............
The Iron Adventurers collect the treasure and have a long time to talk among themselves as to 'who' gets 'what'. (ooc: Take the treasure talk to email and keep me and Jon in the loop!)
After the morning of racing the clock, the Iron Adventurers emerge back into the Hidden Valley to see that it is not even noon. Why, even with walking and carrying a Large Cauldron and Eberyon's Spear, they will be able to get back to Wayfarer by nightfall. With more food and baths and wise conversation of the monks on their minds, the Iron Adventurers set forth. ...................
It is exactly at Sundown that the heroes arrive at the top of the hill of Wayfarer and the monestary. All manner of restful luxury is open to the Iron Adventurers for the evening and night. Sensei and several of the older monks are very interested in the details of the fight and the disposition of the Cauldron and Spear.
As a matter of fact, Sensei agrees with Restlin. The monks no longer feel they can keep the cursed Eberyon's Spear, and, when they find out that this is what the Iron Adventurers do, Sensei gladly hands over responsibility for the Spear to our heroes.
There is the opportunity to speak with Sensei about nearly anything, and of course to eat and drink and relax to the fullest for one night before setting out back to Hook City.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 d20=20 ; Wednesday January 29th, 2014 9:58:07 PM
Once out of the dangers of the tunnel they were in Beriothian returns to human form. This need for a translator all the time is getting old, I wonder what it would cost to get some sort of magic item that would let me to communicate telepathically.
At the party Beri joins the others in the festivities, enjoying plate fulls of delicious food. When he gets a chance to talk to Sensei he asks an important question that has been weighing on him during their trip back. Excuse me Sensei, but do you happen to have any guess as to what specific changes may have happened to the spear? How the tainted blood may have changed it's effects, just in case the gods see fit to loose the item once again upon the Wold?
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Thursday January 30th, 2014 10:14:34 AM
Sesha is quick to study.
There were a number of things that pulled at her interest, strangely enough finding some time with Restlin, but for the most part she was focused on Khar Avon. Not so much because she worried they would see him again, they would or the wouldn't, but because she was looking for information on Mhalice.
She asks the monks about his Dark Elf accomplice, and is intrigued greatly by the idea of finding out WHY she was so... inferior .. to the other Drow. Was it because of the time spent with the Ga'alin? Perhaps the Old Drow had gained some new ability the Drow from It'lal had evolved away from?
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 Thursday January 30th, 2014 10:17:10 AM
As usual, Anrete decides to leave the difficult thinking to those who are better suited to it. The barbarian spends his time swatting at the occasional fly.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Thursday January 30th, 2014 2:50:35 PM
Restlin finds himself perched on the railing in the library overlooking that great view he remembered from...great scott, was it only yesterday?
Anyway, he's perched on this railing, ok? And he's telling the gathered monks about their battle with Mhalice and the rest. Sesha's sitting next to him, though he thinks something's on her mind. She's a moody one, she is. Maybe she's had issues with other drow. She kinda freaked him out when she went tearing after Mhalice all by herself. She's got quite the temper, but that's what happens when you grow up among a bunch of Ga'al worshiping orcs. That or you get eaten, I guess.
Anyway, so he's perched on this railing, and he's got this amazing bottle of wine he's drinking from. Restlin's not the kind to get boozy and stupid, but this a good vintage and they just stopped another lich from coming into the world. It's time for a drink.
So anyway, perched on this railing, and he's no story teller, but this story tells itself. You've got poor Restlin, who got stupid and decided to go scouting all by himself. Then you've got these arrows and catapults and honest-to-god dinosaurs and poor Restlin is getting the stuffing beat out of him. Then his good buddy Bosk and this little filly sitting right here, they heal him up over and over. He probably died twice out there at least without these two. They're good folk, let me tell you.
Then he finally gets his breath, and he starts laying into all these stupid hobgolins. He's got them running in terror, puking out their breakfasts...and those are the lucky ones that aren't beating each other up or getting strangled by tentacles. Oh buddy, you should have been there.
So yea...on a railing, but he's getting off. He's not drunk, but he's not sober enough to sit this high up without a backrest. That is not a noble end to this story.
Restlin is clean, and pampered, and happy. You're allowed to be all these things without getting called out for being soft after taking the beating he did and dishing out worse.
At least that's what he tells Sesha.
People seem to have questions about this spear, and Restlin's pretty curious how come Eberyon can't just fix it. Is it possible to mess up an artifact so badly that even its divine creator can't fix it? How powerful was that Khar fellah anyway? Maybe it's a good thing he killed himself instead of relying on the Iron Adventurers to do it for them.
Still, let them ask their questions. It's just going to get locked in the vault with the rest of the awful stuff they seem to collect. How crazy is it that Hook City lets them keep that stuff in city limits?
So yea, that's how Restlin spends his evening. He's looking forward to going home, but that's no reason not to enjoy this monkish hospitality.
coDM SteveK LOVE it!
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells d6=1 ; Thursday January 30th, 2014 7:49:50 PM
As the group exits the cave The Horned Cleric cannot forget his conversation with Restlin....he remembers not their victory, but of how he had failed to save Zeoll. He cannot shake the haunting memory from his mind, and on the way back to the home of the monks Bosk replays the events over in his head... the memory of the groups last trip to the Gateway Downs, where they were visited by the Crones, put the Chaos Bell to rest, and where Zeoll was lost. Suddenly he has an idea. As the group cooks a meal on the side of the trail Bosk goes a little was into the woods and tries to contact the Crones of the South. He is not sure what "gift" they might have if he finds them, but he hopes he can get some news of the old liontaur and learn more of his fate.
-------------------- Ooc: The Crones are always around Heranmar and the Gateway Downs. In any other location throughout the Southern Continent, roll a d6 on a given day. On a roll of 1, the Crones are watching that day and will grant gifts and spells. I rolled a d6=1
(More to come if I have time after dinner)
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Thursday January 30th, 2014 8:22:04 PM
Garret wanders about as the group heads back towards their starting point. He flits here and there, looking around at the plants as they walk.
When they arrive back with the other monks, Garret runs up and hugs the nearby monks, oblivious to his smell. He smiles and tries to hug others, who quickly direct him to the baths and lots of smelling potions. He shrugs and manages to grab a handful of some kind of fruit on the way. He munches away while others ensure he is relatively clean and less smelly.
When Restlin starts telling his story, Garret takes a seat on the ground nearby, with some children. He continues to eat and applauds and cheers on the story.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Thursday January 30th, 2014 8:36:42 PM
Back at the monk's Bosk goes about looking a few bottles of local beer and wine to bring back to Hook City and add to his collection in addition to a few to drink as he listens to Restlin's story. He hadn't felt particularly brave at the time, but by the time the wizard's story is over he feels the hero of one of the great adventure's of the Wold and half expects to hear bards telling the tale upon return to Hook City.
As Restlin nears the end of his story Bosk interjects, He did not kill himself, he stood on the verge on eternal unlife until you saved the day by figuring out how to stop him. He then raises his glass in toast To Restlin, who put a hitch in the plan of the lich!
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Thursday January 30th, 2014 9:37:43 PM
Beriothian raises his his glass and joins in. To Restlin!
A Night At Wayfarer (co-DM SteveK) Thursday January 30th, 2014 10:14:31 PM
Beri joins the others in the festivities, and when he gets a chance to talk to Sensei, he asks what changes may have happened to the spear? The elderly but hale leader of the monks nods. "Wise question, young one. Because the spear used to be able to bend reality by protecting the holder from magic, I now fear that magic spells nearby the Spear will be warped." His old eyes turn and follow Sesha as she listens to Restlin. "And unlike your dark-elf friend, the Spear will be unpredictable and... malicious in its twisting."
Sesha is quick to study, especially learning all she can know of Mhalice. Of the drow herself, the monks have little to offer: they never knew of Mhalice. But as the BloodWitch describes the evil drow's abilities, one monk nods in understanding. "She sounds like a Spellweaver of the Sargrass that is lost. Spellweavers are mages who seek to learn all there is to know about their innate magical skills, pushing the boundaries of what conventional arcanists define as the 'rules' of magic. They view magic as a medium that they weave into patterns, and seek to study the ways that these patterns can be altered. This constant process of introspection, combined with an ongoing search for knowledge through experimentation, and exploration also allow them to learn more about themselves, and make the most of all of their personal magical talents. A spellweaver spends his effort to learn to weave each spell he knows into whatever shape he needs, to maximize his versatility. The cost of this ability is that Spellweavers do not know the range or power of spells of the ordinary caster."
Anrete decides to leave the difficult thinking to those who are better suited to it. The barbarian spends his time swatting at the occasional fly.
Restlin holds court, telling the story of the Iron Adventurers to a group of wiling monks. And it is a fun, well-rested, well-fed... well-imbibed court it is! Among the words of the evening, the wizard speculates how come Eberyon can't just fix the artifact and is that an indication of powerful was that Khar fellah anyway? A monk/votive cleric fills the space of what may have been a rhetorical question with a dissertation of 'artifacts' and 'powers'. Though long-winded she (the monk) is interesting, and according to her artifacts nearly always have specific actions that can destroy or alter their nature; it is part of what makes them artifacts. Second, while Powers are very powerful indeed, they are not omnipotent or omniscient. They can make mistakes even within the realm of their domains. Lastly, who is to say what is the ultimate will of a Power? It could be that 'turning' the Spear is actually a plan of Eberyon's?
Bosk wanders the night thinking of the Crones of Gateway Downs and the lost hero; Zeoll. Moving around a hedge, he glimpses a large ash tree. In its branches, a spark of light glows, then grows, until it looks like a window to another part of the Wold. The minotaur can see Zeoll, the graying and thin liontaur in a tavern with another group of adventurers. Zeoll seems happy, speaking in easy camaraderie with two minotaurs, two gnomes, an elf, a half-elf, a dwarf, and two humans. Then he heads out into the night, looking for a stand of trees on the edge of town. He slowly and carefully climbs a large ash tree, being careful of his old bones. Perched on a couple sturdy branches, he rests the night through content to be in his patroness's nature. The scene fades, and Bosk is again only looking at an ash tree.
Garret wanders about as the group heads back towards their starting point. He flits here and there, looking around at the plants as they walk. His hugs are returned only perfunctorily, the monks trying to suggest that the baths are nice and relaxing. He and Bosk and Beri tune in to Restlin's magnificent (if tipsy) story, making their own interjections and cheers that adds to the pleasant evening.
.....................
In the morning, Sensei and the other monks bid farewell to the Iron Adventurers, wishing them good travels and providing a package of letters to various peoples in Hook City. (The IA know they can deliver themselves or just give to the gate guards who will ensure delivery) It is a common way for letters to go by trading caravans, but since the heroes are on their way back to Hook City...
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Thursday January 30th, 2014 10:33:35 PM
Bosk's attention turns completely to the elder when he says I now fear that magic spells nearby the Spear will be warped.Wait, what do you mean magic spells may be warped? In what way? Immediately he is flooded by visions of the group's trove of evil artifacts being released or becoming sentient and wrecking havoc on the Wold. Perhaps it would be best to put it in a bag oh holding and run it through...
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Friday January 31st, 2014 8:14:42 AM
Restlin soaks up the attention like it was a breath of fresh air to a drowning man. The gold and lavish Hook City lifestyle are nice, but this is why he does what he does. It was a great evening.
However, morning comes, and with it comes the realization that they have what may be the most powerful evil artifact on their persons to take all the way back to Hook City.
He meets with his companions in the morning before they leave.
"OK people, listen up. During last night's revelries, something clicked inside my head. I did some experiments and confirmed what I'd hoped: that I've finally figured out how teleportation magics work. I'm not bringing this up to brag, though it is pretty cool. I'm bringing it up to tell you that if we're ambushed on the way back home and things start to look bad, I'm taking this spear and teleporting myself plus it back to our tower. I can't teleport all of us, so we'll still have to walk home. This is a "just in case" scenario. This spear is too dangerous to be out in the world."
He also indicates he agrees with Bosk's concerns. He ponders the security in the vault to make sure it's sufficient.
Restlin's all for leaving early. He misses the City. He'll cast mage armor before they're ready to get going.
***
Hey, didn't we have a write-up of the vault's security somewhere? Does anyone remember where that is?
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Friday January 31st, 2014 10:25:12 AM
The Iron Vault will become, in fact, an extra-dimensional space. Both the 20th lvl Cleric and 20th lvl Mage are required to create the Iron Vault.
Iron Vault Fate Item APPROVED by Rob for play on 2013MAY20 [Cauldron and Spear Module]
1. Basement: The door to the room is guarded by twin Symbols of Sleep and Stunning that are on the inside of the door lintel and will be keyed in on the Iron Adventurers (further, the IA are able to Key in new members and key out old). Coupled with the Symbols is an Permanent Alarm Spell that will go off if the Symbols are triggered. The alarm sounds in a location chosen by the Iron Adventurers. The Room is further covered by a Permanent Private Sanctum and Permanent Dimensional Lock (with a 10x10 hole APG Shaping Metamagic) where the Vault is located.
2. Entrance: The entrance is like the entrance to a Magnificent Mansion; invisible until a Command Word is spoken (Iron Adventurers Choose), then opens into a 10x10 hole into a void-like area filled with objects and sparkly lights floating in a vast black void. This is a demi-plane.
3. Vault: Any magical item thrown into the Vault spins slowly in the void and immediately creates 9 copies of itself. Each copy is alike in physical and magical aura characteristics, but does not possess any other power. The demi-plane is infinite and filled with flotsam and jetsam, so is nearly impossible to recover an item. On the off-chance one is found, there is only a 10% chance that it is the correct item!
The Iron Vault was placed into a new, unmapped room in the Basement, with the alarm going off in the Kitchen, and the password (that can be keyed in on any current IA hero) being "Shibboleth". Information from posts on 7.21.13 and 07-.23.13
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Friday January 31st, 2014 10:51:29 AM
Sesha packs up and unhooks her broom for travel, floating alongside Restlin.
"Don't worry Mage-priest. If you die while protecting the spear I'll lock your corpse in with it for all eternity and bind your spirit to it's protection. I'll not let you be remiss in your duty!"
She beams at him, pleased she could offer some help.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] d20+20=25 ; d20+20=30 ; d100+10=99 ; d20+20=29 ; d100+9=43 ; Friday January 31st, 2014 11:02:35 AM
(Forgot my rolls for Flying broom.)
[Bend Leyline, 30. +10 to ley check, Ley result 99 - no slot expended]
[Spells in Effect]
Extended Flying Broom - 4 hours
(Second if needed)
1 3rd level slot expended.
A Day on the Road (co-DM SteveK) Friday January 31st, 2014 8:46:45 PM
Sensei clarifies his words. In the next several days, other sages and the groups own research confirms what the Sensei said. The Spear warps spells as they are being cast. It does not seem to affect magic already in place (like magic items and constant on magical abilities). So instead of a Mage Armor spell, the Spear warped Restlin's magic and made it a Mage Vulnerability spell, gaining -4 AC for the duration!
Luckily, nothing else affects the Iron Adventurers and they have an interesting time of getting to Hook City. Any magic cast nearby of the Owner goes awry. And it doesn't matter if the Spear is in a demi-plane like the Bag of Holding or not (it is an artifact that pierces boundaries)! A flying broom spell changes so the broom only flies due east. Another Mage Armor spell becomes a Light spell. And there seems to be no rhyme or reason other than the changes never benefit the caster...
(ooc: the Iron Adventurers do not know how far away from the Owner a caster has to be to cast spells normally. That would require experimentation, and does the IA want to experiment with casting warped spells?)
It looks like a non-magical walk home...
Anrete AC:30-2/17-2/30-2 CMD:32 HP:121/121 DR:2 Friday January 31st, 2014 9:09:20 PM
"Anrete can help Sesha-witch to prepare a nice stew out of Restlin-mage-priest for proper binding to spear-thingy."
The barbarian grins broadly at his clever remarks.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Friday January 31st, 2014 9:16:09 PM
Garret nods and smiles when Restlin explains his plans for teleporting and the spear. When Sesha pipes in about binding his soul for all eternity, Garret takes a step back from her and her flying broom. He says, "All eternity? That sure sounds like a long time. I'm not sure Restlin really wants to hold on to that spear quite that long, you know."
Then he shrugs and starts flitting about, thinking about what he might do when he returns to Hook City. He idly wonders how the people of Bryn Baraz (ooc: inserted by DM SteveK) are doing and if they are keeping his statue clean.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Saturday February 1st, 2014 10:00:11 PM
Beriothian asks Sensei one more question We have extensive protections in place for items such as this spear, and since they are in place I understand they will still work... would the putting it in another plane and the right combination of barriers be enough to protect us from the spears warping effect? If not, what kind of distance from the spear would we need?
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Sunday February 2nd, 2014 1:37:42 PM
Does the spear impact Supernatural Abilities?
Supernatural Abilities (Su)
These can't be disrupted in combat and generally don't provoke attacks of opportunity. They aren't subject to spell resistance, counterspells, or dispel magic, and don't function in antimagic areas.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells d20+2=19 ; Monday February 3rd, 2014 12:03:56 AM
Bosk feels the angst melt away as he sees Zeoll alive and well with another adventuring party and shares the news with the group when he returns. The trip is longer than expected, and The Horned Cleric is disappointed when he learns that the spear can alter spells as they are being cast. Dismayed at the fact he cannot work on his crafting for fear of the item being worthless, before they leave, he still cannot keep himself from experimenting and casts continual flame on a MW marble he has...just to see what would happen. (I figure that worse case scenario the spell can be undone outside the spears range)
As the group prepares to leave the cleric thanks the Sensi and then the other monks for all of their help. On the way back to Hook City he finds Gargul has graced him with new and more powerful spells, and he takes his time choosing what new spells to prepare each day and drawing up a shopping list for Hook City as he prepares a delicious meal for the group.
On the first day he prepares a savory stew from rations and stingroot seasoned with garlic and rosemary. A man can live on packaged food from here 'til Judgment Day if he's got enough rosemary. It doesn't take long until the smell has everyone's mouths watering.
Craft Cooking = 19 :)
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Monday February 3rd, 2014 1:00:05 PM
Eternity is a long time...especially for a human. Restlin's not sure how he would keep himself entertained for hundreds of years, and eternity is a lot longer than that.
Happy to be on the road, happier to have good food to eat, and very much happier to know Zeoll is out there making some other group of adventurers more powerful then they have the right to be. Life is good. He ponders what he can spend his hard-earned coin on. He's not looking forward to scribing these scrolls, but eh...it's the life of a wizard.
Every morning on the way back to Hook City, Restlin will walk far enough away from the spear to safely cast Mage Armor. Other than that, he avoids casting any and all spells within range of the thing. He won't even cast his beloved prestidigitation to keep himself clean...
Five Mile: Approaching Hook City (co-DM SteveK) Monday February 3rd, 2014 5:44:07 PM
Sensei doesn't know what the range would be. If the Iron Advnenturers insist on it, they are going to have to experiment to determine the range of the Spear's effect.
And it looks like Restlin and Bosk are interested in experimenting! It takes a bit of trial and error, and some fairly comical outcomes before the knowledge at last is known. It looks like the Spear changes spells at whim within 30 feet of the owner. On the outside, if the Spear penetrates the magical barriers of the Vault (and neither Bosk, Restlin, nor Beriothian can know without tossing the Spear in and finding out), it would make spell casting within the room of the Vault very dangerous to perform. Until the Spear is tossed into the Vault, the heroes just can't be sure what will happen.
Again, the Spear being a newly affected artifact that makes its own rules, Bosk just doesn't have enough knowledge or experience to know if the Spear would affect supernatural powers without attempting some within 30 feet of Restlin.
.........................
Our story is going to pull a veil over the travels of the Iron Adventurers back to Hook City. The specifics of their experimentation is best left silent. Suffice to say the only things that stopped boredom from setting in was comradely conversation, scrumptious foods prepared by Bosk and Anrete, and the highly entertaining and dangerous changes of spells near the Spear, including every time Restlin tried to cast a spell (since he is the current owner of the cursed Eberyon's Spear.
It takes nearly two weeks of easy travelling to walk/ride from Wayfarer to Hook City. The Iron Adventurers know they are getting close when they come to the prosperous hamlet of Five Mile, a group of houses five miles from Hook City. It seems the plans and suggestions of the Iron Adventurers have been at work, because the place has grown to more than 50 adults, with Inn, Smithy, and a small stockyards.
Sailee and Putsch have been joined by almost 50 other Mudders and a handful of adventurous Gateway Downers. The Mudders include Helmust, Jillian, and Sanji who all work at a bare-bones General Store. They are hoping their proximity to Hook City will reduce evil attacks while providing something for the travelling merchants.
Sailee, Putch, Helmust, Jilian, and Sanji all invite the Iron Adventurers in for a meal and a talk. The last three are especially happy to see Bosk, Restlin, and Beriothian, and though sad to know the other heroes that they knew are gone, are happy to see the Iron Adventurers are strong and vibrant.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Monday February 3rd, 2014 6:37:17 PM
ooc: So no everburning torch of eternal darkness?
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Monday February 3rd, 2014 6:54:53 PM
When the group comes upon the new Inn, Garret quickly walks up to each new person, introduces himself, and shakes their hand. "Yes, I am Garret Goodbarrel. I am quite pleased to meet you." After they are invited for a meal, Garret replies, "Oh yes, indeed, it has been quite some time since I've eaten, though we have had a master cook along the trail, I'm sure the concoctions you can prepare in a proper kitchen will certainly match what we have seen!"
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Monday February 3rd, 2014 7:19:46 PM
Restlin doesn't know these folks that well, but he knows that they're good people and that he really, really wants a meal with a roof over their head. Normally, he'd provide magical shelter w/ food for his companions every night, but walking in and out of transdimensional space with this spear just seems to be begging for trouble.
If it's late enough to worry about the gates to Hook City being closed by the time they get there, he's up for a night in this new inn. Otherwise, the sooner this spear gets into safe keeping, the better.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday February 3rd, 2014 7:49:57 PM
Beriothian runs up and greets his old friends. Jillian, you're safe! I know you can take care of yourself, but we were still worried before when you disappeared. You'll need to fill us in later on how you managed to give those guys the slip.
I think we've lost a few members since we last spoke to some of you, and picked up a few honorable souls in the process. Let me introduce you to the new Iron Adventures.
Beri takes a few moments to introduce the new team members and shares a few of each ones brave and cunning exploits since they met. He then introduces Sailee, Putch, Helmust, and Jilian, friends they met in battle what seems like ages ago, and how they all used to run the Black Harris' shop. He then introduces Sanji, a former Iron Adventurer who had since settled down for what he hoped would be a more peaceful way of life.
ooc: I agree with Restlin, can you fill us in on whether we will be able to make it into Hook City tonight or will we be spending the night outside the gates so that we can better direct the conversation?
DMSteve: The IA can get to Hook City today. Just wanted to give the heroes a chance to talk to some of their long-time NPCs.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Tuesday February 4th, 2014 2:12:20 AM
Sesha is polite, but largely aloof from the strangers who have graciously taken them in. She sticks herself near Restlin for awhile, then takes time near Bosk or Anrete as not to appear too clingy to the Mage-priest. He likes finer things, and she was certain he would like basking in the attentions of people that see him as a champion.
She continues to ponder Mhalice. She had the nagging feeling that there was more to her than just her training as a Spellweaver. Mhalice had an array of spell like abilities that made Sesha downright envious.
When it is acceptably polite to do so, she excuses herself and sits down with her cauldron, then flicks Pot-pot a few times, hearing the distinct ring of iron.
"What gives Pot-pot? You've changed a lot lately. Was it the Chaos Bell?"
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Tuesday February 4th, 2014 9:10:27 AM
A thought occurs to Restlin as he enjoys the company of these fine people.
They're about to take a magic-warping spear into the most magic-rich city in the Wold. A city where even the lowliest peasant can cast a cantrip. Relatively speaking, that is. Hook City's peasants are pretty well off compared to most. Anyway, Hook City should be warned.
He has no magics that will deliver a message 5 miles away. "Hey Sesha," he pipes up. "Do you have any spells that could get a message to Hook City? We should probably warn the powers that be before we waltz in and ruin everyone's day with this spear. Inspector Aulander will probably know how to handle this."
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:134/134 DR:2 Tuesday February 4th, 2014 10:34:11 AM
Anrete gave Restlin and Sesha a weird looks as he casually examines the newcomers. "Greeting ye! I am Anrete. I can see we'll be whipping up a great meal tonight!"
"Ye ve just the thing for dinner!", the armored barbarian grins as he holds out a couple of frogs.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells d20+2=19 ; Tuesday February 4th, 2014 6:13:04 PM
Bosk smiles weakly when Anrete holds up the frog legs, his mind already flashing back to the roasted sewer frogs with pumpkin and tomato, fowl "cooked" by lime and vinegar, oh and the tortoise that if Bosk wasn't mistaken was an Awaken Animal. That sounds great! He says cheerfully while staring at the slimy legs. I can make some bread to go along with that if you want to take care of the main dish. Although the cleric has an Iron Stomach and is immune to many poisons, he is not sure how the others might fare and makes sure to back plenty bread in his Masterwork Cast Iron Pan (lotto item), just in case.
When Restlin mentions the informing Hook City about the spear Bosk suggests using one of their trusted contacts. Perhaps Sergeant Capon or Alistair himself. We do not want the wrong people finding out about this. We really need to get special permission to magically enter and leave the city like the Children f Chaos do, rather than having to enter through the gates every time.
Suddenly the clerics eyes light up as he sees Jillian, and he immediately asks them a barrage of questions. Have they been well? How is the potato farming going? And most importantly, did they ever get married???!!!!
Cooking = 19 If Sesha cannot contact Hook City Bosk will prepare cast Sending in the morning to contact Alistair directly.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Tuesday February 4th, 2014 7:27:39 PM
As the group discusses their options, Garret says quietly, "Do you think someone suspects that we have this evil spear, and that they might like to take it? I would think no one would really know about it yet."
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Tuesday February 4th, 2014 9:18:42 PM
ooc: Then our liasion
Five Mile:The Quandry (co-DM SteveK) Tuesday February 4th, 2014 9:24:32 PM
Garret, ever the extrovert, introduces himself to the people about the Inn. He makes pleasant conversation, and it even looks like most people don't mind his unwashed condition. (Maybe it is because of the large herd of cattle going by on the way to Hook City).
Restlin doesn't know these folks that well, but he knows that they're good people and that he really, really wants a meal with a roof over their head. He is good for almost an hour to eat and renew acquaintances, but the sooner this spear gets into safe keeping, the better! He worries that trying to move the Spear through Hook City undetected will cause quite a stir. When even the tanners and stableboys cast Cantrips, it could prove... unwise. He thinks Inspector Auslander needs to be informed before they arrive...
Beriothian runs up and greets his old friends and plays director to the round of introductions. Jilian nods, "It was close, but I wanted to keep myself scarce and hired on a local fishing boat to get away from Hook City for a while. Helmust and Sanji found me and told me the whole story of the Emporium. I think I like it better here." Jilian and Sanji are indeed married, and the potato farming is going to be right here in Five Mile! "Close enough to friends, but far enough away if you know what I mean", she says, and looks in the direction of the Wall of Tears and the fabled Hook City beyond.
Sesha is polite, but largely aloof from the strangers who know Bosk and Beri (and to a lesser extent Restlin). She sticks herself near Restlin, then takes time near Bosk or Anrete, and ponder's Mhalice. When it is acceptably polite to do so, she excuses herself and sits down with her cauldron. "What gives Pot-pot?", but the cauldron only bubble-giggles to itself.
Anrete gives Restlin and Sesha a weird looks, but he proudly displays what is for dinner; a couple of large forest frogs! One looks upsidedown at Anrete. "Krrrrrkkk!!", it says wisely.
Bosk smiles weakly when Anrete holds up the frogs and hopes the minotaur can prepare some side dishes that won't poison the residents of Five Mile, you know, just in case! When Restlin mentions the informing Hook City about the Spear, Bosk is suspicious of telling too many and suggests Sergeant Capon instead. Alistair himself would have been perfect, but the old soul moved to the Lands of Rest shortly after the party at Ma'ab's Temple. "We really need to get special permission to magically enter and leave the city like the Children f Chaos do, rather than having to enter through the gates every time!"
Garret Goodbarrel brings the matter of the Spear to the big elephant in the room "Do you think if someone suspects we have this evil spear, that they might like to take it?" ...............................
And that is exactly what the Iron Adventurers think! Hook City is a bureaucracy, so full of rules and processes that it is near impossible for any citizen to get any government thing done. But tell the wrong person, and the whole city in an hour would know the Iron Adventurers have this Spear. And while there are some they would trust to do the right thing (like Inspector Auslander or even stiff-and-formal Sergeant Capon) there are those in the government who are only out for themselves. Worse, with the number of spellcasters in the City, there is no telling who might want it.
And waiting is no good either. For Mhalice is somewhere on the Southern Continent. By now she certainly knows Khar Avon is dead and the Cauldron and Spear must be in the hands of the Iron Adventurers. If THAT lousy drow tells the wrong person....
Jilian speaks up. "I got this friend who owns a fishing boat you know. What if you went into the city that way? After passing the guards on the river, you only have to do a quick dash from the River to the Iron Tower; a couple of blocks at most. Or I can go with the fishing boat and deliver a message to anyone you want in the Iron Tower neighborhood."
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 d20+15=28 ; Tuesday February 4th, 2014 9:39:23 PM
Knowledge, local: 28 - Is there any drill, by-law, etc. that gets the citizens to clear the street?
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Tuesday February 4th, 2014 10:08:43 PM Thank you for the offer Jilian. I think the front gate is safest route for us as far as protecting the spear goes, the docks are only protected by locals most of the time. If someone attacks by the front gates they would draw half of the over zealous guard down upon them. That said, it might be in our best interest to send word to the Inspector to keep an eye open for trouble upon our entering.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Tuesday February 4th, 2014 10:09:29 PM
Bosk smiles mischievously and whispers to the group. We never checked to see if the secrete entrance we discovered in the zombie attack was ever sealed up. It was hidden by magic and only we knew its exact location...and you know how the officials hate leaving the city. There is a chance it is still there and we could sneak into the city that way.
He tells the newer members how there was a magically concealed pit that originally had a few rust monsters in it until the Iron Adventurer's dealt with them. Then, a tunnel led through the ancient tecuri catacombs below the sewers underneath the whole of Hook City. As he says this he remembers the lifelike statue of the group had found a Bulette, made by the tecuri, that he swore he would someday return to collect.
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:134/134 DR:2 Wednesday February 5th, 2014 9:56:18 AM
"How good did the rust monsters taste?", Anrete asked curiously.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Wednesday February 5th, 2014 11:05:20 AM We were in a hurry and neat it up too bad. Zeoll did try tasting a zombie finger that he found...but he did not like it much.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Wednesday February 5th, 2014 11:52:03 AM
"I like that idea, though I'm still pretty sure that statue is an actual bulette that was turned to stone. Not the kind of thing I'd want taking up space in our tower just in case someone decided to turn it back some day."
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Wednesday February 5th, 2014 12:35:51 PM I am positive that it is not a real bulette, both because it was a sculpture and because I tried casting magic missile on it. The spell could not target it as it would a creature.
ooc: From past text, as the group approaches, it is clear at about fifty feet away, it is not a creature at all, but a beautiful sculpture. The skeletal plates of the art work seem very real and they are, but they were assembled together by the hands of an expert. Amazing is the detail of the display.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Wednesday February 5th, 2014 7:03:48 PM
Berithian shakes his head at the idea of sneaking in. Glossing over the legal implications of once again sneaking into the city through a secret entrance, which the guards now know exist, you are still overlooking a pretty big point. We would have to walk through the catacombs... in order to avoid people who seem to have developed a taste for controlling small armies of corpses. It may be the most covert way to enter, you'd be hard pressed to find a better place for them to ambush us.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Wednesday February 5th, 2014 7:25:09 PM
Garret nods at Bosk, "I do like that idea. I think, perhaps it might be better for us to approach the tower from that direction and only then inform the authorities. What if the authorities decide they don't want the speak in the city at all? I would think it better that we were already there with it in storage."
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Wednesday February 5th, 2014 8:53:29 PM
Sesha frowns at Pot-pot then re-hooks the tiny cauldron and moves on. She lets Bosk go ahead with the sending spell, but it extremely interested in the Tuecri sculpture. She had seen some of their work before and was left breathless.
As far as whether to announce herself or sneak into the city, Sesha was neutral.
"Tell them it's just another cursed item for the vault. They don't have to know anything belonged to one god or another. Then again, anything that takes us by that statue is tops in my opinion. I wanna see it!"
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Wednesday February 5th, 2014 11:39:14 PM This is the city of magic, their real concern is that we don't try to sell it for a profit without giving them their cut. They have magical portals we go through the determine just that. The real concern is not making a spectacle of ourselves and getting it into the fault as soon as we can.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Thursday February 6th, 2014 5:48:18 AM
Garret replies, "I am indeed worried about the bureaucracy getting in the way here. I would hate to have this powerful item stolen from us -- anyone who could do that would likely be quite difficult to track down so that we could re-take the item, only to be left in the same situation. I agree we need to get it into the vault as soon as possible -- no matter what the bureaucracy might decide. There is a greater good to consider here."
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 d20+15=19 ; Thursday February 6th, 2014 9:45:40 AM
Restlin crosses his arms. "Beri has a good point. Here's what I think we should do...
"We go in via fishing boat. Once docked, we split into two groups. Beri, Anrete, and myself will go and enter the tower first and open the vault. The rest will follow behind, but make sure that spear is 30' away when we open the portal. Once we're all back in the tower, we vault the spear and close the portal.
"Maybe we should leave the spear inside the bag of holding once it's in the vault. That way the spear will be buried under two different dimensional pockets and basically won't exist until we take the bag back out of the vault. Mabye...who knows with something like that artifact."
Knowledge, Arcana: 19 - Will that work?
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Thursday February 6th, 2014 10:46:07 AM NO!!! The cleric says with such cold firmness and certainty that one might think someone was about to commit murder. That could kill us all!!! If a bag of holding is placed within an extradimensional space such as a portable hole..OR OUR VAULT, a rift to the Astral Plane is torn in the space: if it was put into a portable hole, both bag and hole alike are sucked into the void and forever lost. Our vault is much larger than a portable hole, both inside and out. The space inside the vault is almost limitless. How much more dire do you think the effects might be, how nuch stronger the suction of the void.?
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Thursday February 6th, 2014 11:50:01 AM
Restlin calmy places a hand on his friend's...shoulder? Maybe if he can reach it.
"Bosk, that only applies specifically to portable holes, which our vault is most assuredly not. Still, it was just an idea that got thrown out. No need to get upset."
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Thursday February 6th, 2014 3:48:31 PM
Bosk looks forward to a future conversation with Restling, alone ad out of hearing of anyone else. ...Maybe you are right, but the Sages guild keeps an true knowledge of why such things happen out of the hands of the general public...one of the reasons I hope to someday join them and learn from their great tomes..., but I have my own theories on how the planes connect. Also, our vault is a fairly unique item, so I doubt anyone has ever tried putting a nondimensional space inside of one. The results could be benign or catastrophic.
------------- ooc: Honestly, this would all be the DMs call. Bags of Holding take advantage of the ethereal plane...and there is no ethereal plan in the Wold. We have the Shadow Realm which is like a combination of the ethereal plane and the shadow plane. Add into the mix that we have our own demi-plane inside the vault and all bets are off.
Five Mile:The Quandry (co-DM SteveK) Thursday February 6th, 2014 7:13:50 PM
The problem is obvious. How does the Iron Adventurers get a powerful Spear that 'alters' magic spells undetected to the Tower through an extremely magical city? It doesn't help that the entrance through the Wall of Tears leads over the Marble Causeway, crossing a River (by boat or the Bridge), and then to the Tower!
It looks like the heroes have three ideas on how to get to the Tower.
1) The first is contact Inspector Auslander to grease the wheels at the Wall and escort the group through NorthHook, across the River, and then a mile of SouthHook to the Tower.
2) The second is to try to sneak in by the semi-secret catacombs, by the Tecuri Artifact, and up into the City. (ooc: The DM is going to ask if one of the Players from that time tell me if the entrance was in NorthHook or SouthHook)
3) The third is to try and sneak in by pretending to be fishermen citizens and land on the south LaborTown, only having to travel a couple of blocks.
It looks like the heroes will have to vote and the group then agree to do the option with the most votes.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Thursday February 6th, 2014 7:35:40 PM
Garret speaks up, "I, for one, think we should sneak in by boat and travel a short distance. I think that is the safest way in, and the best way to get there without having to deal with, well, pretty much anyone else."
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Thursday February 6th, 2014 8:27:44 PM
"I agree...Labortown is likely the easiest and safest way to do this."
***
James seems to have a fantastic memory for this stuff. That module was my first and my memory of it is fuzzy.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Thursday February 6th, 2014 9:44:52 PM
The "entrance" is a ways outside of the city, a ways away from where Mudtown originally was. For a short time there was a pile where people dumped the dead bodies from those that passed away in Mudtown, but it was since removed due to the bodies being used for zombification. Inside the city there are entrances everywhere!!! That is how the zombies were unleashed upon the whole of the city. We only managed to save so many due to writing messages in the sky with magic.
(The place is a maze, almost impossible to find your way around in. Fortunately Bosk had the foresight to map the route and write everything down.)
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Thursday February 6th, 2014 10:49:48 PM I still say main entrance, but boat would be my second choice.
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:134/134 DR:2 Friday February 7th, 2014 10:07:49 AM
Anrete is clueless and he leaves it for his smarter companions to decide the course of action.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Friday February 7th, 2014 10:10:43 AM
Sesha also abstains.
"We hardly know the city. Any decision I might make is probably not as good as yours. I'll let you old timers to Hook City decide. I just want to get back to my scribe to see if he found out anything about Little Spirit or not."
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Friday February 7th, 2014 11:27:31 AM I think we should speak to our contact first, but not tell him exactly what we have. I like the idea of taking the catacombs because it is so far beneath the city that it will not effect any of the citizen's magic on our way to the tower. Even if we go through Labor town, we will still be walking through miles of Hook City to get to our tower, disrupting who knows how many spells along the way.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Friday February 7th, 2014 11:46:20 AM
Restlin sees his friend is quite set on this. He doesn't necessarily agree, but knows how hard-headed Bosk can be. Is it worth the fight? The catacombs may be an excellent choice.
"My main concern is that we haven't been down there in months. Who knows what's cropped up in the mean time. Perhaps the powers that be decided to seal the whole thing off. Perhaps some other no-gooder has moved in, or perhaps Hook City is now keeping a careful eye on anything moving through there. Do you think it's worth that risk? Labortown's not THAT far from our tower."
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Friday February 7th, 2014 12:32:40 PM
ooc: Bosk will go along with the groups decision, and I think we should do whatever is suggested by our Hook City contact when Bosk uses his spell to communicate with him. (Although I am hoping to collect that statue). Also, I though labor town was a few miles from our tower, but I am having trouble finding any reference to the actual distance.
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 7 Friday February 7th, 2014 12:51:59 PM
OOC: I'm going by the DM saying it was a "few blocks"
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Friday February 7th, 2014 3:47:38 PM
OOC: Yes, I was under the impression that it was a few blocks from the end of the boat ride, which is the main reason Garret was voting for that direction.
Home Sweet... Who is This? (co-DM SteveK) d100=1 ; Friday February 7th, 2014 7:03:28 PM
ooc: not making it easy on your ol' DM, are you? :-)
Sesha and Anrete abstain, leaving four votes for the decision. And of those 2 are for the fishing boat ride (though the catacombs is the second choice), and 2 are for the catacombs (though the fishing boat is the second choice). Really, it comes to a coin flip, and the Fishing Boat wins barely.
With all the forethought and stress in coming to a decision, the execution is almost anti-climatic. Jilian's fisherman friend takes them on as a favor to Five Mile (for a favor later). At the river's entrance, the fishing boat is boarded by customs inspectors who briefly confirm the group is the Iron Adventurers, a Protector Group, and citizens of Hook City. They are let on with hardly a hassle.
The boat docks well up the Hook River providing the least-distance journey from the riverbank to the Iron Tower Neighborhood, and the heroes beat feet to their abode. The Spear proves that it only affects spells as they are being cast and hardly affects the life of LaborTown. Of all the burroughs of Hook City within the Wall of Tears, LaborTown is the least magical. Why, the businesses in this part of Hook City will even accept common silver and gold for services!
Still, the odd exclamation from a baker or weaver or minor bureaucrat as the heroes hurry up the street attest that there are some spells that are being affected by the cursed Eberyon's Spear. And it is with some relief that the Iron Adventurers get to their own neighborhood and come to the doorway of their own abode; the Iron Tower.
A doorway, it may be added, that is blocked by a Halfling holding a Jade Teapot.
...............................
ooc: Welcome Rob! You are free to post!
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 2 Friday February 7th, 2014 10:27:28 PM
Restlin looks at the halfling blocking their doorway. He looks up. Is it hot? Is he seeking shade? No...the weather control devices take care of that.
Does he need some sugar for his tea? That is a nice teapot. Maybe he's planing on sharing.
Either way, the poor guy's timing is just off. He looks around wondering if his companions know this fellah. He focuses on Sesha last, and failing to receive any acknowledgement, gives her his best "well, what now?" look.
"Excuse me, sir. We have urgent business inside. I have days worth of road and travel on me that must not be permitted to stay inside any longer than is absolutely necessary."
RobC - Katinka Hushfoot AC 20/16/15 -- CMD 19 -- HP 102/102 Sunday February 9th, 2014 7:51:39 PM
Tink chuckles quietly to herself. She's done it again. Standing in the shadows she has been mistaken for a man. That's ok. Just means she's been hiding unintentionally - a good habit to get into.
She takes a step forward from the shadows to reveal herself more clearly to the group before her. Standing at just over 3 foot, the halfling woman is clad entirely in black leather. Boots, pants, blouse and gloves. Her ebony hair is tied back in a pony tail, and in her right hand she holds - of all things - a teapot made of jade.
"I'm looking for the Iron Adventurers. Would you like some tea?" she asks, then rolls her eyes and sighs in exasperation "I need to be rid of this teapot. Would you like some tea? As you may notice, it has a rather annoying curse on it. Would you like some tea? You wouldn't happen to be them, would you? Would you like some tea?".
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Sunday February 9th, 2014 8:20:44 PM
Beriothian looks and the funny little halfling holding the teapot. I take it you aren't actually offering us tea from a cursed teapot. Yes, we are the Iron Adventurers... and before we go any further, I think it's perhaps best you tell us about this cursed teapot.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Sunday February 9th, 2014 9:26:18 PM
Before the small halfling stands Bosk, a tall blond minotaur with the Eye of Gargul on his forehead, in the center of which is a living third eye. He is dressed in an exotic plate armour crafted of woven Steel Grass crafted by the Manfri of the Sargrass. The large bastard sword across his back gleams in the sun as he moves forward and stares at the small figure before him. His natural feelings for halflings had changed ever since a Grim halfling had cleared his father's name in the murder of his mother. Briefly his mind flashes back to growing up on Minotaur Isle, the son of Cenoios and Adatia.
He was very close to his family. His father was was known across the island for his talents at wine making, and it had always been Bosk's dream to follow in his foot steps and take over the vineyard when he reached adult hood. One night he was awakened by the panicked screams of his mother. When he arrived outside his parents room he could already smell the blood, neither his father nor the murder were to be found. His father claimed to have been out tending the vines when the tragic event occurred, however the community did not believe him. That week his father was put to death by the community for his mother's murder.
Having not yet reached adulthood yet, nor having been trained enough to take over his father's work, Bosk was adopted by the community. He lived in his families house from this point, and was looked after and brought food by neighbors. A few weeks after his father's death both his father's and mother's spirits were seen throughout the community, and the town believed it to be a bad omen. His father forever seeking out his mother. It was not until some months later that a wandering halfling grim came upon their town and spoke to the spirits and laid them to rest. His mother's spirit would not leave because she was weighed down with the guilt of his death for her murder. His father, a proud man, was outraged by the injustice of his death and could not cross over until his family name was cleared. By talking to his mother's ghost he learned that she was killed by a Lich for refusing to reveal the location of the hidden cellars containing the sacred blue wine of Imod. The halfling was able to not only clear his father's name, but was also able to help their souls to cross over. These are things that no man in his village had been able to do. Although Bosk was glad that his families name was clear he forever was resentful of the fact that a small halfling was able to achieve that which none of his clan could do. Since that time Bosk has had mixed feelings towards the small ones. Although he is resentful of them, he also admires their determination and bravery and never underestimates them. Furthermore, this experience has caused him to dedicate his life to Gargul in hopes to one day attain the title of Grim so that he too may help those poor souls cross over and avenge their injustices. He hopes that his journey will one day lead him to the Lich responsible for his parents' deaths.
Shaking his head and pushing aside the haunting memories of his past he takes in the new comer. In a firm voice he orders, How did you hear about us, and what exactly is it that you want.? The Horned Cleric is more than willing to help the halfling, although is regrets not preparing a remove curse spell this morning. What worries his is how the halfling found her way to their tower, if this could be a trap set up by someone who knows about the spear, and most importantly, does she have any knowledge of the groups secrete vault for cursed artifacts.
ooc: Welcome to the group!!! An Avenger and a Justicar on the same team, this could be an interesting combination. Although I should mention that as a Grim Avenger, Bosk specializes in the dead and helping those who cannot cross over due to some grievous wrong or injustice done to them.
RobC - Katinka Hushfoot AC 20/16/15 -- CMD 19 -- HP 102/102 Sunday February 9th, 2014 9:47:42 PM "Excellent. Would you like some tea? I have some papers somewhere. Would you like some tea?" the halfling reaches her empty hand into one of the numerous pouches on her belt and pulls out two letters "Ah, here they are. Would you like some tea?"
She hands them out to Bosk. One is very formal looking, bearing the wax seal of the High Justicar of Hook City. The other is rather less formal. A piece of paper folded many times, and with the words "From Cyniq" scrawled on top.
Should he read them, Bosk will discover that the first is indeed a letter from the High Justicar introducing Tink, and the second is a letter from Cyniq, simply saying hi and that he hopes Tink proves a valuable asset.
"The High Justicar directed me to find the Iron Adventurers and the heroes of Bryn Baraz. Would you like some tea? He was the one who provided me the directions to reach this tower. Would you like some tea? He thought perhaps I would be able to assist you in finding and securing objects that plague the Wold, such as this teapot. Would you like some tea?"
She then turns to Beriothian "You are correct. Would you like some tea? I'm not offering you any tea. Would you like some tea? Though it may sound it, I don't mean it to be. Would you like some tea? It's just that anyone holding this teapot is compelled to continuously offer tea. Would you like some tea? And releasing it from my hand is also an issue. Would you like some tea? I'm told you have somewhere safe to keep such an object. Would you like some tea?"
"But where are my manners. Would you like some tea? I'm Katinka Hushfoot, Justicar of Pantheon. Would you like some tea? But you can call me Tink. Would you like some tea?"
----------------------- OOC: Great to be here! :) I'm going for a PC specialising in stealth and perception - a 1st class scout. A halfling wizard/justicar also just sounds fun.
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Monday February 10th, 2014 8:34:41 AM
Sesha giggles at the little halfling. She had met a few of them in her days and she had liked them all.
She shrugs at Restlin and smiles at the little waiter.
"I dont think there's any harm bringing him inside. Cyniq left us to report to the High Justicar didn't she? It's likely that's how he knew both of us and where to find us."
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 2 Monday February 10th, 2014 9:06:11 AM
Oh my...that's a female halfing. How unseemly of Restlin to call him a sir...
Well, if a former, albeit brief, Iron Adventurer says she's golden, then let's let her in. If nothing else, we have a nice place to put that teapot.
He also wonders why no one has taken her up on her offer. Tea sounds delightful right now.
Standing roughly 5'9", Restlin doesn't look like much. If it weren't for that garish robe he insists on wearing when he's adventuring (it keeps itself clean. How do people not see how amazing that is?), he probably wouldn't garner much attention when he was about.
Still, the young man has a bright pair of eyes and a perpetual stupid grin on his face. It's almost as if he can't believe he gets to live like this for going out and having a good time with his friends every couple of weeks.
Standing out from the bright patterns of his robe is a platinum holy symbol of Wardd. It seems the young wizard at least pays homage to the god of luck.
"We really should get off the street. Come inside, Tink. I hope you'll understand if we get to you in a moment, though. There's more going on right now than meets the eye. Make yourself at home while we deal with one last unpleasantry..."
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells d20+13=26 ; Monday February 10th, 2014 1:20:18 PM Perhaps I can help you with "releasing" that. As the horned cleric speaks he takes a step back (so as to be 10ft away and not trigger an AoO from Katinka) and draws his steelgrass bastard sword, the blade nearly twice the size of the halfling. With a deft flick of his wrist he attempts to disarm the teapot and free the small woman from her curse.
Disarm CMD of 26 (Katinka has a CMD of 19, so I think this is a success)
Curses, foiled again! (co-DM SteveK) Monday February 10th, 2014 7:56:22 PM
The road-weary and quite-suspicious-because-they-have-a-powerful-artifact-that-they-dont-want-to-fall-into-the-wrong-hands Iron Adventurers suddenly become a lot more friendly with Tink when she provides the letter from the High Justicar and (probably more importantly) Cyniq of Bryn Baraz. While Restlin, Bosk, and Beriothian don't know Cyniq well, Garrett, Anrete, and Sesha have all fought battles beside the elf, and her word is good enough for them!
Bosk tries to disarm the Teapot which spins away, strikes the side of the Tower and shatters! ... and appears unharmed in Katinka's hand. It looks cursed all right! Nothing else to do, the group of seven go into the resplendent stone structure called the Iron Tower!
The disposal of Eberyon's Spear goes without a hitch. Keeping the Spear away from the basement room of the Vault until it is opened by a command word (just in case), Restlin is able to then arrive and hurl the Spear into the starry blackness beyond the portal. Immediately, there are 12 Spears spinning off in different directions in the Pocket Dimension; as safe as mortal magic can possibly make the cursed items.
"Would you like some tea?" Through the quickly annoying line, the Halfling is able to tell the Iron Adventurers the curse of the teapot. Never able to be removed from a hand (thus denying carrying something and casting, or carrying two things), and breaking between every sentence (ooc: thus foiling many charisma based checks and any spellcasting more than 1 standard action) the Teapot's curse can only be temporarily nullified by a Remove Curse unless broken by dimensional barrier. Other than that, the only way to get rid of the Teapot is to have someone else, in full knowledge of what the Teapot does, agree to take the Teapot, and it be offered by the one who is cursed.
It looks like Katinka will have to wait until the morning.
In the meantime, the Iron Adventurers have the rest of the day to themselves. As Mara Weaver (a local skilled weaver whose shop is in Iron Tower Square) told Bosk the last time the group was in residence, the first day the Iron Adventurers return from being away from the city is called Heroes Day Off by the neighborhood. The neighbors have agreed that no matter what their own problems are, the Iron Adventurers get a day without problems. Not even Sergeant Capon comes around on Heroes Day Off!
It certainly makes for a relaxing day!
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday February 10th, 2014 7:59:15 PM
Beriothian watches on as Bosk does his best to demonstrate the meaning of overkill. Compared to the mammoth taur in his exotic gear the humble druid is very plain in appearance. His druid vestments seem plainer and contain more brown than green, though they are fitting for one who came out of mud town. He brushes his long hair out of his eyes and watches as his giant friends effortlessly flicks the blade in an attempt to knock the teapot loose. If the teapot is simply being held by Tink against her will then perhaps Bosk will succeed, however in his experience cursed items tend to be devious things.
ooc: sorry I haven't had a chance to update my character sheet, been crazy over here but I'll try to have it updated later this week.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Monday February 10th, 2014 8:05:32 PM
Beriothian watches as the teapot smashes into the wall. Well, that was entertaining... though I am curious whether one of these could be made that instead of tea was an ever replenishing bottle of fine whiskey. Anyway, thankfully we have a talented group here, I'm sure we can separate that teapot from you, you won't be very stealthy until we do. How did you end up with it, I understand that it must be taken with full knowledge of what it does. But there is usually a good reason for taking a cursed item from someone.
RobC - Katinka Hushfoot AC 20/16/15 -- CMD 19 -- HP 102/102 Monday February 10th, 2014 8:42:59 PM
Tink's eyes widen as Bosk draws his sword. She has just enough time to turn her head and close her eyes tightly as he swings it... and thankfully only smacks the teapot away rather than take her arm off.
"Thanks anyway. Would you like some tea? No good reason. Would you like some tea? There was a woman in Heranmar who had this thing stuck to her hand. Would you like some tea? It was making her life miserable. Would you like some tea? I was confident that I'd be able to find a way to be rid of it, somehow, so willingly took it from her. Would you like some tea? It does get annoying. Would you like some tea? Imagine ending every sentence with would you like some tea? Would you like some tea? On the plus side it could come in handy in bar fights. Would you like some tea? Never ending supply of things to break over people's heads. Would you like some tea?"
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Monday February 10th, 2014 9:10:43 PM
Garret tags along as the group heads inside, saying little, apparently lost in thought. "I am getting a bit thirsty for some reason...."
An average size halfling, Garret is noticed mostly by the fact he's unnoticeable. He does not stand out in appearance at all, and in a crowd disappears more than normal due to his small size. His voice is quiet, steady, and even. His black hair is nearly always up in a topknot, sticking up about 4 inches, with the sides of his head shaved. On the sides of his head, and leading across to his eyes, there are various dark but colorful tattoos. He travels light, so is seldom seen with much gear. He is usually seen with tan leather pants that end just above his ankles and no shirt, showing his furry body. Around his waist is a rope belt with a couple small pouches hanging off of them, one heavy with small rocks. He is seldom without his sling, either in his hand or on his belt. On his back is a small backpack, clearly far from full.
(Sorry, I'm pressed for time today, much more tomorrow!)
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 2 Tuesday February 11th, 2014 7:00:54 AM
Ah Heroes Day Off...even if it's a new tradition, Restlin feels it is a fine and good one.
First order of business...well, second order of business. First order of business was getting that spear taken care of, but second order of business is a bath. A good bath, with sandalwood oil, lots of bubbles, and plenty of hot water is in order.
Once he feels human again, he puts on his lounging clothes, checks in on Sesha and asks if she'd like to accompany him, and heads downstairs. Finding Tink, he asks how she's doing. Once he's asked if he would like some tea, he replies in the affirmative.
He does this for two reasons. First, he'd love a cup of tea. Second, he wants to see if the item compels the owner to provide tea when asked for, whether it can make hot tea on demand, and whether it's any good.
Whatever the tea outcome, he continues conversing with Tink until the halfling gets tired of talking about tea. He'd love to know if she shares that same stick-up-her-behind Cyniq did.
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:134/134 DR:2 Tuesday February 11th, 2014 9:06:53 AM "Anrete likes some tea, little halfling."
Anrete is a relatively short human in full plate armor. Slung across his back is a massive sword of dark metallic material. His fierce barbarian demeanor spoiled by a half-eaten frog dangling from his mouth.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells d20+16=19 ; Tuesday February 11th, 2014 2:50:37 PM
Bosk watches with disappointment as the jade teapot reappears in the halflings hands. I suppose that means that you will have to spend the night and wait until I can prepare a remove curse spell in the morning. I am Bosk DeOx, Eye of Gargul and Grim Avenger. I have pledged my shadow and dedicated my life to helping the dead get the justice they deserve so they may cross over and find comfort in the Land of Rest. As he says this he points to the ground and his conspicuously absent shadow. My shadow hangs on the wall of Gargul's throne room and as such is no longer cast in the Wold. Before he leaves the tower he tries to get to know Tink a little better.
That evening Bosk takes advantage of the day off and sneaks away to visit the Jimbim and the rest of the Brodery's. He sends some time checking in on the family and takes a gallon of ale out of his bag for the family to share as he makes sure they are doing well before meeting privately with Jimbim and places an order for two doses each of MEDIUM SPIDER VENOM (200gp per dose) and BLUE WHINNIS (200gp per dose).
He then stops by Mara the Weaver's to have her inspect his precious steelgrass armor. Being from the Sargrass herself, she of one of the few people left in the Wold with knowledge of the material and who he trusts with his gear.
That evening he finishes his crafting his slotless Ishgaran Headband of Wisdom. The halfling's constant offering of tea distracts him significantly, but with his skill he is still able to complete the item in half the normal time. As he crafts he goes over his plans with for the week with the group including shopping at the Catacombs, training at the WLA and of course more crafting.
In the morning he prays to the lord of life and death for the power to break the teapots curse and summarily disposes of the offending kettle.
--------------- Spellcraft Check for crafting = 19
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] d20+24=34 ; Tuesday February 11th, 2014 6:23:44 PM
Sesha and pot-pot take to her bedroom. With some time free that night and the next morning, she decides to brew a potion. With Pot-pot, failure is impossible.(34 check) When done, she has a new potion of Heal. It was expensive, but should prove useful to someone.
Probably Restlin.
She decides to call on the scribe she had hired to research Little Spirit.
RobC - Katinka Hushfoot AC 20/16/15 -- CMD 19 -- HP 102/102 Tuesday February 11th, 2014 7:31:16 PM
Tink forces a smile. Both Anrete and Restlin have asked for some tea. Doesn't that seem a little like adding insult to injury for a person compelled to offer? Nevertheless she excuses herself to find the kitchen and brew a pot for the group. She takes care not to make a mess in the kitchen, putting everything back exactly where she found it.
With her one free hand she stacks a tray carefully with cups, and then balances it all back to the group - hot tea ready to serve!
Heroes Day Off (co-DM SteveK) Tuesday February 11th, 2014 7:51:46 PM Probably Restlin. I literally DID Laugh Out Loud! :-) .............................
It turns out the Jade Teapot doesn't even make tea, only forces the owner to constantly ask, but never fulfill. Horrible curse! But at least Restlin finally gets a civilized bath!
The morning finds Bosk with one cast spell, Katinka temporarily without her curse, and a Jade Teapot. A demonstration of the Vault by Bosk, and the little Halfling lady can gleefully get rid of the annoying thing!
The Vault Highlight to display spoiler: { is a demi-plane created by a powerful cleric and mage, together creating a very secure storage for cursed magical items that the Iron Adventurers have seemed to collect. In the Basement, the door to the room is guarded by twin Symbols of Sleep and Stunning that are on the inside of the door lintel and keyed on the Iron Adventurers (further, the IA are able to Key in new members and key out old). Coupled with the Symbols is an Permanent Alarm Spell that will go off if the Symbols are triggered. The Room is further covered by a Permanent Private Sanctum and Permanent Dimensional Lock (with a 10x10 hole APG Shaping metamagic) where the Vault is located. The entrance is like the entrance to a Magnificent Mansion; invisible until a Command Word is spoken (Iron Adventurers chose), then opens into a 10x10 hole into a void-like area filled with objects and sparkly lights floating in a vast black void. Any magical item thrown into the Vault spins slowly in the void and immediately creates 9 copies of itself. Each copy is alike in physical and magical aura characteristics, but does not possess any other power. The demi-plane is infinite and filled with flotsam and jetsam, so is nearly impossible to recover an item, and on the off-chance one is found, there is only a 10% chance that it is the correct item!}
Heroes Day Off is satisfying as it is unexpected. The Iron Adventurers can wander about Tower, selecting their rooms, lounge at ease in the wonderful grand foyer or even wander the well-planted rooftop garden. This, by many a civilized standard, is the life!
Sesha takes the time to work with Pot-Pot who chortles away merrily making a potent Heal potion!
Anrete is having trouble locating his own ingredients for his innovative meals, but hunting/gathering around the mudflats of the Hook River, the barbarian can come up with all sorts of nominally edible things!
Bosk visits several of the neighbors. It may be Heroes Day Off, but that doesn't mean the heroes can't go out! The Brodery's welcome the minotaur in, the younger members playing 'wrestle' with the blond hero. Eventually alone, Jimbim graciously accepts the ale and is able to quickly supply the requested poisons. "Had some extra since that was the kind you wanted before, Bosk. Anything for you guys!"
Another visit to Mara the Weaver lets the middle-aged woman look over Bosk's steelgrass armor. She tsks at a rent here, a tear there. "Nothing that can't be fixed Sieur Bosk", she says, "Give me a couple days with the armor to weave it right." Mara seems happy, and she gladly speaks of the extended Weaver family. The most significant of Mara's news: another grandchild born while the team was away; a message from her youngest daughter, a Spellweaver currently wandering the Northern Continent; and the upcoming Day of Faith.
A message that evening from Sergeant Capon announces that the Hook City official liaison to the Iron Adventurers will arrive shortly after breakfast tomorrow.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Tuesday February 11th, 2014 8:18:23 PM
When the Halfling introduces herself, Garret nods and bows. He says, "Well met Katinka. I am Garret Goodbarrel of the Windbourne Hills. Do not trouble yourself with the location, it is quite a far sight from here, almost in another world."
"You are Justicar, then? I have known and traveled with justicars before, and I am quite sure that you will live up to their reputation. I do admit, though, I have never met one with such a perfect stature before. He was quite a tall and skinny fellow, as I recall. I have to say, I am not interested in tea at the moment, but do come in, I'm sure we have some food around here and I don't know about you, but I'm absolutely famished after the long trip here."
Before they get inside, Bosk smashes the teapot. Garret laughs and says, "Did you really think that would work? Ah well, I suppose it was worth the effort." He shrugs and heads inside.
Once inside, he listens to the story of the teapot. He looks around at the others and says, "Dimensional barrier? Don't we have one of those around here? I think we might just be able to help this fair justicar!"
-----
Garret thinks back to the recent adventures of this group, the so-called "Iron Adventurers." He guessed that he was part of them now, but he can still see how the group is tightly joined and has been together for some time before he appeared. He wondered if they would miss him if he were to leave or even remember him as he thought about his traveling companions from what seemed like such a long time ago. Then he realized, that's what life is all about, isn't it? He smiles and thinks about the group of Iron Adventurers, then pauses. Is that fresh meat cooking in the kitchen again? He was glad to be around so many skilled cooks after spending so much time out in the wilderness.
He walked around the entranceway to the Iron Adventurers castle -- for that is what he considers it now with its extra-dimensional space -- and thought about what he could do for the group. It came to him suddenly: an emblem. Sure, most of the group was known around town and by many people, but others also know about the Iron Adventurers, but have never actually seen them. A shield would certainly be a powerful symbol, but there were actually quite a small number of the group that would actually use one. Oh sure, it might look nice on the wall, but that didn't seem right for this group.
Then again, what about a small shield? Perhaps one that could even be in the form of a clasp of some time. Garret looked over at his rather old and worn backpack and realized that yes, it would do nicely to have a new buckle to hold the lid shut. And heck, nearly everyone could find a way to wear something like that, even if it was outside the armor or outside their clothes. Yes, a buckle/brooch would do nicely. Now if he could just find a good design -- wait, a shield-shaped item would be perfect! Maybe a small shield with the letters I and A on them, perhaps on top of one another, to almost make a symbol that could be easily recognized, even by those with limited reading skills. Now, what should it be made from?
Iron would be nice and strong, but that might be too heavy, and just wouldn't look as nice as, well, something nice. Perhaps making these items out of gold or silver would be good. Forget the expense, these are the Iron Adventurers that Garret is making these for! Yes, indeed, it was time to find a way to get these made.
Garret headed out into town on Heroes Day off, hoping to locate a quality metal smith. He didn't just want someone who could hammer steel into a pointy blade, he wanted a skilled craftsman. After checking about for a bit, he managed to locate a nice, well-kept shop with a fellow who really seemed to know his business. Garret tried to describe what he wanted -- a collection of small items, a group of about 8, all identical. They would each be about 4 or 6 inches tall and in the shape a shield. On the front of the shield would be carved the two letters "I" and "A" on top of one another. On the back should be a device that could be used to attach the item to clothes, a backpack, or even to armor. The item should be strong so that it would not break or bend, but it also needed to look exception. Perhaps the item could be made of iron and then dipped in gold or platinum? After describing the item, Garret asks what such a thing might cost.
He does all this without telling the other members of the IA what is going on -- he hopes to surprise them one day at dinner, hopefully before they head out on another adventure.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Tuesday February 11th, 2014 8:42:05 PM
During their down time Bosk shows Katink around the Iron Tower. (I am not yet happy with the stairs, but if you look close there is a jade teapot on the stove.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Tuesday February 11th, 2014 9:59:47 PM
ooc: Can we make our purchases in the Catacombs now?
DM SteveK: Yes, Catacombs is open for business!
RobC - Katinka Hushfoot AC 20/16/15 -- CMD 19 -- HP 102/102 Tuesday February 11th, 2014 10:20:02 PM "Just one thing before you remove the teapot. Would you like some tea?" Tink holds up a finger, gesturing for a pause to Bosk.
The halfling smiles and excuses herself from the group to leave the tower. Once on the doorstep she kneels and proceeds to repeatedly smash the teapot into the ground "Stupid! Would you like some tea? Annoying! Would you like some tea? Jade! Would you like some tea? Teapot! Would you like some tea?" Each time she smashes it, it "miraculously" reappears in her hand, ready for the next blow.
Tink blows the loose hair from her eyes, takes a deep cleansing breath, and returns to Bosk to remove the teapot. "That felt so therapeutic. Would you like some tea?"
With the teapot now permanently removed from her hand, Tink is finally able to rub her hands together. Holding a teapot all day can give you such a cramp!
---------------------
Katinka takes the time to have a look around the Iron Tower - only in the rooms shown to her of course. She is a guest after all, and doesn't want to intrude.
She does strike up a conversation with Garret. She hasn't known many halflings to walk around topless, and even fewer to have the muscle definition he does. "He's talking. Stop staring at him. Quick! Say something back!"
"Uh, yes, a Justicar."
"Wow. That's the best you have to say to him?"
"Don't worry though, I will do my best to ensure I don't step on any toes around here. I just want to make sure any wrongs get set right. But what about you? Why do you travel with this group? Have you known them for long?"
Tink has become very conscious of her hands for some reason, and doesn't quite know how she should be holding them. It's quite different when there's no teapot in them. She settles for just putting them on her hips, and cocks her head to listen to Garret.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Tuesday February 11th, 2014 11:04:17 PM
Beriothian drops the bulk of his traveling gear off in his room, then returns to the kitchen and prepares himself a well deserved cup of coffee. Returning from the kitchen he joins Tinka and Garret.
You know, if I hadn't lived here for so long I would have been shocked that a kindly wizard hadn't offered to free her of such a curse. However, it seems that in this town they are either wanting chits for a basic act of kindness, or just don't want to deal with the possibility of the city sending over a small mountain of paperwork for breaking a curse without a permit.
ooc: I don't think anyone but Bosk responded before, but any thoughts on me taking craft scroll as a feat this level?
DM Steve: I think it is an idea that hasn't been tried before, and could be beneficial. However, note that "Activating a scroll is a standard action (or the spell's casting time, whichever is longer)" and a Summon spell is 1 full round and retrieving a scroll, even from a Handy Haversack is a move action. The timing would be off.
What this would mean is to cast a Summon spell from a scroll not in Beri's hand and with a Handy Haversack, Beri would use all of one round and the Move Action of a Second round before the summoned creature appeared. Beri would then have a Standard Action left in round 2.
RobC - Katinka Hushfoot AC 20/16/15 -- CMD 19 -- HP 102/102 Tuesday February 11th, 2014 11:50:51 PM OOC: Katinka has Scribe Scroll, Craft Wondrous Item, and Fast Forge. I'm happy to craft anything for anyone
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 2 Wednesday February 12th, 2014 5:53:25 AM
Of course, Restlin doesn't just let Tink head off to the kitchen to make him a cup of tea. Once he's aware that the teapot doesn't actually produce any tea, he'll follow her in and start making the tea himself.
"That's a shame. I was hoping to remove the curse but be left with a teapot of endless tea. That would be an amazing addition to our adventuring toolkit, let me tell you."
As he takes the hot water off the stove, he asks, "are you compelled to provide the tea, or are you just being polite here? I suppose I could have asked whether or not the teapot can provide tea instead of testing it out myself, but either way it's done."
Regardless, he's glad to see the thing disappear into the vault. Probably the least dangerous thing in there, but he's glad Tink's happy it's gone.
The next morning, he's out the door and on his way to Wardd's temple. He has no official business, but the place is just a ton of fun and he has some great stories to tell. He'll still keep an ear open to see if there's any news that should concern him.
It's not too long before the coin in his pocket starts to burn its way out, however. Next stop is the catacombs...
Anrete AC:30/17/30 CMD:32 HP:134/134 DR:2 Wednesday February 12th, 2014 11:37:54 AM
Anrete sips his tea loudly as he ponders over the great mysteries in life - what to buy next with his share of the -loot
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 2 Wednesday February 12th, 2014 1:37:52 PM
Just re-read the last DM post about Capon being here after breakfast. I'll go do my temple shopping stuff the evening before, instead.
Garret Goodbarrel [AC:32/28/27 HP:104/104 Ki:13/13 CMD: 30] Wednesday February 12th, 2014 4:21:42 PM
When the shopkeeper mentions that it will take him some time to come up with an estimate for the requested badges, Garret nods his head and says that he will be back later on to check in on the prices. In the meantime, he looks over at a shelf that holds a number of different weapons. He eyes a few different pointy items and thinks back to the last battle when the enemies were so far away. He asks, "How much are these? I think I could use a number of them." He picks out 20 shiny shuriken and hands over a few gold to pay for them. *** Back at the castle (tower), Garret again meets up with Katinka. When she asks about his travel with the Iron Adventurers, he gets a faraway look in his eyes as he thinks back to the land and adventurers so far away. He looks back to Katinka and thinks that she looks like she's rather nervous around him for some reason. He says, "Well, I have not been with this group long, but it was quite a meeting. The fates themselves brought us together, and me from quite a long distance away. I was here for a purpose, and I don't believe there is any way for me to return to, well, not home, as I have never had much of a home. But I do like this castle here. And this group is quite good at sticking together, helping one another, and if you are looking for someone to right wrongs, you just missed us stopping a lich from being created." He shifts his weight from one foot to another as he continues, "I am not sure I helped a great deal, but I think perhaps I did distract some of the enemies to keep others from getting killed, at least." "Have you had any exciting adventures lately?"
Sesha [AC 20 /15 Touch/19 Flat] | HP 81/73 | CMD 19][See Invisibility] Wednesday February 12th, 2014 5:10:40 PM
(DM - Any info for Sesha on Serenbeth? Was in the last part of my post yesterday.) DM SteveK: I missed that, sorry! :-(
Sesha is happy to have had some time to herself, and just as happy to set aside some time for others that need her skills.
Bosk AC: 29/14/26 CMD:28 HP 94 of 94 Spells Wednesday February 12th, 2014 7:55:58 PM
ooc: Bosk has Craft Wondrous Items. Can/will TInk craft for us this level? I will place my catacombs order once I know.
Bosk shows Tink around the tower, taking a natural liking to the Justicar. He had heard they are often extreme in their views, but feels that their goals and logic often overlap with that of the Avenger. He secretly hopes he can get Tink to join the group...you never know when it might be useful to have another voice pushing for justice (vengeance).
Over breakfast Bosk strikes up a conversation with their guest, So, what is it like serving as a Justicar? Have you ever given any thought to joining an adventuring or protection group? There is power in numbers and it might help you to track down those that would otherwise be out of justice reach.
Beriothian (Will)-- AC:23/16/16 HP: 85/85 CMD = 23 Wednesday February 12th, 2014 8:46:10 PM
Berithian joins Bosk and Tink at the breakfast table with a large mug of fresh percolated coffee and a mound of eggs and sausage on his plate.
You do have strong references from one of our colleagues, and we have a free room in our tower. Though I should warn you that we aren't often successful about bringing people back alive. Not that we don't try, we just tend to attract the type of people with egos that demand a fight to the death... and also the type of people that are already involved in the undead in some way or another.
ooc: looks like I have a lot of spells Tink doesn't since I don't need a spell book so it may still be good for me to take scribe scrolls, especially since I tend to need high level spells for summons. I love how Tink's character sheet is done. I may need to redo mine in a google spreadsheet one day.
ooc2: will we be able to place catacombs orders over the weekend, or do they need to be in before that?
Restlin (Carl) -- AC: +10/+9/+8 CMD: 21 HP: 89/89 (Spells) Luck Points: 2 Wednesday February 12th, 2014 9:15:19 PM
Restlin settles in for breakfast, trying very hard to steel himself for the arrival of Sgt. Capon.
"It's not that Capon's not a good guy. His job performance is admirable. If he has a wife, I'm sure he's a good and faithful husband and father.
"...but my goodness, the man has no sense of humor. Oh well, the things we have to put up with in this city."
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