Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22/21/17; HP 179/276 - 60; Rumpus AC 33/16/27; HP 151/151 - 45 Thursday April 28th, 2022 10:36:42 AM
"How come nobody thought to give Talia a mount or something?" wonders Kezzem. "Can one of you fast biggies run over and carry her or something? She doesn't weigh much, usually she just floats along the ground."
Kezzem will wait for Murphey to leave the hallway and then have Rumpus move over towards the UMD alcove, doing his best to keep out of AoO range of the golems. Kezzem will total defense.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP 52/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Thursday April 28th, 2022 12:03:29 PM
Succotash's AC minus magic: 21 +4 Valerie's AC minus magic: 35 +4
Realizing he can't harm these golems without the help of magic, Succotash goes total defense, and instructs Valerie to do likewise. He knows he can't withstand another hit like that, but figures his life for his friends is well worth the sacrifice, if it gives Tali the time she needs.
Murphy (KimMc) Halfling druid AC 17/T11/F16 CMB 23 CMD 41 HP 199/199 Thursday April 28th, 2022 12:33:45 PM
Murphy does not wait around, seeing he has figured out the alchemical device by the skin of his teeth. [OOC: How was the device set up? What did he have to do? Some flavor description would be nice :-) ]
He runs flat out past Kezzem and golem 2 (who gets an AoO vs Murphy), then diagonally up to the top middle opening to the ramps, up the ramp to the right, and around the corner toward the UMD device. His move (due to fleet feat) is 25, he has the run skill, thus 5x normal speed, for 125 feet total.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22/21/17 + 6; HP 124/276 - 60; Rumpus AC 33/16/27; HP 151/151 - 45 Thursday April 28th, 2022 5:53:05 PM
Header update for total defense.
Also, I moved Kezzem on the map. Only 2 will provoke an AoO as Kezzem/Rumpus stays at least 20 feet away from the golems (and 2 only gets one if he didn't use his AoO on Murphey and/or has Combat Reflexes).
Tali uses a full move run to reach spot AH18. Next round she will attempt to disable the device "lock" by using her skill "Use Magic Device".
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 54/157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+24=38 ; Thursday April 28th, 2022 8:53:21 PM
Pressi smiles in triumph.
The smile is short lived.
Pressi got knocked around, first by one and then the other. "Didn't anyone ever tell you to wipe your feet NOT on the halfling."
Pressi considers hiding behind Nick and Prudence but that doesn't seem nice, and Nick has already been judgy judgy all day. Instead, she flips around the lock (Acro 38 out of the threatened square) to the other side of the pole.
"Come on, come on...."
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) d20+13=23 ; d6=1 ; Thursday April 28th, 2022 10:09:39 PM
Pru isn't entirely sure how she got way over here, but staying with Nikolai is probably a good strategy so she doesn't question it. Instead she fishes out a flask of alchemists fire and lobs it in the direction of golem 4.
[Hit AC 23 for a point of fire damage.]
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Thursday April 28th, 2022 11:51:29 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Haste (+1 on attack, AC and Ref saves, extra attack, +30 speed), Greater Heroism (+4 on skill, attack, saves, +20 temp hp) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 17/18
"Honey, these golems are just too close! They've got a heck of a reach! I've got to move you to a safer location!"
He picks Pru up again after dropping the rest of the iron marbles at G4 and moves to w9.
Out loud he shouts, "Why are you trying to engage? Full Defense! You know you can't harm them yet! Just keep moving and dodging!"
DM Mitch d20=5 ; d20=7 ; d20=2 ; d20=16 ; d20=17 ; d20=13 ; d20=11 ; 6d10+13=45 ; 6d10+13=50 ; 6d10+13=37 ; 6d10+13=45 ; 6d10+13=47 ; 6d10+13=54 ; 6d10+13=47 ; d100=30 ; d100=74 ; Friday April 29th, 2022 7:30:04 AM Kezzem asks why no one thought to give Tali a mount and asks if someone could carry her. He then waits for Murphy to leave the hallway and have Rumpus move over to the UMD alcove. Succotash Realizes he can’t hurt the golems without magic so he goes total defense and instructs Valerie to do the same. He knows he can’t take another hit like that but it would be worth it if it gave Tali the time she needed. Murphy does not wait around seeing as how he go the alchemical device by the skin of his teeth. He runs past Kezem and Golem 2 toward the UMD device and takes a hit for 45 damage. Tali runs to the slot near the magic device. Pressi smiles only to find that short lived as the golems attack she then flips around the lock to the other side of the pole. Pru isn’t sure how she got way far away but staying with her husband is probably a good strategy so she lobs a flask of alchemical fire at golem 4.
Nikolai explains how he got Pru out of the reach of the golem. He picks Pru up again after dropping more marbles. He berates some of the others for trying to engage and tells them to go total defense.
With their 30 foot movement and 15 foot reach the two golems easily catch up to Pressi, who probably wishes she stayed in the smokestick’s concealment. With no miss chance from it every attack strikes true for a total of 187 damage.
Golem 2 is able to reach Prudance and Nikolas but not attack them since it had to double move.
Succotash is missed once, but the second blow hits for 47, taking him to 5 hp.
DM Mitch Friday April 29th, 2022 7:36:03 AM
Those dealing with the security resets see that they are devices that seem to trigger or lock when the security system is set off. Each is a large pedestal with a complex mechanical set up that has to be reset. For the alchemical one a complex reaction starts and Murphy had to figure out how to reset it so the reaction would stop. Similarly the others involve a complicated mechanism that locked in place and had to be reset and the third a series of mystical reagents that somehow let a current pass through that has to be interrupted.
How exactly these devices trigger the golems and how resetting them sends orders to the golem is unknown. You'd probably have to take apart golems, devices, and half the room to figure out the complex system.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Friday April 29th, 2022 3:54:09 PM
"Oh, no. Pressi." With no magic available, Pru can't help her now. Hopefully later. And hopefully she was able to finish disabling the golem.
Pru takes a Withdrawal action to scamper out of the way of the golem.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22/21/17 + 6; HP 124/276 - 60; Rumpus AC 33/16/27; HP 151/151 - 45 Friday April 29th, 2022 4:17:42 PM
"Somebody get Pressi!" shouts Kezzem.
He delays until after Tali. If Tali succeeds at he her check, he grabs her and has Rumpus double move towards the gate.
Otherwise, he and Rumpus go full defense.
Murphy (KimMc) Halfling druid AC 17/T11/F16 CMB 23 CMD 41 HP 199/199 d20+20=34 ; Friday April 29th, 2022 4:45:29 PM
Murphy headed over to help Tali with the Use Magical Device reset. Rolled 34 on UMD. Then he hears Kezzem call out about Pressi. Something twists in his gut. He says nothing right away though, wanting to ensure he can help Tali stop these killing machines.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 d20+30=49 ; d20+16=20 ; Friday April 29th, 2022 9:13:45 PM Use MD Device
Tali takes a 5-foot step forward using her ability to disable the Magical Device in hopes of stopping the obvious menace! As soon as she is finished her "try", Tali spins around (Acrobatic Check) in an effort to see her handiwork!
When the dust settles, Tali asks both Mister Murphy & Mr. Nikolai, "Is everyone alright?"
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Saturday April 30th, 2022 12:46:08 PM
OOC: Tali's UMD of 49 now adds +2 from Murphy's Aid Another.
Murphy (KimMc) Halfling druid AC 17/T11/F16 CMB 23 CMD 41 HP 199/199 Saturday April 30th, 2022 12:48:27 PM
"Well done, Tali." A look of worry on his face is all he is able to answer her question as to everyone being all right. He turns and looks out. "Pressi? Pressi? What happened to Pressi, Kezzem?" If he sees the golems starting to move toward them, the counsels his friends to get out of their way, and does so himself. And tries to figure out how to get to where Pressi is.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP 5/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Saturday April 30th, 2022 5:06:21 PM
Succotash sees the blows Pressi recieved, and his heart sinks. He's almost certain that even if they weren't in this anti-magic field, a quick casting of breath of life wouldn't be enough to bring her back from the brink of death. His only thoughts now are whether or not she can somehow heroicly cheat death, and whether or not he will be joining her.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP -9/157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Saturday April 30th, 2022 10:00:48 PM
(Succotash reminds me, I can burn my last two hero points. I use them to cheat death.)
As everything continues to swirl and echo, she reminds Murphy to leave her, and keep going for the device.
Also, if Nick so much as makes a single comment or suggestion, Murphy has her permission to hit him.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Sunday May 1st, 2022 1:14:03 PM
OOC: Nikolai is not in the habit of commenting to someone who is dead. :)
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Sunday May 1st, 2022 11:51:53 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Haste (+1 on attack, AC and Ref saves, extra attack, +30 speed), Greater Heroism (+4 on skill, attack, saves, +20 temp hp) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 17/18
Note: AC without magic = 21 + Mobility 4(vs AoO) 25 when moving in/out of AoO.
Nikolai remembers from the notes that the golems will move to attack any non-giant 'moving', so Pressi is Ok for the moment, but he needs to get the golems away from her. He dashes to join Pru while getting one of his ropes out.
'Keep moving Pru, just keep moving.'
DM Mitch Monday May 2nd, 2022 7:15:17 AM Pru exclaims her horror at Pressi’s fate and then takes a withdrawal action Kezzem calls for someone to get Pressi. He delays waiting for Tali do her check preparing to grab her and have Rumpus do a double move to get her out of there lest another caster fall this day. Murphy heads over to help Tali with the UMD but something twists in his gut as he hears about Pressi. Tali handles her device with aplomb twirling to see her handiwork as Kezzem grabs her and spirits her away on Rumpus. She asks if everyone is alright as the Paladin and pony move her away. Murphy congratulates Tali only to ask what happened to Pressi and tries to figure out a way to get over to her. Succotash sees the blows Pressi received and his heart sinks. He doesn’t think there is anything he could do for her now. Pressi cheats death. The efforts to blind the golems apparently did have some effect at least with respect for Pressi. The Golem was not actually able to strike her as hard as it otherwise would have, so instead of being totally dead she’s stable and unconscious at negative hp and in an anti-magic field. Nikolai knows from the notes that since Pressi is unmoving and unconscious the Golems won’t attack her but they need to get the golems away from her fallen form. Nikolai encourages Pru to keep moving.
Pressi’s surprising survival would have quickly proved moot, but even as she falls the others manage to reset the final lock. The giant constructs stop their swings instantly and freeze for a moment before, in unison, they hold their swords up on salute, sheath them, and stomp back to their starting positions to once again guard the room.
A sudden silence fills the room as they stop moving.
Murphy (KimMc) Halfling druid AC 17/T11/F16 CMB 23 CMD 41 HP 199/199 d20+15=30 ; Monday May 2nd, 2022 11:38:29 AM
Her husband discerns where Pressi lies. Murphy rushes over to her. Among the things he had pulled from his storage bags is one of his healing kits. He sees the grievous wounds she has sustained, and that her shallow breathing is labored. He clears the hair from his sweetheart's forehead, and gently kisses her there. While kneeling down, he ministers to her, daubing and binding her wounds. He has to use two units from the kit to deal adequately with her deadly wounds. "Someone help me carry her out of this room," he asks.
It will take him up to an hour to 'treat deadly wounds' - and Pressi regains 26 hp in the process. Healing: 30. This action heals hp equal to Pressi's level, plus six from the druid's wisdom bonus.
If, having taken her out of the room, the use of magic is possible, then Murphy speeds up the process considerably through heavy use of the wand of cure light wounds.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22/21/17 + 6; HP 124/276 - 60; Rumpus AC 33/16/27; HP 151/151 - 45 Monday May 2nd, 2022 11:57:43 AM
"Sorry, Murph, I misjudged the situation. I saw Tali along over there and thought it best to protect her. I thought the biguns had her covered."
Kezzem shoots a glance to Nik and Pru.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Monday May 2nd, 2022 12:18:34 PM
Succotash helps carry Pressi out of the room. As soon as he feels the magic return to him, and all of his friends are out of the anti-magic field, he casts Mass Heal giving everyone up to 250 hp. "Well, I for one would rather not enter that room again! One tends to feel a bit naked when your magic is turned off."
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Monday May 2nd, 2022 4:45:40 PM
"I'm glad Pressi's going to be okay," Pru says. "But we should get what we came for before we leave. We don't know what will re-activate those golems."
Murphy (KimMc) Halfling druid AC 17/T11/F16 CMB 23 CMD 41 HP 154/199 Monday May 2nd, 2022 6:20:02 PM
As he cares for Pressi, Murphy asks, "Would the artifact we seek be found in this room, or must we go beyond this room to find it? Because if it is in here, we may as well remain and seek it."
Tali states to Mister Murphy, "I am assuming that this room is a delaying tactic, to allow for more time to move the artifact or secure it."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22/21/17 + 6; HP 124/276 - 60; Rumpus AC 33/16/27; HP 151/151 - 45 Monday May 2nd, 2022 8:41:08 PM
"Why don't we just camp out here and ambush the bad guys after the golems wear them down for us?" asks Kezzem.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 20/157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Monday May 2nd, 2022 9:08:18 PM
Pressi slowly begins to come to, wrapping her arms around her husband. "I only wish I had enough luck left to get the plate number."
Regardless of how she's healed, Pressi begins to stand as quickly as she can, and to cast "detect magic" even sooner. "No idea if the system resets, but the artifact should be on the gate on the other side of our entrance."
She takes a moment to see if either door sprung open, and to see if Gerry returned to the entrance. If so, she asks Gerry if he sees anything.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Monday May 2nd, 2022 10:20:22 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Haste (+1 on attack, AC and Ref saves, extra attack, +30 speed), Greater Heroism (+4 on skill, attack, saves, +20 temp hp)
Nikolai hugs Pru and gives her a kiss. "I'm sure glad they got that gizmo figured out. I've forgotten how much I, or we, rely on magic." He flexes his biceps to see if the anti-magic still affects the area. His normal strength of 17 feels a lot different than his enhanced strength.
"I'm pretty sure to reactivate them we just need to leave the room and come back in. So, unless you need to poopy really, really bad and don't want to do it in here, best none leave until we ascertain the anti-magic status so we can be prepared for whats on the other side of that gate."
DM Mitch Tuesday May 3rd, 2022 8:02:40 AM Murphy goes to his wife and uses his healer’s kit to tend to her deadly wounds before the others help move her out of the field where he can use his wand of cure light wounds to speed up the process immensely. Kezzem apologizes to Murphy and said he went to protect Tali figuring the biguns had Pressi covered. Succotash helps carry Pressi out of the field and casts Mass Heal as soon as the magic returns healing everyone 250 hp. Pru says she is glad Pressi is going to be okay but they should get what they came for and leave. Murphy asks Pru if the artifact they seek is in this room or beyond it for if it is in this room they might as well find it. Tali suggests this room is a delaying tactic to allow for more time to move the artifact or secure it Kezzem suggests they camp out here and ambush the bad guys after the golems wear them down for them. Pressi wraps her arms around Murphy and tells him she wishes she had enough luck to get the plate number. As soon as she is able to she casts detect magic saying she doesn’t know if the system resets but the artifact should be on the other side of the door. Gerry does not reappear (OOC: since anti-magic fields normally move with the caster it says summon creatures wink out of existence and return when the field moves away, the field is stationary and Gerry entered it so I don’t think Gerry can wink back if the field is stationary) Nikolai hugs Pru and gives her a kiss telling her he’s glad they got the gizmo figured out. He suggests that the golems would reactivate if they left and came back so unless anyone needs to go really bad and not do it in there it would be better that no one leaves until they can prepare for what is on the other side of the gate.
As the party gathers themselves and discusses they realize that they need nothing from the anti-magic room. They are in the depths of the giant vaults and tomps at the ir most holy temple and the artifact they are after has it’s own vault by itself at the deepest point. To get there a variety of traps have to be avoided - the anti-magic vaults was the only one they couldn’t avoid activating per the notes they had. While there are a few other challenges along the way to their actual destination, with Scaldsworn’s notes they should be easy to safely navigate, giving you a clear shot to the end, where you have been told the giant high priest awaits you.
Nikolai is also right in that entering the anti-magic vaults again would just set off security again and restart the entire encounter with the golems. So would attempting to do anything to the sealed vaults inside.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Tuesday May 3rd, 2022 1:15:30 PM
OOC... Succotash would have stopped Murphy from using his wand, since he planned on healing everyone.
"Now that everyone is fully magicked, and healed, shall we continue? Our host awaits us. I must say though, this high priest guy sure throws a crappy party. Unless of course this is what fire giants consider a good time."
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 Tuesday May 3rd, 2022 8:13:48 PM We are off to see the...
Tali wholeheartedly agrees, "that we should use the notes the enemy left to be 100% certain of the path head as well as the traps!"
Mister Succotash, "Are the areas beyond here Normal Magic areas?"
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Tuesday May 3rd, 2022 8:51:22 PM
Pressi takes a final look at the vaults before moving on.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Tuesday May 3rd, 2022 10:55:34 PM
"Right, let's go talk to this high priest person," Pru says. "I wonder how they get to work in the morning. Surely they don't come through here."
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Wednesday May 4th, 2022 12:31:25 AM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Haste (+1 on attack, AC and Ref saves, extra attack, +30 speed), Greater Heroism (+4 on skill, attack, saves, +20 temp hp)
"Why not? Being giants and who set it up, they can pass through here anytime and not be bothered by the golems."
Nikolai is ready to see the Priestess.
OOC: Please let me know if the Haste and G.H. spless are still in effect or exired. thanks. :)
Murphy (KimMc) Halfling druid AC 17/T11/F16 CMB 23 CMD 41 HP 199/199 Wednesday May 4th, 2022 5:17:01 AM
Quite joyful at Pressi's recovery, and grateful to Succotash for that much-needed wash of healing, Murphy gives a happy sigh. He does ask if someone can retrieve his adamantine slingstaff and scimitar from near where they entered the golem room, before all have exited, hopefully.
He looks over the book again, and does what he can to help the party avoid as many traps and obstacles as they can.
[Are spells with remaining time back in action after leaving the room? Oh, and I'll need to update my header info- will do so next post...)
DM Mitch Wednesday May 4th, 2022 7:55:15 AM Succotash asks if since everyone is magicked again if they should continue remarking the high priest throws a crappy party unless it is what giants think is a good time. Tali agrees they should use Skaldsworn’s note to be 100% certain of the path ahead she asks if the area ahead are normal magic areas. Pressi takes a final look at the vaults before moving on. Pru agrees they should talk to the priest and wonder’s how they get to work in the morning. Nikolai points out that being a giant the priests can simply pass by the room and not be bothered by the golems. Murphy is happy that Pressi is ok and hopes someone got his stuff.
Although the anti-magic field doesn’t dispel any buffs you had it’s taken a few hours to navigate the area so any spell with a duration not measured in hours has expired. (so it depends on if the spell was cast directly before the anti-magic fight)
The party has to navigate through a couple more hazards before they reach their destination. Though highly dangerous, even for a group as powerful as them, Scaldsworn’s notes continue to let them circumvent or disable them safely. After about half an hour they’ve made it to the end.
The party is in a large, ornate hall with decorative images inlaid in it of giants making pilgrimage. Double doors, large enough to be massive even to the huge giants, sit at the end of the hall. Painted or leafed with gold they depicts the mountain, Fhorge, in all of it’s glory. The giants on the walls start out large, but grow smaller as the approach the mountain until those by the door and on the edges of the mountain are tiny specks before it.
Something with a stylized aura or glow rests at the top of the volcano. Too small and to high up to make out it’s rays reach out to touch the giant pilgrims as they get close to the mountain.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Wednesday May 4th, 2022 11:52:53 AM "I'm going to venture a guess and say that is the artifact." Succotash says as he points to the shiny thing at the top of the volcano.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 22/21/17 + 6; HP 124/276 - 60; Rumpus AC 33/16/27; HP 151/151 - 45 Wednesday May 4th, 2022 1:30:27 PM
"Great," says Kezzem. "Now we just need to hide it an put up a sign that says something like 'We're sorry, but the artifact you seek is in another temple.' That should keep him busy for a while."
"Wait, wasn't there supposed to be a priest here?"
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Wednesday May 4th, 2022 2:49:20 PM
"Probably beyond those doors," Pru says. "Do the notes say anything about traps in this room?"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32; HP 151/151 Wednesday May 4th, 2022 5:07:17 PM
header update.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+25=36 ; d20+11=20 ; Wednesday May 4th, 2022 9:24:43 PM
Pressi doesn't know if it's the near death or her paranoia or what, but something seems really off about the entire scenario. Like there really should be something else in this room.
Dropping her greater immortal summons at the hall entrance, with orders to shout the second so much as a fly appears, Pressi takes her time to look at the pictures and the doors (perception 36, know local 20). She casts detect magic everywhere. She searches for traps everywhere. She tries tapping the glow with a 10 foot pole.
"I don't suppose anyone around here knows their giant lore?" she asks. "Does anyone want to venture a guess as to what this picture is trying to tell us?"
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) d20+37=38 ; d20=9 ; Wednesday May 4th, 2022 11:43:50 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Haste (+1 on attack, AC and Ref saves, extra attack, +30 speed), Greater Heroism (+4 on skill, attack, saves, +20 temp hp)
OOC: I trust that Pru (Kathy) will tell me when her spells expire. They usually last a long time.
IC: Nikolai was expecting to meet the priestess at some point before actually getting into the vault with the artifact, so ... "My guess is that it still lies beyond these doors. That thing up there may be the mechanism to open the door. I'll go see." He starts up the door in spider fashion (Slippers of Spider Climb), expecting to get singed, jolted, ejected, or something of the like at some point up.
Perception + 37 = 38
If he makes it to where the stylized glow thing is, he studies it.
Knowledge = 9 History + 7 = 16; Local +4 = 13, Religion +7 = 16
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 d20+22=40 ; d20+22=39 ; d20+15=32 ; d20+45=49 ; Thursday May 5th, 2022 3:42:29 AM
Murphy thinks over Pressi's question about the meaning of the place. They have been learning about Fhorge now for a few years. He speaks the Giant tongue, and has read several books by and about giants. Scaldsworn's writings have given them additional insights from the perspective of someone who is not an afficionado of Fhorge. He hands the book off to whoever else in the party can read the book and be able to interpret it, and wild shapes back into a corvid with irridescent feathers.
If his skill rolls grant him further insight, he shares what he discerns with the others.
The majesty of scale and presentation of this temple impress the halfling. He grew up in much cozier surroundings. This is definitely not a burrow. ================== Knowledge: History: 40 Knowledge: Local: 39 Knowledge: Religion: 32 Perception: 49
DM Mitch Thursday May 5th, 2022 8:48:17 AM Succotash says he’s going to venture a guess that that is the artifact as he points at the shiny thing. Kezzem suggests they hide it and put up a sign saying the artifact you seek is in another temple then asks where the priest is.
Pru suggests the priest is behind the doors and asks if the notes say anything about traps in this room. Pressi is being very careful. She drops her greater immortal summons with orders for it to shout the second so much as a fly appears she takes her time to look at the pictures and the door. She detects magic everywhere, searches for traps everywhere and taps the glowy part with a 10 foot pole. She asks if anyone knows their giant lore and what that picture is trying to tell them. Nikolai suggests the artifact lies beyond the doors as well and suggests the glowy thing might be the mechanism to open them so he uses his slippers of spiderclimb to approach it. Murphy thinks about everything he knows about giants and Scald.
As the party ponders and consults the notes they have they determine that this is not their destination, merely the entryway. Scaldsworn’s notes don’t even mention it, apparently considering it too unimportant to bother with. Murphy guesses from his knowledge of the giants that the images are just decoration to impress on any giants influential enough to ever visit the artifact how insignificant they remain compared to the god they serve.
The pictures and doors do glow of faint magic to detect magic, but it seems to be preservation spells to keep the art pristine, nothing dangerous. Nor are there any traps here - it seems that all the traps exist to prevent anyone reaching this point. As Nikolai goes to climb the door it shifts slightly. Whether through magic or incredible craftsmanship it seems the doors are perfectly balanced so even the lightest touch can open them.
Examining the art more closely doesn't give much more information - even the picture of the artifact is too indistinct through the stylized glowing to get much idea what the real thing looks like. Unless it really glows like that.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 Thursday May 5th, 2022 8:50:25 AM The High Priest
Tali, now that she is out of the Anti-Magic field(s), casts her usual spells upon herself:
Overland-Flight, Mage Armor , and an extra one for good measure Stoneskin
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32; HP 151/151 d20+28=47 ; d20+27=29 ; d20+8=19 ; Thursday May 5th, 2022 1:43:19 PM
Spells in effect: GMW on each of his three daggers Resist Energy (fire) on both himself and Rumpus
* Didn't update his Int mod on his sheet when he upgraded his headband. Fixed now.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Thursday May 5th, 2022 2:23:38 PM
"Well, those doors look heavy, so I'm probably not the one to open them," Pru declares. "Kezzem? Murphy? Nikolai? Help a girl out?"
[OOC: Nikolai's Haste and Greater Heroism have worn off.]
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Thursday May 5th, 2022 4:00:22 PM "I think Nic has already tested the door Pru. They seem to open pretty easily." With that Succotash walks over and opens the door.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Thursday May 5th, 2022 9:31:40 PM
Pressi recasts her shield of faith and her spectral hand, and follows Succotash through the door.
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 d20+45=46 ; d20+45=52 ; Thursday May 5th, 2022 11:35:47 PM
Murphy flies up near the bright aura to get a better look - coming within perhaps 50-60' of it, and glancing at a wing to see how the light may reflect off of the iridescence of the feathers. After looking about, he wings his way back down, says to any who still have not yet entered, and says, "Come."
He flies through the very large opening, remaining up high, and seeing what there might be to see.
Perception: 46 - When looking at the bright light at the peak. Perception: 52 - After passing through the doorway.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) d20+37=52 ; Friday May 6th, 2022 12:27:55 AM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air)
Noticing the doors shift when he goes to climb up them, he makes it look like he's putting an enormous effort with his shoulder and 'pushes' the door open.
Perception +37 = 52
DM Mitch Friday May 6th, 2022 7:00:13 AM Tali now out of the anti-magic field buffs herself with Overland Flight, Mage Armor and Stoneskin. Kezzem offers that he speaks giant but that is about it before inspecting the room with detect evil. Pru suggests the doors look heavy so she won’t be opening them and then asks Kezzem, Murphy or Nikolai to help her out. Succotash points out how well balanced the doors are and then walks over and opens one. Pressi recasts shield of faith and spectral hand and follows Succotash through the door. Murphy goes up high and admires himself in the light down here. Nikolai pretends opening the door is hard. The effect is ruined by Succotash beating him to it and making it look easy.
The doors swing wide at Succotash’s touch and a wave of heat rolls out of them. This underground area was cooler then the smoldering outside of the demi-plane, but the room ahead is as hot if not hotter then it was outdoors.
The resting place of the artifact is not as glorious as it’s entryway. While the hall was all art and gold, this very large room is like walking into the inside of a volcano. Rough stone walls and floor with an actual river of lava flowing through the center of it. It’s divided in two floors, the back of the room raised up to where, presumably, the artifact should rest. If it is there, you cannot see it.
Five especially large and fearsome giants stand in the room. Two guarding the stairs up, two flanking one who looks like the giant high priest. ”Ah, the intruders have arrived. Are you the prophesied ones? We shall see.” The voice is loud and surprisingly high pitched (possibly female? Impossible to tell), reaching the party easily without seeming to shout despite the distance.
The giants look ready for a fight. Trying to approach might start something, but they don’t immediately move to attack.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells d20+29=36 ; Friday May 6th, 2022 11:11:12 AM "I don't know about any prophecy, or what any of that may entitle" Succotash begins. "All I know is we have a common enemy, and we mean to take him and his friends down, with or without your help. Of course if we take him down together you get your share of the glory, and your people will sing songs and tell tales about how you protected their home, from a dire threat, for generations unending. You don't even need to mention that a handful of halflings, and their two non-halfling friends played a role, or if you did, you wouldn't have to mention how you attempted to kill them multiple times even after you knew we were here to help. The other option is to not help, we teleport out of this gods forsaken city, leave this demi-plane, let our enemies steal your artifact, which if I'm not mistaken is what keeps this place from self destructing, and than we take out the enemy by ourselves, after your home is destroyed, saving the day by ourselves. The choice is up to you!" To emphasis his point, he turns to his friends and says, "Tali, Pru, are you ready to teleport us back to the exit if these guys decide to do something foolish, again?"
Diplomacy 36
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32; HP 151/151 d20+30=34 ; d20+30=45 ; Friday May 6th, 2022 12:55:46 PM
"I would advise against doing something foolish," says Kezzem. "That's usually my thing, and I don't appreciate it when people step on my toes. Especially if guys like you cause that would really hurt! Wait, I think I mixed the metaphor there or something. Point is don't be foolish."
Aid Another Diplomacy: 1d20 + 30 = 34. Disregard second roll.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) d20+24=30 ; Friday May 6th, 2022 9:34:55 PM
Pru shows open hands and looks around with a slight smile. "We request an audience with the High Priest," she says. "I believe we are expected."
[Diplomacy 30]
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Saturday May 7th, 2022 10:11:32 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air)
The Hight Priest or Priestess may be the highest authority here, at least the second. From Succotash's longwinded speech, Nikolai surmises that the halflings in this part of the Wold don't have anyone in authority higher than the town mayor, as these systematically ignore all protocols when addressing members of the ruling class or those with authority. They could learn a lot form Pru's simple yet to the point, respectful request.
Nikolai whispers "If we are the chosen ones, we don't need a long speech that can be perceived as an insult. What Pru said is to the point and quite sufficient."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+30=37 ; d20+25=42 ; Sunday May 8th, 2022 9:09:37 PM
Pressi also agrees with Nick, in part remembering how any shade of insult or threat (such as pointing out reality to these volcanic ashes) could start a conflagration.
With a flourish and some kneeling, Pressi apologizes for some of the rude behavior, fluffs them in ways fitting her training, and takes some time to ask about the prophecy (Diplomacy 37).
But as she does that, her focus in on the room, on the giants (Perception 42), on any indicator of what might transpire next.
(I'll also need to update her spell list, but for now she readies creeping doom (summoning on each of the guards) if they move to attack.
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 d20+45=48 ; d20+34=44 ; Sunday May 8th, 2022 11:41:08 PM
Murphy, seeing the rough stone walls, simply finds a spot with a rough enough outcropping or little ledge to land and hold on, looking over the room, the giants, the lava. Feeling that his friends have said enough, simply caws, "Prophecy. Allies?"
========== Perception: 48 Sense Motive: 44
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 Sunday May 8th, 2022 11:59:09 PM Yet another fight...
Tali tries to ready herself as she sees fit.
{OOC: Can we get a witness, er Map?}
DM Mitch Monday May 9th, 2022 7:44:24 AM Succotash says he doesn’t know any prophecies or what that may entitle. He reminds the giants they have a common enemy and makes them an offer / gives them an ultimatum. Kezzem advises against doing something foolish in the most Kezzem way possible. Pru requests an audience with the high priest saying she believes they were expected. Nikolai reflects on the Halflings lack of respect to giant authority and chalks that up to their rustic upbringing. He whispers to the others that if they are the chosen ones then Pru’s simple introduction will suffice. Pressiagrees with Nikolai and apologizes for some of the rude behavior of the others and takes some time to ask more about the prophecy. She keeps a wary eye out on some of the other giants and readies creeping doom if the guards decide to attack despite their attempts at diplomacy. Murphy finds a nice perch. Tali makes ready as best she can.
”God’s forbid we make a mistake.” the giant says. From their tone they’re highly amused. ”To prevent that perhaps I should spell out the situation. Lets say you’re me, the giant high priest. One of the most respected and trusted citizens of your people is revealed to be a traitor. He manages to steal your most precious artifact, the only thing keeping your home intact. You eventually find him, but everyone you send to kill him and get your artifact back dies. You yourself can’t leave the plane as your every moment is spent keeping it from falling apart completely.
What then are your options? Being a priest I of course turned to the gods. I came to this chamber andI prayed for deliverance for my people. In response I got a message. ”Those smaller than you shall deliver your salvation. Await the ones who overcome all adversity and best the greatest of giant warriors in this room.”
So there I was. Some unknown person or group would show up here eventually. What to do about it? Well first I couldn’t leave the chamber for fear that they might sneak through the city to here while I was gone. I’ve been sitting here two months. They were to “Overcome all adversity”: so I couldn’t pass the word to let any small strangers come meet me. I couldn’t send out people to find them, I had no clues to their identities. All there was to do was to sit and wait while hoping I could keep the plane stable long enough.
And now you are here. You have indeed overcome all adversity to reach me. That just leaves one more piece of the prophecy - that you would defeat the greatest of giants.”
They motion to themselves and the four others in the room. ”I only knew that you would show up here so I gathered our greatest champions. The five of us represent the greatest champions of our people. Best us, and all will be certain. You are the prophesied ones and all our hopes rest with you. Fail, or choose not to fight, and we shall remain here waiting until the prophecy is fulfilled.”
The giant seems friendly enough, and seems content to wait until you have prepared and made your decision. The other four giants seem a little tense but follow the priest's lead and wait.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Monday May 9th, 2022 11:20:22 AM
Before anyone pushes back on this, say to try to talk away around this, Pressi pulls the group over.
"I'm going to just say up front that we are going to have to do this, and with respect. Because yeah, that was quite a freak show they just said, but it's their freak show. And as a diviner who once prophesized a mountain coming to get us and no that's not a metaphor... saying that I understand is a bridge too far. Let's just say that I've had to leave logic at the door in the name of the job, my personal feelings aside."
She glanced back. "I don't want to kill anyone up there. They need to see that its more than power that makes us the chosen. Any thoughts on strategy?"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32; HP 151/151 Monday May 9th, 2022 12:05:42 PM
"Did they say we had to best you in combat?" Asks Kezzem. "Because if not, we could just play a game of parcheesi."
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Monday May 9th, 2022 12:06:53 PM "We could just ask them what they consider being bested. If being knocked unconscious will surface, than I see no need to dispatch them." He looks sternly at Nikolai when he says the last bit. "Personally, I would rather avoid this fight all together. Especially since it sounds like our real enemy has already stolen the artifact, and now we have to stop him from releasing his god, which is certain to cause all sorts of bad things to the Wold. Putting us, once again, in a race against the clock. If we have to fight so be it, but is seems an awful waste of time."
Turning back to the giants, Succotash says, "We have no desire to slay anyone in this room, would you consider being rendered either unconscious or immobile a besting?"
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 Monday May 9th, 2022 7:02:51 PM Just another day at the Office!
Tali, asks, "Does the besting have to be all at once, or it is one Best warrior at a time?"
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Monday May 9th, 2022 10:10:59 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air)
Nikolai returns Succotash's stern looks at him with a wide grin. "You still don't get it, do you? Those first giants said 'to the death'. What would their honor here be if we babied them? The only conditions here are to 'best' them. If they wanted 'to the death', they'd have said so. Besides, if they are killed, who'll keep the place from crumbling? I doubt they'll want a fight to the death."
Nikolai awaits the Diplomacy 101 test results.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) d20+24=27 ; Monday May 9th, 2022 10:30:09 PM
"If the gods want us to fight, then of course we must fight," Pru says. It's as simple as that for her.
"But as my friends said, we are reluctant to dispatch such brave foes. Will honor be satisfied if we merely knock out or incapacitate the warriors?"
[Diplomacy 27]
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 Tuesday May 10th, 2022 7:18:27 AM
Had I read the email given in the great hall, just before we entered the lava room, and not been up to my neck in work alligators, I would have had Murphy cast the following prior to going through the big door:
Foresight (he had it memorized twice). Stoneskin (likewise 2x) Freedom of Movement Resist Energy (cold) Protection from Energy (fire) [Note: has natural immunity to electricty] Mage Armor
Still up and running: Magic Fang, Greater Longstrider Heroes' Feast Planar Adaptation
Do we have the telepathic bond up from Pru? Since there are now fewer of us, one casting of the spell can include us all.
============
Bird Murphy, if the telepathic bond is up (or was renewed) sends out, "I'm open to suggestions as to how we want to approach this, and coordination of actions."
To the giants he says, "You fellas want to relax? The halflings haven't had their second dinner yet. We have some extra apples, if you're hungry."
DM Mitch Tuesday May 10th, 2022 8:03:19 AM Pressi pulls the group over and suggests they have to do this and that she respects the high priest as strange as it sounds. She also says she doesn’t want to kill anyone there and show more than power makes them chosen and asks for thoughts on strategy. Kezzem asks if it had to be combat or could they play a game of parcheesi Succotash suggests they asks the giants what they mean by being bested and if being incapacitated or knocked unconcious suffaces then there is no need to dispatch them looking at Nikolai. He still suggests they avoid the fight altogether since the enemy stole the artifact and they are up against a clock and if they have to fight so be it but it seems a waste of time. He then asks them directly what is meant by besting. Tali asks if it is to be a group brawl or can it be champion vs champion in single combat. Nikolai says to Succotash that the first giants explicitly said to the death whereas these ones specifically said best and besides if the party killed the giants who would keep the place together. Pru reason if the God’s want them to fight then they must fight. Murphy catches up on buffs and asks about relaxing instead of fighting.
The giant considers the group as they debate. ”I do not know what this Parcheesi is your Paladin of Gargul speaks of but the intention of the God’s is for us to engage the prophecy’s chosen in honorable combat. Combat is not about death, it is about rendering the foe unable or unwilling to continue the fight. Frequently that means killing, but as experienced as you are you are well aware that many magics can render foes helpless while leaving them untouched physically. I interpreted the prophecy as you, as a group, rendering us, as a group, unable to continue the fight. Before we do the same to you, through killing or incapacitating you. Also, as your cleric points out, time is growing short, but Fhorge has provided for us so far, that I believe he will continue to provide for us as long as it takes. If you are truly the chosen of prophecy then he only needs to provide for us in the absence of the stone, long enough for us to have our combat to prove you are who he sent per the prophecy and then the time it takes for you to hunt down our common foe, destroy him and return with the artifact, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Any other questions before the combat begins and we see if you really are the chosen of prophecy?”
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Tuesday May 10th, 2022 12:34:29 PM "Since time is of the essence, let's just get this over with" Succotash says as he casts Righteous Might on Valerie, and then the two enter the room. (I placed them on the map you gave us last week) Succotash Heroes Feast Planar Adaptation
Channel Energy 8/11 Quicken Rod 0/3 Agile Feet 15/15 Speak with Animals 23/23 Dimensional Hop 200/200
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Tuesday May 10th, 2022 2:09:58 PM
"I don't suppose we could do this trial by combat by seeing which group can take out more of Scaldsworn's henchpeople," asks Kezzem.
Kezzem casts Divine Favor on himself and steps on his magic carpet.
Rumpus guards Pressi (total defense)
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Tuesday May 10th, 2022 5:20:26 PM
"No questions. I think things are clear enough," Pru says.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Tuesday May 10th, 2022 9:10:49 PM
Pressi goes ahead and casts creeping doom once everyone is ready.
--------
Rituals: Ritual of Warding, Ritual of Healing, Ritual of Charming spectral hand shield of faith moment of prescience
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Wednesday May 11th, 2022 12:18:57 AM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air)
Nikolai messages to Pru, 'That priestess makes a good point about magic. And they are smart enough to try to incapacitate our magic wielders. Please be careful, and weary.'
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 Wednesday May 11th, 2022 5:46:12 AM
Murphy casts a summoning.
DM Mitch Map d20+31=37 ; d20+31=35 ; d20+31=48 ; d20+26=39 ; d20+21=23 ; 3d6+20=28 ; 3d6+20=30 ; 3d6+20=31 ; 3d6+20=27 ; 3d6+20=25 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 7:29:10 AM Succotash casts Righteous Might on Valerie as the two enter the room. Kezzem asks if they can do this trial by combat by seeing who can take out more of Scaldsworn’s henchpeople. Kezzem casts divine favor on himself and steps on the magic carpet while Rumpus guards Pressi. Pru says she has no questions as things are clear enough. Pressi goes ahead and casts creeping doom once everybody is ready. Tali readies an action to cast a spell once the besting begins. Nikolai mentally warns Pru to be careful and weary since the high priest makes a good point about casters. Murphy starts a summons.
(OOC: Per the description of the creeping doom spell . These swarms appear adjacent to one another, Therefore the DM interprets your swarms of stinging / biting insects of appearing in the squares occupied by the High Priest and the 2 reavers)
Tali goes to cast her spell and the 2 headed fire giant hurls a flaming boulder at the flying halfling caster (40 vs AC; 28 damage + 1 fire damage). Tali needs to make a DC 29 + spell level concentration check or lose the spell she was casting.
The priest casts a spell (Spellcraft DC 23 Highlight to display spoiler: {Incindiary Cloud} and a cloud of roiling clouds infused with hot embers covers the high priest. Pressi’s swarms take 18 fire damage and can make a DC 25 reflex save for half. The priest has total concealment within the cloud from where the party currently is.
The Earth reaver dives into the earth before emerging next to Pressi (who may be invisible or flying?) and attacking for 28 damage
The fire reaver takes a 5 foot step into the cloud to gain concealment and eliminates one of the swarms.
The enraged giant charges Valerie, the nearest target, and attacks but fails to penetrate her armor
DM Mitch Map Wednesday May 11th, 2022 7:30:11 AM
Map in header.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells d20+31=45 ; d20+31=42 ; d20+31=47 ; d20+31=36 ; d20+31=47 ; 4d6+21=31 ; 4d6+21=34 ; 3d6+21=33 ; 2d6+21=31 ; 2d6+21=23 ; 2d6=6 ; 2d6=7 ; 2d6=9 ; 2d6=12 ; 2d6=6 ; 2d6=9 ; d6=1 ; d6=4 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d6=5 ; d6=2 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 11:47:09 AM
Succotash moves up behind Valerie, and casts divine favor on his dino friend. Valerie than goes into attack mode as she full round attacks the enraged giant.
Right Talon hits AC 45 for 31 damage plus 6 bane, 1 frost and 4 shock Left Talon hits AC 42 for 34 damage plus 7 bane, 4 frost and 5 shock Bite hits AC 47 for 33 damage plus 9 bane, 3 frost and 2 shock Right Claw hits AC 36 for 31 damage plus 12 bane, 5 frost and 4 shock Left Claw hits AC 47 for 29 damage plus 6 bane, 5 frost and 3 shock.
(All Valerie's damage dealt is non-lethal.)
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) d20+25=45 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 3:10:32 PM
Pru casts Maze on the Earth/Stone Reaver. [It says Earth in the text but Stone on the map.] SR check (if needed) is 45. The reaver is banished to an extradimensional labyrinth, no save.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+7=17 ; 2d6=5 ; 2d6=10 ; 2d6=7 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 9:25:08 PM
The remaining three swarms, caught in the vortex unable to dodge (failed reflex), drop a bit in damage (down to 42 HP per swarm).
At which point (please forgive me if I screw this up)...
Swarm 3 swings around to begin biting the fire reaver, as if unaffected by the concealment, and as if there are no winds. He causes 5 damage, and an injection of poison (Fort DC 25, 1d4 dex for 6 rounds). If the reaver is damaged, he gets a distraction effect (Fort DC 25, nauseated for 1 round).
Swarms 1 and 2 continue to focus on the priestess, at the damage of 10 and 7, respectively, with a poison injection and a potential distraction from both.
(If either wish to cast more spells, it's a caster level check vs DC 28.)
(I'm going to do Pressi's move separately.)
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 129/157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d4+1=3 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 9:56:20 PM
"Cast your spells, check your armor, DON'T stand in the pocket," Pressi muttered to herself. "You'd think after all these years, I'd get it. Oh, well, no time like the present...."
Pressi casts her own time stop, and begins to cast the following....
1) Flying Broom, where she can shoot 60 feet into the air. 2) Fluid Form, where she bets they didn't bring throwing daggers. 3) Animal Growth on Rumpus. Just because.
--------
Rituals: Ritual of Warding, Ritual of Healing, Ritual of Charming spectral hand shield of faith moment of prescience creeping doom (3 by 42 hp) flying fluid form (DR 10/slashing, 10 foot reach)
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 d20+22=30 ; d20+22=27 ; d20+17=35 ; d4+25=29 ; d4+25=29 ; d4+25=27 ; 2d6=2 ; 2d6=10 ; 2d6=8 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 10:54:39 PM
Kezzem casts Shield Other on Pressi and flies around the back of the Earth Reaver. He uses Detect Evil on him as as swift action.
Rumpus 5 ft steps in front of Pressi and attacks the Earth Reaver. If Kezzem detects evil, Rumpus will smite as well.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 d20+31=38 ; Wednesday May 11th, 2022 11:43:27 PM ...Are the parts that I play!
Tali tries her concentration check at DC29+8 (37) and makes it (38)! Tali casts Polymorph Any Object turning the entire "Lava" area from G20-21 through to AN20-21 into Ice Water as deep as 2000 cu ft.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) d20+30=37 ; 8d10+10=63 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 12:18:22 AM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air)
Nikolai trust Pru to keep moving and not standing still, then hustles over to flank the Enraged Giant and assist Succotash and Val pulling out his magical Kama +4 on the way.
Punch w/Greater Vital Strike and flanking with Stunning Fist: Note: unarmed attacks are treated as magical and lawful weapons d20 + 28 + 2(flanking) = 37 dmg (non-lethal) = 8d10+10 = 63 Stunning Fist DC33 vs Fort, fail Stunned for 1rd, see Stunned for effects.
DM Mitch Map d20=19 ; d20+31=49 ; d20+31=43 ; d8=2 ; d8=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=6 ; d20+20=38 ; d20+20=21 ; d8=1 ; d6=4 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 8:12:11 AM Succotash moves up behind Valerie and casts divine favor on his dino friend. Valerie tears into the enraged giant hitting for every attack however the attacks do less than one would expect (knowledge [local] : 29 Highlight to display spoiler: {DR 5/- ; immune frost } Kezzem casts shield other on Pressi. Rumpus smites the stone reaver hitting 2 times out of 3 and since Rumpus was smiting any DR doesn’t apply. Pru casts Maze on the Stone Reaver sending it to an interdimensional maze Pressi’s first Swarm fails to overcome the DR of the reaver so there is no injury for the poison to inject. The second and third swarms both do some damage to the high priest but the high priest is not affected by the poison (39, 44) or distraction (39, 46) Pressi herself casts a timestop buffing herself and Rumpus with Flying Broom, Fluid Form and Animal growth. Tali manages to hang onto her spell and polymorphs the lava into ice water. Nikolai moves and draws his Kama while punching the enraged giant when he gets there, stunning it (Fort Save = 30)
The Enraged Giant is stunned.
The Stone Reaver is trapped in a maze, it tries to figure a way out but fails (Int check 12)
The Fire Reaver’s DR lets him ignore the swarm’s damage. He starts throwing rocks out of his cover at the party, hitting Pressi twice for 43 damage and 12 fire damage.
The Two Headed giant sees how well the enraged giant is doing in melee and decides to stick to ranged for now. He runs off in a blur, somehow throwing a rock at both his starting position and his ending position. The first hits but the other misses by several feat. 21 damage and 4 fire damage
The High Priest’s incendiary cloud expands by 10 feet dealing another 13 damage to all the centipede swarms. They are eligible for a DC 23 Reflex save for only 6 damage. The High Priest concentrates (40 = pass) and casts a spell.
High Preist: 5 damage Enraged Giant: 249 nonlethal damage; stunned Stone Reaver: trapped in Maze; 62 damage
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 d20+25=32 ; d20+25=35 ; 4d8+12=32 ; 2d8+12=24 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 11:25:40 AM
Purple Worm Delayed at customs, Murphy's summoned purple worm finally appears adjacent the trio of giants toward the back of the room. With belly-filling snacks nearby, the worm chomps at the priest (AC 32, 32 hp damage) and thrusts its stinger at the two-headed giant (AC 35, 24 hp damage, poison (Sting—injury; save Fortitude DC 25; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d4 Strength damage; cure 3 consecutive saves.))
[must run, will post for Murphy later]
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells d4=2 ; d20+33=34 ; d20+33=52 ; d20+33=45 ; d20+33=53 ; d20+33=43 ; d20+33=49 ; 4d6+21=29 ; 4d6+21=34 ; 3d6+21=37 ; 2d6+21=24 ; 2d6+21=29 ; 2d6+21=25 ; 2d6+21=24 ; 2d6=7 ; d6=6 ; 2d6=7 ; d6=1 ; 2d6=7 ; d6=4 ; 2d6=8 ; d6=5 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 12:37:07 PM
Succotash starts to cast Summon Monster IX and next round 3 Augmented Celestial T-Rexes will appear. Meanwhile, Valerie continues her non-lethal onslaught on the enraged giant.
Right Talon hits Nat 1 Left Talon hits AC 52 for 29 damage plus 7 bane and 6 shock Bite hits AC 45 for 37 damage plus 7 bane and 1 shock Right Claw confirmed crit for 53 damage plus 7 bane and 4 shock Left Claw hits AC 49 for 24 damage plus 8 bane and 5 shock
Succotash Heroes Feast Planar Adaptation Summon Monster IX (3 T-Rexes)
AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, –4 size) hp 189 DR 10/evil Fort +15, Ref +12, Will +10
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft. Melee bite +20 (4d6+26/19–20 plus grab) Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft. Special Attacks swallow whole (2d8+13, AC 17, hp 15) smite evil (1 per day)
STATISTICS
Str 34, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10 Base Atk +13; CMB +28 (+32 grapple); CMD 39 Feats Bleeding Critical, Critical Focus, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Run, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Perception +37; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception SQ powerful bite
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Powerful Bite (Ex) A tyrannosaurus applies twice its Strength modifier to bite damage.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 d20+22=24 ; d4+25=27 ; 2d6=7 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 12:58:27 PM
Kezzem double moves towards Two-Headed Giant stopping at 10 feet away.
Rumpus readies an attack on the stone reaver should it reappar.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) d20+25=31 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 2:56:10 PM
Pru casts Maze on the two-headed giant. SR check 31 if needed.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 d4+1=5 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 9:17:45 PM Another note for my requiem
Tali, not even stopping casts Time Stop and finds herself with 5 rounds of Free Time!
In the 1st round Tali, Flies to Position AE19. In The 2nd round, Tali, Casts Prismatic wall starting at V2 going through to V11 with the Shimmering side in the direction of the Giants, 50 ft long & 40 ft High. In The 3rd round, Tali, Casts Prismatic wall starting at AC11 going through to T11 with the Shimmering side in the direction of the Giants, 50 ft long & 40 ft High. In The 4th round, Tali, Casts Prismatic wall starting at AC11 going through to AC2 with the Shimmering side in the direction of the Giants,50 ft long & 40 ft High. In The 5th round, Tali, Casts Prismatic wall starting at AC2 going through to T2 with the Shimmering side in the direction of the Giants, 50 ft long & 40 ft High.
Spells Used: Overland-Flight PolyMorph any Object Time-Stop 4xPrismatic wall
Damaged taken:
2 headed fire giant: 28+1 -10 = 19
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 74/157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+7=12 ; 2d6=2 ; 2d6=7 ; 2d6=11 ; Thursday May 12th, 2022 9:31:43 PM
The 3 swarms continue to try to stay afloat (reflex fail, down to 29) and continue to attack their targets (damage is 2, 7, and 11, poison, distraction Fort DC 25).
Unable to take much more of this, Pressi rockets forward just over Prudence and fires obscuring mist from her tatoo, centered on her original location as she flips around tightly. She also wonders if these templated giants left her any spells as gaps, because it was really starting to feel like her spellbook was specifically targeted.
Except for a spell she happened to get with the last woldblood change....
With all her strength and with her quickened abilities, she aimed at the very tip of her range, one 10 foot block just at the center of the three giants... the spell Grease... which she really hoped was flammable, if memory served.
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Rituals: Ritual of Warding, Ritual of Healing, Ritual of Charming spectral hand shield of faith moment of prescience creeping doom (3 by 42 hp) flying fluid form (DR 10/slashing, 10 foot reach) obscuring mist (conceal chance)
Last round, after the purple worm was summoned, Murphy the bird summoned again. This time 3 [link href="https://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/humanoids/giants/giant-true/giant-frost"]frost giants[link] wink into the battle, and, what with Tali's walls there, 2 end up within the walls, and one outside. Those two types generally do not get on well.
Crammed in together like that, the frost giants put their great axes to use as they flank the Fire Reaver. Frost giant #1 vs Fire Reaver: AC 24+2=26 (flanking) Dam 26 AC 32+2=34 Dam 16 Frost Giant #2 vs Fire Reaver: AC 21+2=23 Dam 29 AC 32+2=34 Dam 24 Frost Giant #3 swings on the High Priest: AC 25 Dam 27 AC 19 Dam 24
The purple worm decides it will dive beneath the floor, and try to get at what's inside the colorful walls next round.
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 (Foresight) CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 Friday May 13th, 2022 4:25:09 AM
As a free action Murphy activates Haste, and flies toward his wife Pressi on her broom. As he passes by, his wingtip touches her, and heals 150 hp damage, bringing her to full (as well as negating a large number of conditions, but I don't think she is currently subject to any).
As it is not clear to me whether the obscuring mist Pressi cast is back where she had started out, or rather where she is now, if she is within the mist, he uses his telepathic link to find her. As he draws close, he knows her scent...
After the healing, he continues his flight, ending up near one of Tali's walls, at W13. [Note: Flyby attack feat allows a standard action in the middle of a move]
DM Mitch Map d20+9=20 ; Friday May 13th, 2022 8:11:39 PM Murphy’s Purple worm tries to take a bite of the priest but fails to hit the cleric. It also tries to catch the two headed giant with its stinger which it succeeds though dealing less damage than expected and the giant resists the poison (31 = save) Succotash starts summoning some T-Rexes which will appear next round. Meanwhile Valerie continues her nonlethal onslaught against the enraged giant knocking it out although only 3 out of her 4 attacks strike Kezzem double moves towards the Two-Headed Giant and readies an attack on the stone reaver should it appear Pru casts Maze on the 2 headed giant trapping it in an interdimensional maze as well. Pressi whips around using her tattoo to cast obscuring mist while casting her grease spell in the center of the 2 giants in the fiery smoke. Tali casts time stop, flies to a position and then starts creating some prismatic walls boxing the 2 giants in the smoke in. Nikolai starts tying up the unconscious enraged giant
The Stone Reaver and the 2 Headed Giants remain trapped in their respective mazes.
The Enraged giant is unconscious and tied up.
The High Priest casts air walk = (34 =success) and moves up and over the a prismatic walls
The smoke cloud created by the giant continues to expand dealing 16 fire damage and the centepedes must make a DC 23 reflex save for half damage
The flame reaver throws a rock through the wall, but the rock is destroyed as it goes through it
2 Headed Giant:trapped in maze: 19 damage High Preist: 11 damage Enraged Giant: 380 nonlethal damage - unconscious Stone Reaver: trapped in Maze; 62 damage
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) d20+25=44 ; Friday May 13th, 2022 10:33:43 PM
If Pru has line of sight to the fire reaver, she casts Maze on him. If not, she casts it on the High Priest. SR check if needed is 44.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 d4+1=3 ; Saturday May 14th, 2022 2:51:34 PM ...& Another note for my requiem
Continuing with the barrage, Tali casts Time Stop again and finds herself with another 3 rounds of Free Time!
In the 1st round Tali, Flies to Z13 & hovers at 45 feet, so she can peer down upon the group within her walls & the high Priest over in the AJ7 area. In The 2nd round, Tali, Casts Maze on the Fire Reaver at location AA7. In The 3rd round, Tali, Casts Maze on the High Priest at location AJ6.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Sunday May 15th, 2022 11:57:18 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 16/18
Nikolai notices two of the giants have vanished and through Pru's link with him knows they are both in that extra dimensional maze. He spends more time tying up the unconscious giant as such a large creature takes up a lot more rope. He is thankful he bought lots of rope, even though for a different purpose.
Murphy's summoned critters The frost giants who share the square tower with the fire reaver do what they are able.
FrostG#1: Hit AC 29 Dam 25 hp Hit AC 27 Dam 27 hp Frost G#2: Hit AC 35 Dam 27 hp Hit AC 29 Dam 27 hp
The frost giant next to the fire giant priest(ess?) tries, but likely misses: Hit AC 22 Dam 27 hp Hit AC 16 Dam 29 hp
The purple worm comes up from underneath the Fire Reaver. Not enough room for both maw and stinger, so this is a bite attack. Hit AC 44 - critical threat. If AC 30 hits, it is confirmed. Damage roll: (sum(3,8,4,7,7,6,1,2)) + 24 = 38 + 24 = 62 If confirmed: 62 hp damage If unconfirmed: 46 hp damage The Fire Reaver is grabbed in the maw of the purple worm. Next round, we shall see if the worm is able to gobble down the bitten fire giant. Or, perhaps the mouthful will be mazed.
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 (Foresight) CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 Monday May 16th, 2022 4:18:04 AM
Murphy looks around, seeing who is left to fight - as well as who may have popped back into the room after a brief vacation elsewhere. He casts true seeing so as to better discern their surroundings.
DM Mitch Map d20+32=38 ; 4d6=13 ; d6=4 ; d6=3 ; Monday May 16th, 2022 8:55:44 AM Pru casts Maze on the High Priest sending her to the interdimensional maze as well. Tali casts Timestop, moves and casts maze, but you can’t cast targeted spells while in tiem stop (you may choose 2 other spells to cast during your timestop instead). Nikolai continues to tie up the giant the team knocked unconscious Murphy’s summons attack.
The Fire Reaver breaks the purple worm’s hold and reverses it, now grappling the worm. The frost giants and purple worm take 20 damage from the incendiary cloud, reflex save 23 for half. The FIre Giant Cleric casts implosion targeting Tali. She must make a DC 24 Fortitude save or take 190 damage.
2 Headed Giant:trapped in maze: 21 damage Flame Reaver: 63 damage. High Preist: 11 damage Enraged Giant: 380 nonlethal damage - unconscious Stone Reaver: trapped in Maze; 62 damage
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells d20+20=39 ; d20+20=23 ; d20+20=25 ; 4d6+26=37 ; Monday May 16th, 2022 11:59:17 AM
Succotash's t-rexes arrive and two of them attack the high priest. since the 3rd one doesn't have a target, it just waits it's turn near where the Stone Reaver disappeared. Being 20 ft tall and having a 20 ft reach, t1 and t2 should be able to reach the high priest. T-rex 1 hits AC 39 which is a possible crit, assuming it hits (19-20 crit range) but only a 23 to confirm. T1 causes 37 damage. T2 misses with a 25
Valerie airwalks towards the high priest as a double move, and is now 30ft in the air.
Being out of range for any of his spells, and unable to use his dimensional hop ability, Succotash double moves towards the high priest.
Succotash Heroes Feast Planar Adaptation Summon Monster IX (3 T-Rexes)
AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, –4 size) hp 189 DR 10/evil Fort +15, Ref +12, Will +10
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft. Melee bite +20 (4d6+26/19–20 plus grab) Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft. Special Attacks swallow whole (2d8+13, AC 17, hp 15) smite evil (1 per day)
STATISTICS
Str 34, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10 Base Atk +13; CMB +28 (+32 grapple); CMD 39 Feats Bleeding Critical, Critical Focus, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Run, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Perception +37; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception SQ powerful bite
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Powerful Bite (Ex) A tyrannosaurus applies twice its Strength modifier to bite damage.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Monday May 16th, 2022 2:16:07 PM
Since Pru does not seem to have line of sight on the Fire Reaver, she activates her Boots of Levitation and gains 20 feet of elevation. She probably still can't see over that wall, but maybe next round.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 d20+22=33 ; d4+25=28 ; d6=3 ; d6=2 ; Monday May 16th, 2022 2:24:49 PM
Kezzem moves behind the high priest and uses Smite Evil on him.
"Last chance to surrender," offers Kezzem.
Rumpus reposiitons himself and readies an attack on Stone Reaver.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Monday May 16th, 2022 3:33:11 PM
If everybody has been mazed, then disregard Kezzem's smite evil since he needs to see his target to use it.
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 (Foresight) CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 Monday May 16th, 2022 3:47:23 PM
How high is the ceiling of this chamber? If of varied height - how high over the priest, and over the fire reaver, and - well, each giant (or the place where the giants were before being mazed)?
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:116/135 d4+1=4 ; Monday May 16th, 2022 9:08:53 PM ...& another note for my requiem {Redoing last round}
Continuing with the barrage, Tali casts Time Stop again and finds herself with another 3 rounds of Free Time!
In the 1st round Tali, Flies to Z13 & hovers at 45 feet, so she can peer down upon the group within her walls & the high Priest over in the AJ7 area. In The 2nd round, Tali, Casts Stinking Cloud centered on Y6. In The 3rd round, Tali, Casts Fireball centered on Y6.
Damaged taken: 2 headed fire giant: 28+1 -10 = 19 --=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ...& Yet another note for my requiem
Continuing with the barrage, Tali casts Time Stop yet again and finds herself with another 4 rounds of Free Time!
In the 1st round Tali, Casts Prismatic Spray downward into the area within her four Prismatic walls to affect all those contained by her walls in a 60 ft cone. In The 2nd round, Tali, Casts Prismatic Spray downward into the area within her four Prismatic walls to affect all those contained by her walls in a 60 ft cone. In The 3rd round, Tali, Casts Prismatic Spray downward into the area within her four Prismatic walls to affect all those contained by her walls in a 60 ft cone. In The 4th & last round, Tali, Casts Prismatic Spray downward into the area within her four Prismatic walls to affect all those contained by her walls in a 60 ft cone.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+7=21 ; d20+7=21 ; d20+19=21 ; 2d6=10 ; 2d6=6 ; Monday May 16th, 2022 9:14:31 PM
Pressi's creepers do better with dodging but at this point are no more.
Pressi silently thanks Murphy for the heal and tries to think if there's anything left in her bag of tricks.
Focusing first on the High Priestess, Pressi casts a quickened dispel magic, trying to hit the priestess' air walk (and hits a 21).
Next... requires an if/then. If Tali fails against the implosion, Pressi swings her spectral hand around and casts Breath of Life on Tali.
Otherwise, Pressi takes out her rod of thunder and lightning and fires a thunderclap (like the sonic spell) at the priestess. (Fortitude DC 16 partial, 10 points of sonic damage, target deafened for 6 rounds).
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Rituals: Ritual of Warding, Ritual of Healing, Ritual of Charming spectral hand shield of faith moment of prescience flying fluid form (DR 10/slashing, 10 foot reach) obscuring mist (conceal chance)
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Tuesday May 17th, 2022 12:13:10 AM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 16/18
Nikolai looks up and sees there's not much he can do at this point. He also notices frost giants and wanders what the blazes are Frost Giants doing here and how are they putting up with the heat.
He moves over to where the Stone Reaver had been and readies for its return from La-La land. Puch attack readied.
The purple worm takes control of the grapple [worm CMB: +32(+36 grapple); CMD 40. Fire giant CMB: +22; CMD 31 - or, if +5, then 36] with a 50. [Also, the Fire Giant needed a 40 to reverse the grapple, not a 38, so I don't believe the giant actually succeeded in reserving the grapple last round - let me know if I'm missing something]. So, the purple worm now goes for a swallow whole of the hot and spicy fire giant, with 21 hp bludgeoning damage done to the fellow.
The worm takes 20 hp damage from the incendiary cloud (Ref 13/DC23). Both frost giants take full damage from the cloud as well (Ref 8 & 4 /DC23)
Frost Giant #1 AC 32 Dam 27 AC 26 Dam 22 Frost Giant #2 AC 30 Dam 25 AC 24 Dam 23
Murphy Iridescent Corvid (again) (KimMc) AC 34/T25/F29 (Foresight) CMB 23 CMD 45 HP 219/219 d20+9=17 ; Tuesday May 17th, 2022 2:54:40 AM
Summoned critters The purple worm takes control of the grapple [worm CMB: +32(+36 grapple); CMD 40. Fire giant CMB: +22; CMD 31 - or, if +5, then 36] with a 50. [Also, the Fire Giant needed a 40 to reverse the grapple, not a 38, so I don't believe the giant actually succeeded in reserving the grapple last round - let me know if I'm missing something]. So, the purple worm now goes for a swallow whole of the hot and spicy fire giant, with 21 hp bludgeoning damage done to the fellow.
The worm takes 20 hp damage from the incendiary cloud (Ref 13/DC23). Both frost giants take full damage from the cloud as well (Ref 8 & 4 /DC23)
Frost Giant #1 vs Fire Reaver AC 32 Dam 27 AC 26 Dam 22 Frost Giant #2 AC 30 Dam 25 AC 24 Dam 23
Frost Giant #3 vs priestess: He throws a rock, and misses (AC 17).
Murphy Huge Air Elemental (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Tuesday May 17th, 2022 3:04:21 AM
Murphy drops the haste. He wildshapes from corvid over to air elemental.
Results of Tali's spells upon Purple Worm and Two Frost Giants Purple worm saves vs Tali's spells, damage and results: Fails all saves. Stinking Cloud (Fort Save 34/DC36: Nauseated. Fireball (Ref save 26/DC 33): 37 hp damage [No damage roll for Tali's fireball shown, so I rolled it for her] Prismatic Spray (Ref save 8/DC 37): #1(2) 40 hp Acid damage; #2(5) Flesh to stone (Fort save 34/DC 36) failed - Turned to stone. I suppose we can ignore the rest of the rolls (#3(8) double roll of (5), (2), didn't bother rolling more. We have a stoney purple worm with a fire giant in its mouth.
Frost Giant #1 & #2: Both failed stinking cloud (16, 17), therefore nauseated. Both failed fireball (10, 20), therefore 37*1.5=55 hp each fire damage. Prismatic Spray (DC 37) FG#1 fails vs (5) is turned to stone (so he is now a Stone Frost Giant). FG#2 fails vs (6) (rolled 8) and is insane. Again fails vs Prismatic Spray #2 and is confirmed in his insanity. PrSp #3 sends FG#2 to another plane, where he does not need to suffer the indignities of any more such spells, though he may spend a few more rounds retching from the effects of the stinking cloud.
Fireball? Tali knows she sent that against a Fire Reaver, right? That particular spell may have felt refreshing to him :-) - But the other ones may mess him up.
DM Mitch Map Tuesday May 17th, 2022 7:38:21 AM
(OOC: We goofed. Everybody gets their actions back from last round and Tali gets another use of Timestop back as well as one casting of Maze; also everyone please take a Hero Point for embracing the spirit of the giant’s challenge to find out if you were the chosen one; some people that made healing actions may keep those if they want as well.)
Sometimes in the heat of battle in a volcano one’s senses can deceive. That is kind of what happened that last round. With all your enemies banished to an extradimensional space the worm kind of jumped at nothing and you thought some of you cast spells but when you realize nothing is there you actually didn’t.
With all the giants either banished to mazes or tied up on the ground the room grows silent. There are no valid targets and none of them come back right away. You have up to 10 minutes to waste now before any targets return. (OOC: we will keep rolling to see if any of the giants figures their way out of the maze with the number of rolls we make commensurate to your actions) With that being said please take 2 rounds worth of actions and your DMs will update you with an update in their next post.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells d20+20=34 ; Tuesday May 17th, 2022 12:14:02 PM
Valerie moves into a flanking position with both t-rexes, and waits for the high priest to return.
Succotash double moves the first round and than moves and attempts to dispel the incendiary cloud the next. Dispel check 34
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Tuesday May 17th, 2022 12:34:39 PM
"Hey, where'd everybody go?" asks Kezzem. "Maybe we should have kept one."
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Tuesday May 17th, 2022 2:20:28 PM
"My bad," Pru says. "I probably shouldn't have wished the High Priest into the cornfield; now there's nobody to surrender."
Since it's still a good idea, she does activate her Boots of Levitation and gain some altitude.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:116/135 d20+16=23 ; Tuesday May 17th, 2022 8:59:22 PM Mazes, Mazes, Mazes, All my life Mazes! {OOC: We Goofed}
Continuing with the barrage, Tali casts Time Stop again and finds herself with another 3 rounds of Free Time!
In the 1st round Tali, Flies to Z13 & hovers at 45 feet, so she can peer down upon the group within her walls & the high Priest over in the AJ7 area. In The 2nd round, Tali, Casts Stinking Cloud-centered on Y6. In The 3rd round, Tali, Casts Fireball centered on Y6.
Tali, trying to save again a horrible implosion {DC 24 Fortitude save or take 190 damage.}, gives it her best shot! She missed the save by one point, and takes all 190 points of damage, bringing her down to a negative 74 Hit Points... a full 56 HPs beyond her Constitution score..."oh well, at least she's been dead before, so it's not like this is something new to her! I wonder what lord Gargul will say this time?!"
[u]Damaged taken:[/u 2 headed fire giant: 28+1 -10 = 19
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 5d12+19=60 ; Tuesday May 17th, 2022 9:11:29 PM
"Guys, this seems a good time as any to start building pits or summoning or something. So that when they come back, maybe they'll just surrender. Is there any way to bring them back as a cluster or something?
It won't be her, though, as she sees Tali begin to fall and moves into action.
First, she swings her spectral hand around, casting Breath of Life (60 HP).
Upon seeing her stabilize, Pressi proceeds to cast Heal, giving her 150 HP.
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Rituals: Ritual of Warding, Ritual of Healing, Ritual of Charming spectral hand shield of faith moment of prescience flying fluid form (DR 10/slashing, 10 foot reach) obscuring mist (conceal chance)
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Tuesday May 17th, 2022 9:13:56 PM
One last move. If anyone wants, she tosses them her staff of earth and stone, so that they might build a pit or something.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Tuesday May 17th, 2022 11:15:59 PM
It was my understanding that fire reaver giant didn't get the chance to cast implosssio,nno?
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) d8=1 ; d8=6 ; d8=8 ; d8=5 ; Wednesday May 18th, 2022 12:40:49 AM
Nikolai motions Pru to get into reach so he can use the Staff of Healing on her: CSW 3d8+5 = (1 + 6 + 8) + 5 = 20 hp to Pru.
OOC: i don't think staves and wands get '1's rerolled but if they do: 5
DM Mitch Map Wednesday May 18th, 2022 8:00:05 AM
(OOC: What we have here is a communications comedy of errors. 1) It is correct that no actions were taken by the giants that involved implosion or any other attacks that round because by modifying the actions of Tali both giants could be banished to the maze which were the intention of both Pru and Tali since Pru targetted the one and Tali could target the other without being time stoppeds. 2) as far as the spell time stop goes there seems to be some confusion as to just exactly what a time stop character can use the extra time to do per the spell itself: While the time stop is in effect, other creatures are invulnerable to your attacks and spells; you cannot target such creatures with any attack or spell. A spell that affects an area and has a duration longer than the remaining duration of the time stop have their normal effects on other creatures once the time stop ends. Most spellcasters use the additional time to improve their defenses, summon allies, or flee from combat. Therefore fireball or maze are both bad spells to cast while time stopped. Summon spells, walls, buffs, delayed blast fireball on the other hand (with the delay set to go off after the timestop), spells that effect the terrain or create clouds that persist are all valid uses of the extra time)
Succotash moves and tries to dispel the incendiary cloud while Valerie moves into a flanking position with the T-Rexes waiting for the high priest to arrive. The dispel check is successful so the incendiary cloud is dispelled.
Kezzem asks where everyone went and suggests they should have kept one.
Pru apologizes for wishing the high priest into the cornfield as there is no one to surrender and then activates her boots of levitation.
Tali casts tim estop getting 3 rounds of time, moves, casts stinking cloud and does something else (OOC: see our comments on time stop. You can’t impact enemies while you are time stopped but if a spell effect persists beyond being timestop then it does impact them; fireball is instantaneous AOE Akso there was no implosion because of the maze spell)
Pressi does something presumably involving healing or creating pits (OOC the implosion didn’t impact Talli sorry for not making that clear)
Nikolai uses a staff of healing (1’s reroll on all healing, including via items)
The party has up to 10 minutes to prepare for the return of the giants.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Wednesday May 18th, 2022 12:22:19 PM
Succotash takes the time to summon another ally. This time he summons a Trumpet Archon that appears at 5,Y (Marked TA)
Valerie moves over and waits with Nik and T-rex 3 for the stone reaver to return.
Succotash Heroes Feast Planar Adaptation Summon Monster IX (3 T-Rexes) 18/20 Summon Monser IX (Trumpet Archon) 20/20
AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, –4 size) hp 189 DR 10/evil Fort +17, Ref +12, Will +10
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft. Melee bite +20 (4d6+26/19–20 plus grab) Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft. Special Attacks swallow whole (2d8+13, AC 17, hp 15) smite evil (1 per day)
STATISTICS
Str 34, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10 Base Atk +13; CMB +28 (+32 grapple); CMD 39 Feats Bleeding Critical, Critical Focus, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Run, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Perception +37; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception SQ powerful bite
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Powerful Bite (Ex) A tyrannosaurus applies twice its Strength modifier to bite damage.
Trumpet Archon
LG Medium outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful) Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +22; Aura aura of menace (DC 22), magic circle against evil
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 13, flat-footed 24 (+3 Dex, +14 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil) hp 203 Fort +18, Ref +9, Will +14; +4 vs. poison, +2 resistance vs. evil DR 10/evil; Immune electricity, petrification; SR 25
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 90 ft. (good) Melee +4 greatsword +25/+20/+15 (2d6+14) Special Attacks trumpet Spell-Like Abilities (CL 14th)
Constant—magic circle against evil At will—aid, continual flame, detect evil, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), message
Str 24, Dex 17, Con 29, Int 16, Wis 20, Cha 17 Base Atk +14; CMB +21; CMD 34 Feats Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Persuasive, Power Attack Skills Diplomacy +24, Escape Artist +17, Fly +24, Handle Animal +20, Knowledge (religion) +20, Perception +22, Perform (wind instruments) +20,Sense Motive +24, Stealth +20 Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; truespeech
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Spells Trumpet archons can cast divine spells as 14th-level clerics. They do not gain access to domains or other cleric abilities.
Trumpet (Su) All creatures except archons within 100 feet of the trumpet’s blast must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based. The archon can also command its trumpet to become a +4 greatsword as a free action. Out of the archon’s hands, it is a chunk of useless metal.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 107/184](Kathy) Wednesday May 18th, 2022 2:39:10 PM
Pru floats back down to the ground to accept some healing.
"I'm not much of a summoner," she says. "I have Walls of Ice, if we want to make more boxes. They aren't as nice as Pressi's Prismatic walls, but they'll do. I have Web spells, so we could fill the inside of any 'wall box' with webbing. That might make things challenging for summoned creatures, though."
Murphy Huge Air Elemental (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Wednesday May 18th, 2022 5:09:32 PM
"I'd like to rest 8 hours, take an hour for Heroes' Feast, an hour for learning new spells, all in the next ten minutes. Does someone have a time stop to help us with that?" Murphy inquires.
"If not... yes, let us think how best to prepare in the next several minutes for their return over the course of a few rounds in the interim. Unless one or more manages to break out of the maze, they should be returning roughly in the order they left."
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Wednesday May 18th, 2022 8:45:13 PM
OOC: Pru, update your HPs, you just gained: CSW 3d8+5 = (5 + 6 + 8) + 5 = 24 hp to Pru.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Wednesday May 18th, 2022 9:33:57 PM
Pressi takes out her rod of earth and stone and casts passwall to make a pit where the two headed giant will arrive (25 feet deep). "Well, Tali and Prudence have some walls at least. I'm not a wall person and I fired a lot of my summons already, but I do have a few tricks left."
First, does anyone want spell resistance or protection/resist fire? Maybe stoneskin? Second, does anyone think animate objects or repeal gravity would be a good idea?
Pressi thinks. "To be honest, I feel like I've hit a lot of walls myself, maybe it's my imagination, but I'm starting to second guess myself. Energy drain, bestow curse, magic jar, living voodoo, blue dragon form, rod of thunder... I can see a few options, but I'm for the first time in a while at a loss of what my or our strategy should even be.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 2d8+7=15 ; d8+5=12 ; Wednesday May 18th, 2022 9:37:19 PM Just a menagerie{2nd draft}
After Tali realizes what actually happened, and why for all intents and purposes, the fight has paused, decides to heal herself by using her Wand of Cure Moderate Wounds (2d8+7) by taking it out of her pocket (Bills Pants' O' Plenty) using one charge & then using one charge of her wand of cure light wounds ( 1d8+5), bringing back up to full health.
"Mister Murphy, are we trying to contain them, or hurt them?"
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Wednesday May 18th, 2022 11:11:22 PM
In the 3 rounds before the giants return, Kezzem will cast holy sword on his two daggers followed by divine favor.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) d8=5 ; d8=5 ; d8=2 ; Thursday May 19th, 2022 12:11:52 AM
Nikolai uses another charge from his Staff of Healing on Pru:
5+6+3+5+7+6+7+4+8+3=54 = Prudence is back to full hit points, with Nikolai's and Murphy's ministrations - Murphy's with a minute's worth of use of his wand of cure light wounds.
Murphy goes ahead and helps heal up the giants he summoned, and the purple worm with his wand: +5+4+5+3+6+8+3+7+... let's just say he keeps going until he gets them back to full. Anyone else's summons need healing?
"Tali, we want to hurt them enough to ensure they can't hit us again - If some die, we may be sad, but that may be necessary. Where possible, merciful strikes - that is, nonfatal, are good. If you need to cast spells that cause real damage, do so. The priest may be willing to take some of us out all the way if she can. Go thou and do likewise.
"If we render unconscious several, or all, that may be the best outcome. But, boxed in tightly, that may be good for a few. Don't pull your punches until it looks like they are just about down for the count.
"If that is a cloudy enough answer for you - well, there it is. Box with walls, or box with actual or metaphorical fists. Control, contain, bash down, defeat."
Murphy gets the frost giants out of the prismatic walls, and has two of them go to help against the stone reaver. "He can move through stone, so hit him as hard as you can as fast as you can when he shows up again," Murphy recommends to the frost giants, and his friends.
Murphy coaxes the purple worm to head over to where the priest was. He uses his staff of the woodlands to fill the area of the prismatic walls fairly full of walls of thorns - Each giant will have some of the space they occupy free of thorns, but poking into their sides, and immediately above their heads (up to about 5' shy of the top of the contained area), it will simply be thorns, thorns, thorns. And bounded by prismatic walls. "That should keep the two-headed giant and the fire reaver somewhat out of things. Any way we could fill that tower with water?" he asks. He goes ahead and spends a minute casting create water, which will not fill it, but at least the 400 gallons flowing down will wet the thorns, and perhaps prevent them all going quickly up in flames.
"I'm going to summon a few things that can fly, and things that can hit..." He spends a few rounds doing so.
He also says, "I'm going to take a few minutes for elemental exploration." Murphy changes to huge earth elemental, and goes through the back wall, then about 20' in unless something shows up that calls for a shallower dive, then up the wall, over the ceiling, than a 90-degree shift after he peaks out from the roof of the cavern, going throught walls along the right side of the map, down to and then below the floor - nearing the lava/ice. He will skirt the lava to see what lies more deeply. He will keep in touch mentally with Pressi, or with all if the group communication is still running. Looking for anything useful or of interest, but not dwelling overlong in any one place.
He may switch to fire elemental to check out the lava flow for a short time.
"Tali, can you cast flight on me? I might need to fly when in a form that normally cannot do so."
He asks the party, "Can anyone cast silence? It would be great to make it harder for the priest to cast. Or do anything else to flummox her?"
"Oh, and those who think to, feel free to pray!"
DM Mitch Map Thursday May 19th, 2022 8:13:20 AM Succotash takes time to summon another ally. This time he summons a Trumpet Archon. Valerie goes over and waits with Nikolai and the T-Rex. Pru floats to the ground to accept some healing. She volunteers that she isn’t much of a summoner but she can create Walls of Ice if they need more boxes and she could fill the boxes with webbing. Murphy opines that he’d like to rest 8 hours and have another heroes feast in the next 10 minutes and asks if anyone has a spare time stop for that otherwise they should plan as best they can for the return of the giants. Pressi uses her rod of earth and stone to create a pit where the 2 headed fire giant will arrive 25 feet deep. She says she isn’t a wall person and asks if anyone wants spell resistance, stoneskin, animate objects or repel gravity. She admits she is starting to second guess her toolkit and is at a loss as to what their strategy should be. Tali heals herself and asks if they are trying to hurt the giants or contain them. Kezzem casts holy sword on his two daggers and divine favor. Murphy does some healing and some exploring.
The party ends up having a little less time then anticipated. After everyone takes their 3rd action the high priest returns to this dimension and immediately casts implosion on the nearest PC - that seems to be Kezzem. DC 24 Fort save or take 190 damage.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells d8=7 ; d8=7 ; d8=6 ; d8=4 ; d8=8 ; d20+27=31 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d20+20=26 ; d20+20=25 ; Thursday May 19th, 2022 12:21:07 PM
Succotash makes a double move action to come up behind Kezzem. If his paladin friend is overcome by the implosion, he will use a hero point to cast breath of life on Kezzem, restoring 52 HP, and keeping him alive. If Kezzem makes his save he will instead cast silence on The high priest's shoes.
The Trumpet Archon flies out of Murphy's nest of Thorns, assumingly beforehand, as I can't imagine Murphy would trap Succotash's summoned creature without offering a heads up. The Archon flies over and attacks the high priest with it's greatsword, hitting AC 31 for 16 damage,
T-rex 1 and t-rex 2 both attempt to bite the High Priest, but both fail to sink their teeth into her.
Succotash Heroes Feast Planar Adaptation Summon Monster IX (3 T-Rexes) 17/20 Summon Monser IX (Trumpet Archon) 19/20
AC 21, touch 7, flat-footed 20 (+1 Dex, +14 natural, –4 size) hp 189 DR 10/evil Fort +17, Ref +12, Will +10
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft. Melee bite +20 (4d6+26/19–20 plus grab) Space 20 ft.; Reach 20 ft. Special Attacks swallow whole (2d8+13, AC 17, hp 15) smite evil (1 per day)
STATISTICS
Str 34, Dex 13, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10 Base Atk +13; CMB +28 (+32 grapple); CMD 39 Feats Bleeding Critical, Critical Focus, Diehard, Endurance, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Run, Skill Focus (Perception) Skills Perception +37; Racial Modifiers +8 Perception SQ powerful bite
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Powerful Bite (Ex) A tyrannosaurus applies twice its Strength modifier to bite damage.
Trumpet Archon
LG Medium outsider (archon, extraplanar, good, lawful) Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +22; Aura aura of menace (DC 22), magic circle against evil
DEFENSE
AC 27, touch 13, flat-footed 24 (+3 Dex, +14 natural; +2 deflection vs. evil) hp 203 Fort +18, Ref +9, Will +14; +4 vs. poison, +2 resistance vs. evil DR 10/evil; Immune electricity, petrification; SR 25
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 90 ft. (good) Melee +4 greatsword +25/+20/+15 (2d6+14) Special Attacks trumpet Spell-Like Abilities (CL 14th)
Constant—magic circle against evil At will—aid, continual flame, detect evil, greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. of objects only), message
Str 24, Dex 17, Con 29, Int 16, Wis 20, Cha 17 Base Atk +14; CMB +21; CMD 34 Feats Blind-Fight, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Persuasive, Power Attack Skills Diplomacy +24, Escape Artist +17, Fly +24, Handle Animal +20, Knowledge (religion) +20, Perception +22, Perform (wind instruments) +20,Sense Motive +24, Stealth +20 Languages Celestial, Draconic, Infernal; truespeech
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Spells Trumpet archons can cast divine spells as 14th-level clerics. They do not gain access to domains or other cleric abilities.
Trumpet (Su) All creatures except archons within 100 feet of the trumpet’s blast must succeed on a DC 19 Fortitude save or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Charisma-based. The archon can also command its trumpet to become a +4 greatsword as a free action. Out of the archon’s hands, it is a chunk of useless metal.
"You've taken your best shot!" says Kezzem. "Now it's my turn!Ó
Kezzem's Smite Evil and actives his boots of Speed. Kezzem will only deal nonlethal if the giants are. Otherwise, he's not pulling his punches if one of his friends could get hurt/killed.
Rumpus readies another attack on Stone Reaver: Attack: 1d20 + 22 = 30. Damage: 1d4 + 10 + 15 (Smite Evil) + 2d6 (Bane) = 28 + 10 = 38.
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 131/184](Kathy) d20+18=30 ; d4=2 ; d20+25=36 ; Thursday May 19th, 2022 2:11:17 PM
"Oh, bother," Pru says when the high priest reappears. She could Maze her again, but that seems counterproductive. She uses her boots to gain 20 feet of elevation and give her a slightly better angle. She casts Enervation on the High Priest, hitting a touch AC of 30. If that hits, the High Priest takes 2 negative levels, no save. SR check if needed is 36. Pru has the Precise Shot feat.
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 d6=5 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=1 ; d6=6 ; d6=3 ; d6=5 ; d6=4 ; d10+6=7 ; Thursday May 19th, 2022 4:29:09 PM
Corrections: I forgot the +1 from Haste. Also, assuming Kezzem is flanking and the t-rexes are still there, he should get an additional +2 to hit and an additional 1d6 sneak attack damage.
Also, Kezzem will stop attacking if the high priest drops to allow him to stabilize rather than killing him outright.
Two-Weapon Rend (if 50hits): Damage: 1d10 + 6 = 7.
Murphy Various Elementals (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Thursday May 19th, 2022 4:33:24 PM
"No messin' with the Kezzem," Murphy says.
[will have rest of post later - busy atm]
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 Thursday May 19th, 2022 8:58:14 PM What were the terms?
Tali, now thoroughly irritated with the current actions of the returned Giants, casts Message on all the Giants and her entire group. Pointing to the High Priest, Tali, mouths, and whispers, "You know, when we started this little Soiree, the idea was the "Best" the other group. We tried to get an idea of what you meant by this, but now your actions, lead us to believe, Death is your definition. Which is a sad commentary on your behalf, for how are we to fulfill your prophecy if we are dead? Of course, if we kill you, aside from the loss of 4 Giants, we lose the verbal discourse of how to assist you in this Prophecy. If you continue along this path, I will have no choice but to go All out. I will let you make the next decision. Think wisely for all of Giant kind, it would be a shame if you failed Fhorge in this."
Turning, and pointing in the direction of Mister Murphy, Tali, mouths, and whispers, "I could but you'd have to await my next round of actions...
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 d20+19=34 ; 2d4=2 ; Thursday May 19th, 2022 9:40:15 PM
Pressi watched as Tali and Kezzem go after the priestess with ferocity. "They are fighting to the death. WE do not have to accept such terms," she admonished. "Handling ourselves better than an evil zealot fire giant is kind of the source of OUR pride."
Pressi waits to see if the priestess survives and yields. If she doesn't, Pressi casts energy drain on the priestess (should pass SR, no initial save, 2 levels lost, Fort DC 25 rolled for each level.) She doesn't want to kill someone in competition but she can't risk her teammates, either.
--------
Rituals: Ritual of Warding, Ritual of Healing, Ritual of Charming spectral hand shield of faith moment of prescience flying fluid form (DR 10/slashing, 10 foot reach) obscuring mist (conceal chance)
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Thursday May 19th, 2022 10:48:49 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 16/18
Nikolai stays put, ready to punch the giant when he returns form the maze.
Readied action: attack.
OOC: I thought it took a whole full round action each round to try to escape, so if successful, your actions for that round are over. With a Readied action waiting for the mazed creature to pop back, there should be the Readied attack as part of the end of that round. But i guess no one was near enough to the priestess to get the readied action in and perhaprs disrupt the spell? mute now but... just wandering, 'cause Nikolai is counting on getting that Readied attack.
DM Mitch Map Friday May 20th, 2022 8:05:00 AM Succotash casts silence on the high priest’s shoes but because the shoes are attached to the high priest and shoes can make sound they get the benefits of the high priest’s saves and SR and the high priest saves with a Will of 44. The Arcon fails to overcome the mages protection as do the T-Rexes. Kezzem resists the implosion then springs into action not pulling any punches attempting a smite evil but the cleric is actually neutral not evil so the smite fizzles and the extra damage doesn’t apply from the holy or the smite however he still hits with 6 of his attacks for a grand total of 233 damage. Rumpus misses. Pru casts ennervation and gives the high priest 2 negative levels Tali casts message admonishing the giants and offers the priest the option of surrendering or dying Pressi tells the others just because the giants have turned lethal doesn’t mean they have to as they are better than that then readies a negative energy attack if the priest doesn’t surrender Nikolai readies an attack against the giant when it returns from the maze
Now that the giant high priest has a moment to look around they note the absence of their allies. Raising their hands they speak. ”I surrender. You win.”
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Friday May 20th, 2022 11:59:41 AM "Thank the gods! I was worried we were going to end up killing one or more of you, in spite of the fact that we were trying hard not to. Trust me when I say this, we won't be pulling any punches when we face Flamescorn and his ilk. We will destroy them with great prejudice! There is one cleric in particular who I have a score to settle, in particular. Besides, Flamescorn attacked our home unprovoked, and that alone has earned him our wrath! Please tell us what you know, and we will be on our way."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Friday May 20th, 2022 12:38:24 PM
"Thank you for not making me kill you," says Kezzem. "FYI, that would have hurt a lot more if you were Flamescorn, but I guess you're an okay guy in Gargul's book. Though so was Ketia, so that might not mean as much as I would like to think."
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 131/184](Kathy) Friday May 20th, 2022 1:27:23 PM
"Your other allies are in mazes like the one you were in," Pru says. "They should be back in the next few minutes."
Murphy Various Elementals (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Friday May 20th, 2022 2:46:19 PM
The one round final battle (so far) took place right at the time that earth elemental Murphy had his face emerge from the ceiling to look around, and he made his deep-voiced comment about Kezzem. Hearing the surrender, he comes further out of the ceiling, then wildshapes into an air elemental, the easier to hover in the air.
He commands those he summoned to stop attacking, and redirects the purple worm to another place.
In an airy, susurrant voice he says, "May we ask your name, Priest of Fhorge?"
He will wait a moment for her to respond. If she gives her name, he tells her his. He adds, "We are lined up to deal with each of your companions as they return. Is it safe to say we have your word you will inform each as he arrives of the surrender, so that we need do them no further harm - and so they will not attempt us harm?"
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Sunday May 22nd, 2022 8:47:10 PM
Pressi pulls herself back upon hearing the priestesses surrender.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Monday May 23rd, 2022 12:45:14 AM
Nikolai accepts the surrender and moves to be near the priestess. He encourages his team mates to do the same. Mainly because he doesn't want any of them near a giant that pops in from his maze and strikes at the nearest target before realizing the battle is over.
DM Mitch Map Monday May 23rd, 2022 8:58:00 AM Succotash is relieved the battle is over and goes to reassure the giants they won’t be pulling any punches against Flamescorn. He asks for the information they seek so they can be on their way. Kezzem thanks the priest for not making him kill the priest and says that that would have hurt a lot more if the person he was attacking had been Flamescorn but he guesses the priest is a good guy in Gargul’s book. Pru says the giants other allies are in a maze like the priest was in and that they should be back in a few minutes Murphy comes down from the ceiling wildshapes into an elemental and sends his summons to do other things than attack. He asks the high priest their name. Pressi pulls herself back upon hearing the high priest surrender. Nikolai encourages the group to gather around the giant so that other giants don’t get a chance to smack them before realizing combat is over.
The giant priest introduces themselves as Delos. A gender neutral giant name, for those who know about giant names. ”Well fought. It seems you are indeed the chosen ones. Now we have much to discuss.”
The giant explains that they were about to find Scaldsworn’s location, but it is heavily defended and blessed by his god so that magical intrusion or spying is impossible. Teams sent to defeat him and retrieve the artifact all failed to make it past even the first line of defense.
”Fortunately there is still time. The rituals to attune the artifact to an immortal power is long and involved. The final step requires a specific alignment of celestial bodies that will happen in about a week. Should you fail to stop him before the week is up then it may very well be to late to do so.”
(OOC reminder that Woldian weeks are 5 days, to match our posting schedule, so 5 in game days to stop him)
Murphy Various Elementals (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Monday May 23rd, 2022 11:23:20 AM [A game day is not the same as a posting day, is it? Sometimes a posting day is 6 seconds, which is 1/14,400th of a day]
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Monday May 23rd, 2022 11:37:11 AM "Hopefully, for the sake of the Wold, as we know it, we will find success where your people failed. We do have the advantage of being much smaller than you, which makes stealth a viable option, and as you have seen for yourself, we can throw down when needed. If you can give my friend Tali and I a good description of the place we need to go to, we should be able to greater teleport into the area, even if we can't teleport directly into the place, we should be able to get within a few hundred feet, or at the least the nearest settlement."
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 131/184](Kathy) Monday May 23rd, 2022 2:48:54 PM
"We should probably rest and heal up at some point," Pru says. "I know time is short, but there's no point in charging in if we're not going to be prepared for what we find."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Monday May 23rd, 2022 3:37:10 PM
"Yeah, I could use a rest too before confronting Scaldy," says Kezzem. "For some reason I'm low on spells now. But we should probably scout the place before we make our preparations. Where do we start?"
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 Monday May 23rd, 2022 6:45:56 PM The clam before the storm
Tali is happy we were able to come to this agreement. "It's always nice to confirm what we always knew..."
"Yes, Ms. Pru, rest before the next tricky part of this journey is an excellent idea!" giggles Tali.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Monday May 23rd, 2022 10:54:31 PM
"Ok, so we know that there's no divinations. Could I get an idea of what the man himself is capable of. Does he share your powers and immunities? Does he use weapons or spells? Does he still have allies? Might he be scrying us? I do apologize for all the questions but any amount of study would allow us to better outmaneuver him."
Pressi took a deep breath. "And to that end, what can you tell us about the ritual itself?"
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Monday May 23rd, 2022 11:39:53 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 16/18
Nikolai asks the priest to give them a token so that when they return, they'll be known and not attacked on sight.
Murphy Large Gorilla (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Tuesday May 24th, 2022 2:30:52 AM
"Delos. I am Murphy," he responded after the priest gave his name, or her name.
Others have spoken. The druid looks around. He flies down to the rope-bound giant, changes into a fair-sized gorilla, and begins to untie the ropes that Nikolai so expertly tied.
He looks toward the priest. "I would like to ensure that your companions are of the same mind as you once they return, or awaken." He pauses after the second set of ropes placed on the giant are removed, but before he gets to the first set.
"What is this fellow's name? I am thinking about healing him up, but don't want him to punch me after doing so." He thinks a moment. "I'll leave some of these ropes on him, I guess, before I try to bring him around. He's rather a mess at the moment."
He starts the slow process of bringing him around with his wand of cure light wounds. After several uses, he pauses to ask, "Which celestial bodies are set to align?"
DM Mitch Map Tuesday May 24th, 2022 7:01:59 AM Succotash hopes their group can manage it. He talks about advantages they have and requests a description for teleportation. Prudence points out they should rest and heal. Kezzem agrees on resting and asks where they start. Tali is happy an agreement has been made. Pressi asks about Scaldsworn and the ritual. Murphy sees to the other giants. They’re peaceable enough once they see the fight is over, but not very talkative. You get the feeling they don’t like outsiders being here in their most holy place.
The giant priest hesitates, realizing that he skipped a lot of important details. He apologizes and starts again from the beginning.
”Our people have long worshiped the mountain, Fhorge. It is said that when he joined the gods in sealing away the other great powers that threatened their creation they gifted him with the power to create a race in his own image to guard the prisons. He created us, so legend says. Though many of our people have long abandoned his worship ours have always stayed loyalty.
For our loyalty we were entrusted with an artifact to guard. It was a piece of the land infused with the very essence of the old ones. Those bound within the rock and stone as prisoners and jailers alike. With it the old one’s power could be channeled and enhanced, allowing them greater influence over the world around them.
Our ancestors attuned it to Fhorge, allowing the power to create this demiplane for us. Ever since we have lived here, guarding the artifact and waging war on those who do not serve Fhorge and tresspass in the mountains.
Scaldsworn was one of our own, a highly respected warrior and scholar. He was able to combine the powers of a Bloodwitch with the martial prowess our race is so well known for. It was a shock to us all when we received word that his powers came not from Fhorge, but from Scald. Though we drove him out he was able to return and steal away the artifact.
Now he seeks to attune it to Scald. The ritual must be done in the heart of the prison of the Old One you are attuning it to.To that purpose Scaldsworn has built a bastion deep in the waters of a hotspring inhabited by the jailed god. Though the god has limited power in the Wold, it is enough to block any attempts to use magic to infiltrate or spy on the base.
Our own efforts were barely able to reach the first line of defense. The only entrance seems to be an underwater tunnel leading strait down from the bed of the hotspring. You will have to prepare magic or other means to both breath underwater for extended periods and protect yourself from the heat of the spring. Once you enter the water there is a large chamber with some sort of elemental guardians. Like water elementals, but somehow more. They easily slaughtered some of our most powerful.
Should Scaldsworn complete the ritual it would allow Scald to actively spread even outside of the Scab, if not free himself entirely. Should you manage to stop him I must request that you return the artifact to us, its rightful owners. Such a deed would render our people eternally grateful to you.”
The priest is able to give enough detail for a teleportation spell. He’s able to give a detailed description of the ritual. It is long and complicated and doesn’t sound like it can be disrupted without invading the fortress and fighting Scaldswron and his fellow cultists.
Knowledge: Religion 25 Highlight to display spoiler: {} The old ones are the immortal powers sealed in the Scab. Bound directly to the land, they have some influence over it, though it is limited. From the description it seems likely the artifact only works with them, and even if it doesn’t let Scald free itself he already has power to spread into water in the Scab through his priests. The power required to make this plane is likely enough to let him spread into nearby regions and cause havoc and destruction.[/b]
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Tuesday May 24th, 2022 11:38:14 AM "Thank You for the information. Hopefully it will prove helpful." Turning to his friends he says, "Where to now? With the priests description of the place, I feel confident that Tali and I can greater teleport all of us to the location, once we are out of this dimension, though I agree a good nights sleep is required, as I have greatly depleted my spells. Should we teleport home, to the Sanctuary, and than head to Scaldsworn's stronghold in the morning?"
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 131/184](Kathy) Tuesday May 24th, 2022 12:38:24 PM
"Remember that I can create a Magnificent Mansion for us pretty much anywhere," Honor says. "though returning to the Sanctuary may be nicer. Also, I can protect us from heat, but I can't do much about breathing underwater."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Tuesday May 24th, 2022 2:30:54 PM
"I can cover Endure Elements and Resist Fire for up to four of us, though if someone else wants to pitch in there I can save some spell slots for Divine Favor and Shield Other," says Kezzem.
Murphy Halfling Druid (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 d20+15=28 ; Tuesday May 24th, 2022 2:45:05 PM
Murphy changes back to his own form.
"Thank you, Delos, for laying this out for us. Should we be granted the grace and ability to return the artifact, may we ask, as a mark of friendship, that you Fire Giants agree never to come against Crescent Valley, and to use what influence you may have to encourage giants of other races also to avoid coming against our valley? In exchange, we will speak to our leaders, and see if they will promise never to come against this, your special plane. No doubt you would need to do likewise with the leadership here."
The druid adds, with a wry smile, "I could offer to make a monument in our town to mark such a treaty, but might have to negotiate objections from our fellow citizens."
He gets a serious look on his face. "We once traveled on an underground river through the Scab. On the way back out, Scald worked to block us, to kill us if he could. I have a vague dream about him speaking with me about eons of imprisonment and agony." A shiver runs through his body. "With his stored wrath, I understand the wisdom involved in confining such great powers as he. Though I have not until understood it, thank you to your people for helping to keep the prisons secure for so long. Looks like it's our turn to help."
The religious training and research the halfling has acquired over the past few years gives him the following understanding, which he takes a moment to lay out to his friends - though most of them, likely will already have some clues about the topic: The old ones are the immortal powers sealed in the Scab. Bound directly to the land, they have some influence over it, though it is limited. From the description it seems likely the artifact only works with them, and even if it doesn’t let Scald free itself he already has power to spread into water in the Scab through his priests. The power required to make this plane is likely enough to let him spread into nearby regions and cause havoc and destruction.
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Tuesday May 24th, 2022 9:26:30 PM
Pressi frowns, thinking of the time they ran into a god like figure into the mountain... and some of the other descriptions. "Good lord, I think we had our engagement in the bastion's foyer, didn't we."
Pressi nods along to Murphy's plan. She wonders if they can go to the sancturary (or the catacombs) but rather doubts it. She wonders at the thought of a bloodwitch martial, of how that would even work. (Bliss was a shapeshifter knight and she personally is a witch rogue. Scald must have one heck of a domain.)
She tries to remember how they handled underwater the last time. Probably some mix of shapeshifting and sorcerer magic.
She of course has her rose and some control elements... and now the ability to charm even an outsider.
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Tuesday May 24th, 2022 10:01:58 PM
I can cast water breathing on everyone, but how do we deal with the heat? I'm uncertain if Endure Elements will be enough, we may need to use protection or resistance spells.
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 d20+30=46 ; Tuesday May 24th, 2022 10:22:17 PM The Last Battle
Tali, using her most diplomatic gestures (Skill check: 46), gives thanks to the High Priest, Delos, for the information needed to begin the last task.
"Mister Muphy, recommend traveling to the Humble Home, where we can prepare for this last task..." recommends Tali.
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Tuesday May 24th, 2022 11:45:43 PM
Spells in effect: Mage Armor, Ring of Invisibility (active), Iridescent Ioun Stone (sustains without air) Ki pts 16/16, Stunning Fist 16/18
Nikolai just shrugs when his request for a token for free passage is ignored. The priest-it must not think it necessary.
With the information on where to go and how much time they have, Nikolai suggests return to headquarters, rest and regain spells, and see about getting a map of the said area.
Murphy Halfling Druid (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 d20+17=26 ; Wednesday May 25th, 2022 2:00:11 AM
"We managed to visit a shipwreck," Murphy reminds the group. "We have various means to breathe underwater. Yes, we should be able to visit the Catacombs. Thanks to Delos, we know where to teleport. Thanks to Pru, we should survive the heat. Yes, Tali, we can return to our Sanctuary, I think. For one thing, I'd like to petition the clergy and faithful there to be praying for us - without revealing too much about what we might be facing. I covet their support, but not their fears."
The towhead halfling reaches into one of his bags, and withdraws a map of the Scab. He opens it, and displays it for Delos to see. He shows on the map the location where they encountered at least an emanation of Scald. "It was several thousand feet below these peaks here, just a short walk from the subwoldian river," he points out. "Would you know where the area you described to us is? Would it be quite close to there, or somewhere else?" He has a fairly good grasp on the geology of many areas of the Scab, and puts that to use as he interacts with the priest.
He puts in his mind to see if either Hobie or Bliss would be open to rejoining them for this next potentially deadly foray. Many others have been earlier with the group, but he can think of few so competent as theses two. He relays his thoughts to Pressi on this topic.
============== Knowledge: Geology: 26 (+4 from the map and his several prior visits for 30?)
DM Mitch Map Wednesday May 25th, 2022 8:26:42 AM Succotash thanks the priest for the information and asks about where they should go. He can cast water breathing, but isn’t certain if endure elements will be enough. Prudance comments on being able to make a magnificent mansion anywhere and says she can probably protect them from the heat. Kezzem can help some with the heat. Murphy discusses possible reward/future friendship between races. He reflects on past experiences with Scald and shares what he knows of the god. He pulls out a map to check the location against a previous encounter with Scald. Pressi also thinks of past battles and wonders how a martial bloodwitch would work. Tali is diplomatic and thanks the priest, suggesting the group heads home to prepare. Nikolai agrees on returning and shrugs off the request of a token (sorry I think I missed your post yesterday)
The giant high priest lets the party know they can teleport directly to the exit, but if they wish to walk he can send the 4 other giants with them so they can leave safely. By the time the party returns word would spread of their quest and they would be welcomed back with open arms.
He’s able to point out the location on the map Murphy has. It seems fairly far away from the last encounter they had with Scald, which on reflection makes sense because Scald seems to be able to possess waters across the Scab when aided by his priests, so aspects of him are scattered across the land. Scaldsworn choosing the same location the party happened to run across Scald would be a major coincidence.
The party seems mostly ready to leave. Any final questions?
Succotash (Jeremy) AC 43(42)/18/40 CMD 25 HP142/142 Valerie AC 41(40)/16/34 CMD 34 HP 143/143Spells Wednesday May 25th, 2022 12:31:33 PM "I'm ready to leave. I still have my daily teleport and greater teleport spells available, if either our sorceress types are depleted. One can get half the crew to the exit of this demi-plane, and the other will get us home, once we are back on the Wold proper."
Prudence Komonov [AC 28; HP 131/184](Kathy) Wednesday May 25th, 2022 2:02:38 PM
"I've got lots of Teleports left in me," Pru assures Succotash. "Nothing as fancy as a Greater Teleport, though."
To Kezzem, she adds, "No, it's okay. Keep your spells for better things. I can give us all protection from fire and barely notice it."
Kezzem (BrianW) - AC 43/21/38; HP 276/276; Rumpus AC 41/19/32+4; HP 151/151 Wednesday May 25th, 2022 2:16:19 PM
Kezzem will dismiss Rumpus to make teleporting easier, and will cast Greater Magic Weapon on his daggers. Unless Pru or someone else does so, he'll also cast Resist Energy (fire) and Endure Elements on himself.
Murphy Halfling Druid (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Wednesday May 25th, 2022 4:20:22 PM
Murphy thanks and dismisses the frost giants who came at his call. "You fought hard, and have my gratitude." He also dismisses the purple worm, who likely would not understand words of thanks.
"Let's walk out of here with an escort. If those who earlier called for our judgment and death can see that a different determination was made, that may be of some use, and a small step on the pathway toward a concordance. It's only a few miles. Let's save the teleports for after we leave via the platform," he suggests. Besides, the druid wants to build a more complete mental map of the city, and going on foot will allow for such. He turns to Delos. "Does that sit well enough with you, Priest Delos? For us to walk out, accompanied? We did as much as we could to avoid attacking the citizens of this city, only defending ourselves well enough to make our way here. We did not appreciate being told the only way to get in was to kill the five defenders outside the temple, for none others here have died by our hand, and we came here to save lives - except, perhaps, that of Flamescorn, who himself is working toward being a mass murderer."
Before they leave, too, Murphy asks a few questions about the ritual Delos described, ensuring he understood correctly. As he cements the ritual steps in his mind, he asks about what the priest thinks might be the most propitious points in the ritual to disrupt. [ooc: Would love a description of the ritual, or at least salient highlights which might help us figure out practical ways to make key parts of the ritual impractical.]
Murphy Halfling Druid (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Wednesday May 25th, 2022 4:24:13 PM
"Also, friends, we are not going straight to the site," Murphy adds as some seem to be preparing for an immediate invasion. "We have until the end of the week, and taking a day for rest and re-equipment is only wisdom. Back home, and the Catacombs, then on to our mission. No need for preparing for super-heated steam or water breathing at the moment."
Pressi (Melvin) - AC 26 (24 w/buckler, no magic), HP 157, CMD 27; Harper AC 31, HP 117, CMD 33 Wednesday May 25th, 2022 9:57:26 PM
"Ok, and lets not forget I have to pick up my leopard, kind of left her at the beam out place a little while ago. So let me know if I need to call her to the front gate."
She takes a moment to thank the priest for his service. "We are quite grateful for what you were able to do for us within the confines of your role. I do wish you the best from here forward."
Tali(JonPaul) AC:38 (T:34, FF:32), CMD:x, Saves:(F:16/R:18/W:21), HP:135/135 d20+30=36 ; Wednesday May 25th, 2022 11:59:40 PM Oh! One more thing...
Tali offers, "I have a few Greater Teleports to share if y'all need 'em. Turning to the High Priest, & diplomatically giving thanks for his kindness. (Skill Check: Diplomacy: 36)
'I'm ready when you are! Oh! One more thing..." giggles Tali. "I definitely need to visit the Catacombs..."
Nikolai (JonathanT) AC 41 Tch 33 Ffted 35 HP 175/175 CMD 52/54(Grapple/Trip/Disarm) Thursday May 26th, 2022 12:28:25 AM
Nikolai prefers to walk back, giving the giants a chance to see them in a non-threatening way, but...
Murphy Halfling Druid (KimMc) AC 37/T28/F29 (Foresight) CMB 25 CMD 50 HP 219/219 Thursday May 26th, 2022 3:01:44 AM
"Besides, if we walk back through the city, and then to the platform, where we will meet up with Harper, there's at least a small chance that we'll pick up another hint or two along the way. This was our foe's home plane," Murphy says. "The more we know about this place, the greater chance we may learn something that will grant us additional insight. Besides, I - and we - flew over most of it. Let's just walk, all right? It will give us an hour or two to stretch our short legs, eh?"
"Delos, is an escort possible?"
DM Mitch Map Thursday May 26th, 2022 7:43:31 AM Succotash has plenty of teleport spells left. Prudance does as well and is also able to protect the party from fire easily. Kezzem starts buffing his weapons. Murphy says he’d prefer to walk out and consults the priest on it. He gets more details on the ritual and reminds the party they’re heading home before heading to the enemy. Pressi thanks the priest for what he was able to do and says they can’t forget her leopard. Tali is diplomatic and also has teleports. Nikolai also prefers to walk out.
The ritual to attune the artifact is more of a process rather then one long ritual. Over a series of weeks or months the artifact must be infused with the power of the god it is to be attuned to and the faith of the followers of that god. The more powerful the followers and the more powerful the faith the less time it takes. However, the power slowly drains out of the artifact over time and it must be kept inundated in the god’s power for an extended period. When the stars align as they were when the old ones were first sealed away the final steps can be taken, using various items related to the god and the power the artifact has been imbued with to permanently switch it to the other god.
There doesn’t seem to be any good moments for the party to burst in and interrupt the ritual. Until the day of the alignment Scaldsworn will be doing the occasional ritual with his cult to top off the energies of Scald within it, but unless you could somehow prevent him from doing so for most of the week a few interruptions won’t matter. If you wait for the day of and try to stop the final ritual, you risk mistiming it and having to deal with empowered Scald and his followers. Another problem is that you will be traveling inside of Scald. Hiding yourself from the god would be basically impossible, so sneaking in and disrupting the ritual is just not feasible. You can expect Scaldsworn to know the party’s every movement once they start the assault through simple prayer to his god. A straightforward slugfest through the defenses seems the only option.
The four non-priest giants are assigned as your escorts. They lead you back out of the trap infested area and into the city streets. They seem to be important in their own right, for in their presence other giants don’t even question your presence. They just nod respectfully and get out of the way. As such it’s a fairly uneventful trip. You travel back through the noble and trade districts on the way out and have a chance to see the giants at their daily lives. It seems like most other cities, just with a more martial bent. Everyone carries weapons and wears armor, and the forges all seem to be in frequent use repairing and replacing damaged equipment.
Soon enough you’re out of the slums and at the front gate. It opens on command from the giant with two heads and farewells are said. The leopard is retrieved and you safely exit before, presumably, teleporting back home.
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