Badlands and Broken Souls

A couple of the wolves stand guard where the frog fled while the rest start sniffing around the cavern. “Is everyone okay? Do we need a break?”

Zax could use a short rest

Chris wrote:

Gor'Zax
HP: 66/76
AC: 20/22
BM dice: 2/5d8
2nd wind:  0/1
Action Surge:  0/1
Racial teleports:  1/3
HD: 7/8
SV: str +9, con +7 (ring +1 to all)
PP: 15
Necro resistant
BM DC = 16


conditions:  

he is down -10hp, so he will use 1 HD to recover during the rest, assuming we take it

Result of the throw of dice "1d10 +3" :

3 + 3 = 6

72\76 is good enough

A couple of the wolves try, rather timidly, to lick Zax’s wounds and lay down next to him faithfully. Another can’t seem to stop sniffing Marvin. They steer clear of Brock as he smells “off.”  Warhol tries to explain to the wolves that Brock smells funny because he was in the Frogs tummy, but they don’t believe it because he doesn’t smell like food.

“Hey boys, what’d ya see in the next hall?” Warhol is asking the wolves on guard.

Marvin’s injured too. Will resolve his short rest this evening.

The wolves, with their limited means of communication say that they see 'forms on the walls.' Not alive, but they look like strange creatures that the wolves have never seen.

Marvin’s hurtin pretty good. He’ll burn 4 hit dice:

Thu Sep 15 2022 19:49:49 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 4d10 + 4 to total : 10, 4, 8, 3, + 4, TOTAL: 29

Thu Sep 15 2022 19:49:49 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 4d10 + 4 to total : 10, 4, 8, 3, + 4, TOTAL: 29

Stat Block

HP:52/52 (64/64)
AC: 18
Attacks: 2
PP: 15

Saves:
STR +4
DEX +7
CON +1
INT +3
WIS +2
CHR +0

Spell Save: 13
Spell Attack: +5
Spell Slots:
1st: 2/4
2nd: 1/2

Arrows:  36/36

He’s feeling much better now. Marvin will quietly approach the wolves at the end of the cavern and see if he can spot the wall forms:
Stealth:
Thu Sep 15 2022 19:53:23 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 11 to total : 13, + 11, TOTAL: 24

Perception:
Thu Sep 15 2022 19:54:07 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 7 to total : 20, + 7, TOTAL: 27
Crit!

Search the room we’re in. The wolves were sniffing. Anything? They disappear at the end of the rest.

you see the beginning of several friezes. They depict the demon you have seen before (Malorcha) but she appears to change, becoming more 'reptilian' as they go on. You will have to see all of them before you can get a full analysis of this. An Investigation check will also be required.

Marvin will scoot back to the group and relay what he’s seen. While the party prepares to press on Marvin will check the bodies of the dead frogs, including the stomach contents of the one Brock cut his way out of.

Marvin finds just the remaining parts of food (cave critters) in the stomachs of the froggies. Nothing else

Zax is ready to proceed and will take up his usual rearguard position with Shatterspike at the ready.

updated after rest

Chris wrote:

Gor'Zax
HP: 72/76
AC: 20 (w\shield 22)
BM dice: 5/5d8
2nd wind:  1/1
Action Surge:  1/1
Racial teleports:  1/3
HD:  7/8
SV: str +9, con +7 (ring +1 to all)
PP: 15
Necro resistant
BM DC = 16


conditions:  

Warhol

as a Tortle
Ac 20
Hp 64/64
HD
(D8) 7/7
(D6) 1/1
passive Perception 18

Warhol is ready to follow Marvin into the next chamber. “It’s nice to find classical artwork in an unexpected place. Did you guys know that I come from a family of fine artists? It’s true. Back where I come from we make the most beautiful sand paintings. Of course other Tortles tell me that mine all look the same. I guess ya don’t get any points for consistency of style eh?”

navyik wrote:Warhol


Warhol is ready to follow Marvin into the next chamber. “It’s nice to find classical artwork in an unexpected place. Did you guys know that I come from a family of fine artists?  It’s true.  Back where I come from we make the most beautiful sand paintings. Of course other Tortles tell me that mine all look the same. I guess ya don’t get any points for consistency of style eh?”

lol... love this!

I will get another update done later tonight. Just have a busy damned day today

The friezes are in 6 panels. The first depicts what you know of Malorcha... her malevolent designs (shown by people being enslaved or killed). The second shows the dwarves and their efforts to fight back (as Brock sees this, he tells you that these must have been crafted by dwarves - he says this rather proudly but with a sense of foreboding).

The third and fourth friezes show the banishment of Malorcha and the fall of her followers.

The fifth one shows a horned woman and giant men - you take this to mean the Formorians. They are being sacrificed by the horned woman... the last frieze shows Malorcha's face but it is surrounded by five long necked and horned reptile heads. Brock says they could be... dragons? Strange demons? (Just to say it, no one has ever seen a dragon in the 7 Kingdoms that you know of and they are always regarded as legendary if not mythical creatures).

Marvin examines the friezes closely.

Investigation:
Sat Sep 17 2022 14:02:22 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 5 to total : 20, + 5, TOTAL: 25

Another Crit! Beginning to wonder if the online dice roller is truly random…

ok Marvin, what are you looking for? I'm just trying to tailor the roll to what you're trying to discover... which is about anything you can discover with that roll! lol

Does Zax know anything about a 5 headed dragon not named Tiamat, since he is native to the Shadowfell, not the 7 kingoms (prime material?)

History
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 3 to total : 5, + 3, TOTAL: 8

"Ah yes, the heads are named Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy, Sneezy and Sleazy"

lol.. I think you answered your own question there 'Zax.

“So the sacrifices either release this 5-headed monster or turn hee into it?”

"Neither seems ideal"

He’s looking for more traps, anything the friezes might be hiding, and any clues as to what might lie up ahead

there are no traps that you can detect.

This area DOES however look like part of the entrance to the old ruined temple that you have been told about.

Perception checks from everyone please.

...and if anyone needs more healing, Brock can help out with that

Perception
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 3 to total : 5, + 3, TOTAL: 8

"Look! A wall"

Warhol perception
Result of the throw of dice "1d20 +8" :

7 + 8 = 15

Marvin’s perception:

Sun Sep 18 2022 07:39:00 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 7 to total : 14, + 7, TOTAL: 21

Marvin and Warhol can hear a woman's voice faintly coming from up ahead. You cannot make out the words but you can certainly hear her.

"All right, listen up! Its time to separate the wheat from the chaff, the men from the boys, the awkwardly feminine from the possibly Canadian. If we want victory in battle today, we have to grab this fight by the haunches and hump it into submission. Remember your training, trust your instincts, kill the mages first. Full frontal assault on three?"

Marvin puts a cautionary hand on Zax’s elbow. “Let me take a quick peak first Zax.”

Marvin will stealth up to the edge of the next chamber and carefully survey what’s inside

Stealth:
Sun Sep 18 2022 09:27:31 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 11 to total : 2, + 11, TOTAL: 13

Uh-oh. The halfling luck may have just run out…

you move about 60' down the tunnel and it turns into a corridor with dim light coming from a large entrance to an even larger room. You can hear the woman's voice even louder now. I don't see languages on your sheet, which ones do you know?

Resolve the rest after I know that info

Just halfling, common, and thieves cant

ok, the language you hear is not one that you know, but there is considerable emotion behind it.... she seems to shout the last part.

What do you do now? You haven't actually gotten to the entrance to your left yet.

Marvin is looking for an opportunity to approach the next chamber but remain hidden and see inside

Ok. There is a large doorway (no doors) that you will have to peer through. It looks like there are steps leading down from there

Marvin will approach the doorway carefully and see if he can view the bottom of the stairs:
Stealth:
Mon Sep 19 2022 07:05:11 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 11 to total : 9, + 11, TOTAL: 20

Perception:
Mon Sep 19 2022 07:06:00 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 7 to total : 12, + 7, TOTAL: 19

You can see the bottom of the stairs and the whole room as it is somewhat well lit.  This is what you see... 2 of the bluish/black veined Hill Giants, a woman with horns on her head, a huge half giant/half lizard like creature and five statues: The statues have a hobgoblin, a hill giant, a fomorian and a dwarf and a lizard like creature strapped to them, they are being bled out during a ritual. The ritual appears to be done? Each statue has the depiction of a different reptilian head with horns and teeth. Each has gemstones for eyes: white diamond, red ruby, blue sapphire, green emerald and black opal. There is also a shimmering mirror-like gate at the opposite end of the room.





As soon as you get to the entrance, the sound of a 'hand bell' starts to ring. The woman smiles in your direction... "ah, the would-be heroes have arrived. Welcome to your destruction!"

Initiative from everyone please.

"I told you we should have just charged in.... All this sneaking around will get us killed" Zax grumbles to himself


initiative
Result of the throw of dice "1d20" :

6



hey GM - what are the various objects in the room that look like rocks maybe
F-12, N-8 etc

difficult terrain, cover, block LOS?

ah, yes, that's difficult terrain from the somewhat destroyed nature of the temple... there are cracks in the walls and pillars as well (forgot to state that)

Marvin Initiative:
Mon Sep 19 2022 11:32:46 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 9 to total : 10, + 9, TOTAL: 19

...and just to say it, the statues and rubble (not the floor cracks) would provide partial cover

since Marvin snuck ahead, how far off the map are the rest of us?
how wide is the tunnel we are standing in currently? (could the giants even fit in it?)

it is just large enough for them say 20' tall by 16' wide.

You are no more than 20' behind Marvin

Initiative Order so far:

Marvin 19
Nemaea (witch) 14
other baddies: 12
Gor'Zax 6
Brock 3

just waiting on Warhol - unless Alan has a busy night....

Result of the throw of dice "1d20 -2" :

4 - 2 = 2

Initiative order:

Marvin 19
Nemaea (witch) 14
other baddies: 12
Gor'Zax 6
Brock 3
Warhol 2



Marvin is up!

Marvin will step to the bottom of the stairs and cast Hunter’s Mark on the Horny Witch, then fire off two arrows at her to get this party poppin’.

Per his Natural Explorer Ranger ability, Marvin has advantage on attack rolls against creatures that have not yet acted:
Attack1:
Tue Sep 20 2022 08:21:10 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 10 to total : 15, + 10, TOTAL: 25

Tue Sep 20 2022 08:21:10 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 10 to total : 18, + 10, TOTAL: 28

Attack2:
Tue Sep 20 2022 08:21:36 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 10 to total : 8, + 10, TOTAL: 18

Tue Sep 20 2022 08:21:36 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 1d20 + 10 to total : 12, + 10, TOTAL: 22

Assuming two hits!

Damage1 w/HM:
Tue Sep 20 2022 08:23:25 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 2d6 + 6 to total : 6, 4, + 6, TOTAL: 16

Damage2: w/HM, SA, & CS:
Tue Sep 20 2022 08:24:08 GMT-0600 (MDT)
Rolling line 1 : 4d6 + 6 to total : 1, 1, 3, 3, + 6, TOTAL: 14
Rolling line 2 : 1d8 + 0 to total : 4, TOTAL: 4

34 Total damage.

Marvin will scoot back up the steps and off the map, warning the others as he bolts towards them “Three giants and the witch! Three giants and the witch!!!”

Nemeae takes the arrows and shrieks in pain.

She disappears from view.  The others move up in anticipation of attacks.

Map is updated



Gor'Zax is up!

Marvin is up again?

whoops! Not enough coffee before that post, sorry... Gor'zax is up!

lol, no worries


Gor'Zax will hold his action and move his initiative to after Warhol. So Brock, then Warhol can go.

hopefully there will be some buffs\allies forthcoming before Zax gets out of range