Wayward Expeditions - Rise of the Runelords - Episode 07
 	Intro: For much of written history world events followed chartered routes. Oracles and seers mapped out the future in the stars above and their prophecies always gave a reliable view of the ages to come. Until a god died a century ago. No one saw that coming. And now the old prophecies are failing, oracles go mad and seers desperately tried to account for the loss of the future. While some cry out that the world is at an end, they've been doing so for a hundred years now and the world is still here, it's just unclear where things are going. The future of Golarian is open, ready to receive the triumphs and failures of a new generation of heroes. Welcome to Rise of the Runelords!

GM: When we last left off, Ameiko and her father, Lonjiku, had just had an argument very publicly in the middle of The Rusty Dragon. The group had high emotions towards what was going on and we kind of cut the session, mid all of that.

Markus: Hmm, yes.

GM: So I believe Fenwarin wanted to go talk to Ameiko in the kitchen.

Markus: Markus.

GM: Oh, it was Markus? Ok.

Markus: Yes, so, leaving it, so it's not blatantly obvious that he's following after her, leaving it a couple of minutes and then trying to, not make a big deal out of it, but not, obviously draw attention to the fact he's going back there.

GM: All right. She's back tending to the soup, preparing other meals.

Markus: Markus will try and catch her attention, if she's not paying attention he'll go closer and cough.

GM: She responds, "I'll be with you in a minute, Bethana, I'm getting the soups ready. You can run them soon as I'm done." Without looking at you.

Markus: "I suspect I'm perhaps not who you were expecting?"

GM: "Oh" she turns. "No, why are you in the kitchen?"

Markus: "I don't mean to intrude, but after what happened, I wanted to be certain you're alright.  Family can be intense sometimes."

GM: "Ah, yes. Thank you for your concern."

Markus: "I don't mean to pry, but. Well, no, I suppose that's not entirely true. Suffice to say, your father doesn't make a good impression of himself."

GM: "Ha, yes, to put it mildly."

Markus: "I appreciate that you've offered us free board and lodgings here. If there's anything we can ever do to help, given the circumstances, I know we barely know each other, but if you ever want somebody to talk to, impartial, you know where to find us, or me specifically, whichever."

GM: "The offer is appreciated."

Markus: "Then I will stop interrupting your cooking and let you get back into it."

GM: "Thank you." She goes back to stirring the soup and prepping some plates, ladling it into some bowls. Bethana comes in right past you as you're walking out to grab the plates.

Markus: And with that Markus will head back to the table with the others.

GM: All right. The rest of the table, what are you guys doing? Given that fight that just occurred in front of you or, vicious argument?

Fenwarin: Well, I was just looking at that weird display and shaking my head and just waiting to see what was unfolding.

GM: Ok. And after it occured, you just go back to your meals and, or did you have any action similar to what Markus was wanting to do, to go in and talk to Ameiko?

Taury: Well, I feel like Taury is just eating, she just continued what she was doing when the other dude left.

GM: Alright.

Taury: "Fish soup in here is crap compared to the one at The Hagfish."

GM: All right. As you all return to your meal and get settled in from what had just happened, Taury you notice a shadow kind of fall over your plate as you're eating focused on it.

Taury: Can I investigate it? Is it someone behind me?

GM: Yeah, as you turn, you see a very smiley man just staring at you. You recognize a much cleaner and much less frightened Aldern Foxglove.

Taury: I was wondering when he would come back [laughing]. She would just be looking at him with a confused expression.

GM: "Sorry. You're beautiful even when you eat! Oh!"

Taury: She's grimacing like there's a bad taste in her mouth.

GM: "Oh! How dare you not come find me! Oh, but I forgive you!"

Taury: She turns back around to her table where she's eating.

GM: "Friends!" he looks at the rest of you and then looks immediately back to Taury. "I, I'll be returning to my house, my townhouse in Magnimar in a few days but to, express my gratitude for saving my life, allow me to take you on a boar hunt."

Taury: Is he addressing Taury specifically? Or is he addressing everybody?

GM: The whole table, but he's focused on you.

Markus: Is Markus back for this?

GM: You'll be approaching as he's giving this address. 

Markus: Ok.

Taury: "I don't hunt boar." She's not even looking at him when she says that.

Morana: "Yeah, hunting is not really my thing."

GM: The smile fades from his face slowly as the rejection starts to sink in. "If, if you won't come with me on a hunt, then, oh, how should I reward you for saving me?"

Taury: "My pockets are quite light."

GM: "Oh?! Oh, well, that's that's an easy compensation my dear, I can provide so much more for you but for now." He reaches into a pouch and then pulls out a handful of gold coins and sets them on the table and begins counting them out.

Taury: I'm just watching him.

GM: "...Forty nine... Fifty. Yes, fifty gold for saving my life. A paltry sum, I wish I could do so much more for you. But at the moment, I can't. Ah, next time you're in Magnimar, please stop by and visit me."

Taury: She nods and just like sweeps the coins into her pocket from the table.

GM: At the nod, he begins beaming as if you've made a promise with him.

Taury: Eyes roll. Yeah, she has in fact, taken all of the coins by the way.

Markus: Was he proffering coins primarily to her or was he doing it as group thing?

GM: Ah it was to the group. They were on the table in the middle of the table to be divvied up amongst all of you. But he's not objecting to her taking them all either.

Taury: Is anyone else objecting to Taury taking them all?

Morana: "Meh." 

Fenwarin: "You go ahead Taury, just take them."

Markus: "Really, I thought that several people were involved in saving this fine gentleman?"

Taury: She looks at you just bored. Like, why are you talking?

Markus: "Do you really believe you deserve all the compensation?"

Taury: "Deserve?" She looks to you, to like elaborate.

Markus: "Well, you took all the money."

Taury: "I asked."

Markus: "True, you did."

GM: "I'll give you so much more, just ask."

Markus: "You have more coin?"

GM: "Oh, no, not coin, but anything you desire, my love! Oh, I'm sorry that was far too forward."

Markus: I'm assuming that specifically directed at Taury? 

GM: Yes.

Taury: She's completely ignoring him like he's not there at this point. She's just looking to Markus.

GM: "Oh ah, I had already made arrangements for horses for each of you, for the hunt for tomorrow, but you know what, go ahead and keep them as a gift for me as well, since the arrangements have already been made, it will be easier than canceling them."

Taury: "Charmed."

GM: "Just head next door to the Goblin Squash Stables ah, such a Brutish name. The gentleman there, I forget his name, he has the horses already set aside for you. You each have your own."

Markus: "That would certainly be appreciated, yes. Thank you." 

Fenwarin: "Very kind of you."

GM: "Well, it's the least I could do. I asked around and I hadn't heard from anyone in town that you had come in on horse, or had horses of your own. So I made arrangements." 

Taury: "Well, thank you."

GM: "Plus, giving you means of transportation will ensure that you're able to come visit me. Yes?"

Taury: "Perhaps."

GM: "Oh, you're so coy."

Markus: "I'm sure the lady would love to visit you at some point."

GM: "I look forward to it. I'm sorry for interrupting your meal. I've kept you far too long already. As polite company desires, I must head on." He bows to the rest of you and just smiles at Taury and then walks away, looking back at her before he leaves the building.

Taury: She definitely hasn't noticed him looking back at her.

Markus: "Wow, someone has quite the admirer!"

Taury: "Why? You like him do you?"

Morana: Morana just continues eating, but past the edge of her hood, you can kind of see the edge of a smirk.

Markus: "He gives such lovely presents though, does he not?"

Taury: She shrugs.

Fenwarin: "I appreciate the horses, but he's extremely kind I must say."

Markus: "I imagine they would certainly be useful yes."

Morana: "One can never predict what boons may come from such an adoring fan!" and she continues eating.

Taury: Taury just like shakes the pocket with the coins in it, and just smirks at you.

Morana: "Money can't buy personality dear."

Fenwarin: Fenwarin just laughs  at that.

Markus: At this point Markus will have sat down and will have resumed his meal.

Taury: Taury's just eating.

Markus: "So I believe we were contemplating actions to take?"

Morana: "Yes, there were things around town that needed to be taken care of. We hadn't decided which direction to go in just yet."

Taury: "You had mentioned the noticeboard? "

Markus: "Hmm, yes."

Morana: "We had narrowed it down to a few ideas, I know the The Old Light had intrigued some of us."

Markus: "Yes. I'm, I was also interested given limitation that while the sheriff's away, we probably ought to stay in town, that the night thieves and The Old Light were both interesting to me."

Taury: "Thieves, you would have us chase thieves?"

Fenwarin: "Someone needs to. Well would you like to bash in some thieve's teeth, huh?"

Taury: "It's not to my taste."

Fenwarin: "The thieves part or the bashing part?"

Taury: She just rolled her eyes.

Markus: "What would be to your taste?"

Taury: "Whatever your heart desires."

Markus: "Come now, I hardly think you know me well enough to know what my heart desires."

Taury: "Does it matter?"

Morana: "I am more intrigued by The Old Light. Trudging through sewer tunnels? Ah not really, no."

Markus: "My concern with The Old Light is, well, that they use the word dungeon, that normally implies traps. Not always, of course but, you know, if you have an ancient ruin normally there's some sort of surprise."

Taury: "And you are afraid of traps?"

Morana: Morana looks to you wide eyed and says, "Oh yes and thieves would certainly never put traps in their tunnels. No."

Fenwarin: Yeah, I just nod.

Markus: "Fair point."

Taury: Taury's laughing.

Markus: "More to the point. Well, I suppose there's only one way to ask. Do we have anyone capable of disarming such things?"

Fenwarin: "Well maybe not disarming, but how about someone who can actually detect them?"

Markus: "Anyone potentially can spot them I think, it depends on the trap and how good you are at spotting things in general."

Taury: "I quite find that not walking into them usually helps avoid both of those."

Markus: "True enough, sometimes there's only one way forward. But this is rather academic so we don't have anyone who has expertise in such matters. Ok."

Fenwarin: "Seems not, but I have very good eyesight so I can spot things easier."

Markus: "Good. Well I understand Morana's distaste for the sewers, and Taury either doesn't have a preference or is happy with whatever from the sounds of it?"

Fenwarin: "Well, thieves didn't apparently sound fun, but seems like we can go to The Old Light then?"

Taury: "Either will suffice."

Fenwarin: "All right."

Markus: "Ah, I guess we're saying hello to, yes yes we're going to The Old Light then?"

Fenwarin: "If we're in agreement, sure."

Morana: "That sounds agreeable to me."

Taury: Yeah, Taury will now lift up like her bowl of like fish soup, drain it into her mouth and wipe her mouth with a napkin or whatnot, ready to go.

Fenwarin: I stand up as well, getting ready.

GM: All right. You all head out of The Rusty Dragon and make your way towards The Old Light. Before you even get there, you can see an old man standing in the middle of the ruin area, and it looks like a couple of men are going down a staircase, then coming back up with armfuls of rubble, as if they're clearing something out.

Taury: From where?

GM: From this staircase that this old man standing on top of, or at the top of.

Markus: I take it he's familiar to me?

GM: Yes, you recognize Brodert Quink.

Taury: Do any of the rest of us recognize him?

GM: Ah, he just looks like an old man to the rest of you.

Morana: Being that I've lived in town and been in my line of work, would I have run into him from time to time?

GM: He pretty much stays to himself and is researching The Old Light, it's well known that he's doing this. He's very interested in Thassilonian ruins and he suspects that The Old Light is one. No one seems to really believe him in town. When he's not doing his business around The Old Light, conducting research and stuff, he's often found at the bookstore.

Morana: Alright, so I've probably seen him there, but never talked to him directly.

GM: Yeah, your interests don't really align much.

Morana: Nope.

Markus: Well if no one else in the party is going to, Markus will step forward and go talk to him. "Well it seems things did pan out as you, well, you're doing an excavation then?"

GM: "Well, you had suggested that there might be something beneath the structure that got me to investigating further. [laughs] You were onto something lad!"

Markus: "Ah, I never would have guessed it was, well, supposition. You're the one that managed to arrange this, and I hear you're looking for people to go exploring down there?"

GM: "Oh, you answering my adventuring quest, wonderful! Yes Gorvi's boys here are finishing clearing out the cave in that happened in the tunnel." He points at the trap door that's open, a couple workers are, you know, going in and out, clearing out rubble. "This, this staircase leads down to a path that heads off to the east." He points almost directly at Morana's house. "Somewhere off that direction the tunnel goes, once they clear away this rubble, hopefully it's a clear path for you."

Markus: "How fascinating. Have they uncovered any hints as to what might be down there? Or anything of ancient make?"

GM: "Oh, ancient magics, yes. The stonework is all magically treated, the fine craftsmanship."

Markus: "I see, anything to help shed light on the structure yet? Prove your theory?"

GM: "Well, when you come back up and report to me, hopefully that will be the case."

Markus: He's smiling at that. "Of course, anything in particular that's been noted so far? Or just merely the stonework then I take it?"

GM: "Well, it's a fine craftsmanship, but it's no dwarfing construction that I can tell you."

Markus: "And I take it they haven't discovered anything of particular interest in the rubble so far?"

GM: "No. No. Just it looks like a collapse from whatever probably..." He gestures at the the ruins themselves. "Whatever caused this to collapse likely caused cave-ins in the ground below to whatever complex might be down there. Hopefully, it's more than just a single chamber."

Markus: "Hopefully. How did you find the entrance then, if I may?"

GM: "Well, we just started clearing away the rubble that had gathered inside The Old Light. No one had bothered to do so before. Who would have thought there would have been more than just a floor? Ah, but joking insights, you suspected as much, didn't you? Yes. You gave me the flash of brilliance I needed to get the work orders made."

Markus: "Well! Well let's hope it truly uncovers something of immense interest for us then, shall we?”

GM: "Yes. Yes. Let's hope. Hopefully you can find out which region this Thassilonian ruin existed to. We are, from what I understand, on the border of a couple of the regions. So this could be either region's monument."

Markus: "Ah! And knowing which will help narrow down where the boundaries were?"

GM: "Yeah, um what? Mhm."

Markus: "You don't know exactly where the boundaries were then? Or were they something that fluctuated?"

GM: "Well, the nation's did collapse, you know, ten thousand years ago when the Starfall destroyed ancient Azlant and their Thassilonian cousins."

Markus: "Hmm, yes, fair point." And Markus will look back to the others. "And to practicalities, I suppose, the job board posting didn't actually specify the reward for this?"

GM: "Oh, ha. Compensation. Yes, yes. Do you mind if we discuss that when you return?"

Markus: "Why?"

GM: "Well, I would hate to pay you a standard workman's wage, for you to go down and encounter all sorts of danger and traps. But if there is nothing there at all, there is no hazard pay."

Markus: "I understand, you would be willing to offer a guarantee of minimum for just going down there, and we discuss the specifics later then?"

GM: "Yes, uh based on your reports."

Taury: Can I insight check him?

GM: Sure, alright. He looks like he's got money. Probably.

Taury: Is he, like, avoiding the service subject or is he just?

GM: He doesn't want to overpay you.

Taury: Oh, so it's not that he's doesn't want to underpay us? 

GM: Right. 

Taury: Fair enough.

Markus: Glancing back at the party. "I assume you all heard that, would those terms be acceptable?"

Taury: Well Taury will nod.

GM: Brodert adjusts his glasses. "Hmm, one."

Morana: Morana doesn't really have much input as far as money goes.

Fenwarin: Yeah, Fenwarin was just curious about what the old man's intentions was.

GM: "You have a good gathering of adventurers here it seems, I hope."

Markus: "Well, it seems there are no objections, at least to those terms."

Taury: "Yes, well, I agree to the non terms."

Morana: "Seems fine with me, considering nobody knows what's down there to begin with."

Markus: "Hmm, yes, it does seem reasonable."

Taury: "Well, then I guess we should probably go down there."

Fenwarin: "Yeah, let's go."

Markus: "Well, I believe they're still clearing the rubble. But, yes, by all means."

Taury: "We could help them of course, it'd go faster."

Markus: Markus will just gesture for Taury.  It's the sort of like 'arm of invitation' feel free kind of thing."

Taury: She's definitely smirking at you because you're probably, what, pretty skinny and not strong.

Markus: Oh yeah, yeah.

Taury: Yeah. But Taury is going to get in there and help them move the rubble and stuff.

GM: Alright. After several hours of work, it'll be clear enough for you to go through. If all of you are helping, it might go a little faster. 

Fenwarin: Yeah, I'm helping.

Markus: Markus helping would just slow it down.

Morana: Yeah, there's there's no help I can provide here.

Taury: This is going to happen a lot I'd say.

Fenwarin: So it just me and Taury then.

GM: Alright.

Taury: No, it's basically me. That's what it is.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] ok.

Taury: Carrying like physically carrying, not carrying the party.

Markus: Markus would try and catch a quiet word with Fenwarin, away from other people if he wanted to talk about something.

Fenwarin: Mmm hmm.

Markus: "You had some concerns about our employer?"

Fenwarin: "I was just wondering if he, if he was forthcoming with what he wanted. I wondered what he wanted us to do."

Markus: "Based on our discussion and what's going on, I... suffice to say he's very interested in ancient law. He's a member of the Cyphermages."

Fenwarin: "Oh, I see. So anything of, anything ancient looking like old dusty book, or anything like that then he would be especially interested in?"

Markus: "Yes. I also make a bit of a study of ancient history. I'm not going to claim I have his level of knowledge and expertise but, yeah, I would also be interested as well."

Fenwarin: "Ok yeah. I will keep a lookout for that too, as we discussed before."

Markus: "Yeah, well if, we, if what we discover is valuable enough, even if he doesn't have the funds, I'm sure the guild as a whole would. So don't worry about getting paid, too much."

Fenwarin: "Alright, let's uh keep going then."

Markus: And Markus will nod.

GM: Alright. After you clear away the rubble, you follow the rest of the tunnel, which seems to be in poor repair from whatever caused this cave in, but stable enough that you don't think you're in danger at the moment. The further you go, the more stable it appears, the more intact. Several hundred feet down the tunnel, it goes to a spiral staircase that leads down further.

Markus: How wide a corridor is it?

GM: It's five feet wide. 

Markus: Ok.

Taury: I would imagine Taury is probably at the front yeah?

Morana: Morana certainly isn't.

Markus: Yeah, that does seem likely, yes [laughs].

Taury: Yes. I'm just asking in case someone else would have been leading the way.

Fenwarin: That would be you, Taury.

Taury: Great. Everyone's a pussy, this is fine.

Fenwarin: Hell yes.

Markus: Hey, the rest of us are coming along right after.

Taury: Yeah, uh huh. I'm a meat shield. That's what's happening.

Fenwarin: There you go.

Taury: Taury is a meat shield.

Markus: At least you recognize that fact.

Taury: Yeah, I do, I don't know that she does, but. Sure.

Fenwarin: Speed bumps out.

GM: Alright, you've descended into complete darkness as you follow this staircase down.

Taury: It wouldn't it be dark to me if I have dark vision?

GM: Do you have dark vision? 

Taury: I do. 

Morana: As do I.

Fenwarin: How will it be for me if it's total darkness?

GM: Ah you will need a light source.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

Taury: It's ok you have Taury's shining personality to light the way.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Well, I'll bring out my torch, so there's my light source. 

GM: Alright.

Morana: Taury's shining personality, great, we've got a nightlight with a burnt out bulb. [Laughs].

Taury: [Laughs] Ouch.

Morana: I mean um hi. [Laughs].

Taury: Alrighty.

Markus: So we have a light source?

Fenwarin: Yeah, I just lit a torch.

GM: You have a light source, Fenwarin is carrying it correct?

Fenwarin: Yes, that's true.

GM: Alright.

Taury: So what does Taury see in front of her, or behind her or around her? Basically, whatever is at the bottom of the staircase?

GM: A flight of spiral stairs winds around a circular pillar. Darkness below and above. As you descend down, it ends at a door.

Taury: What type of door?

GM: It is a stone door.

Taury: Are there any symbols on it or anything? Or is it just just a door?

GM: Just, a door.

Fenwarin: Ok, any handle or anything? Help us open up? 

GM: Yeah. 

Fenwarin: Ok.

Taury: I mean, Taury goes to open the door. 

Fenwarin: Ok well go ahead... careful.

GM: Alright. Go ahead and fix your marching order, if that's incorrect. Taury is definitely in front.

Markus: Taury, Morana, Markus, Fenwarin at the moment, is that right or? 

Fenwarin: I'm good here.

Taury: This is the world's most narrow corridor I've ever seen.

GM: Ok. You open the door and see a hallway with stairs leading down further. And another door at the bottom.

Taury: How much further down is it going, like is it...?

GM: Oh, they drop like another 10 feet.

Taury: Well I keep going.

GM: Alright.

Taury: There any symbols or anything on the walls or anything interesting on the walls?

GM: Give me a Perception check.

Markus: Can the rest of us do that as well?

GM: Sure. Alright. It's pretty crowded in this hallway all along the staircase. Fine craftsmanship, but there's no real stonework markings or inscriptions or anything on the walls. The door seems completely normal.

Taury: Okey doke, Taury, will keep walking forward. 

GM: Alright. I assume you're opening the door?

Taury: Hell yeah man.

GM: Ok. Water ripples quietly in this circle stone pool, the rim of which is lined with skulls.

Taury: So is it like a bowl or is it a pool?

GM: It's a pool.

Taury: Like is it raised or is it like on the ground?

GM: Pretty close to the ground, the rim of it's maybe a foot or two off the ground and lined with skulls.

Taury: What kind of skulls, people skulls?

GM: Humanoid skulls, yeah.

Taury: Great, I'm going to take a look in the water. Is it just clear water or is it?

GM: As you peer into the water, give me a Perception check. Alright.

Markus: I'm assuming we need to be fairly close to actually be able to see into the water? 

GM: Ah yeah.

Taury: I haven't fully gone into the room have I? Sort of?

GM: Yeah. No you're heading towards the pool trying to look at it as you've entered the room. The doors open so Morana can see in. Fenwarin and Markus, you're a bit far back with your light source. You can see them enter the room and that there's something there, but you can't really tell the details of what's going on. Morana, you can see the room pretty clearly just as Taury can.

Morana: Alright. Well, I guess I'll take a look at the water too from where I'm standing.

GM: Alright, give me a Perception check. Alright. Neither of you notice until it's too late. 

Fenwarin: Ooh hoo!

Taury: That's a comforting sentence.

GM: Uh huh. This thing swoops down and attacks Taury.

Taury: What exactly is the thing, what does it look like?

GM: This creature is blackened batwing with a fiendish face, tentacles dangle from its chin and scalp and its fang mouth is agape as it swoops at you.

Taury: So it's pretty handsome?

GM: Yeah, it will attempt to bite you. That does not hit your AC, good for you.

Taury: Yeah, hell, yeah!

GM: And that puts us into initiative. Morana, you have also seen this. Fenwarin and Markus you just see a shape swoop down from the ceiling at Taury.

Markus: Ok. 

Fenwarin: Do I not catch it with my keen senses?

GM: You do not.

Fenwarin: Oooh ok.

Taury: Oh Jesus. 

GM: Ok. Morana.

Morana: So, yeah. What's the knowledge roll for this thing?

GM: That would be a Planes.

Markus: Ooh! Ok.

GM: Level 1, doing Knowledge planes yeah. You get one question and identify a creature known as a Vargouille, however that's pronounced.

Markus: Oh!

Markus: It's spelled V a r g o u i l l e.

Morana: Vargouli?

Taury: Vargouille? [attempting to pronounce the name]

Markus: Yeah.

Taury: Vargouille I feel like maybe?

GM: So you get one question, what would you like to know about this thing?

Morana: Um, I need first and foremost, I need to know it's hit dice.

GM: 3.

Morana: Excellent. It needs to make a DC 14 Will.

GM: Ok.

Morana: No turn for you.

GM: You have dazed it. 

Fenwarin: Oooh hoo hoo!

Taury: Nice!

Morana: Basically, she sees it coming down, she's "what the fuck is oh no."

GM: Alright, so we skip it's turn. It is no longer dazed. Fenwarin, you see this thing just at the edge of your torchlight.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I have to get closer.

GM: Alright. As you move through the area, you will be attack-of-opportunitied. 

Fenwarin: Oh, yes.

GM: That, that was wrong.

Fenwarin: Holy! [laughs].

Taury: Yeah!

Morana: Yeah, that is!

Taury: Fucken 6 and 6?!

Fenwarin: I am not...

Taury: What the fuck?!

GM: I double tapped the 5, I apologize.

Morana: I detect shenanigans! [laughs].

Taury: Further proves that we can't count?

GM: A 16 does hit you though!

Taury: 16?

Fenwarin: Yeah it does.

GM: Yeah, have 4 points of damage.

Fenwarin: Yay. Ok.

GM: And then I need you to give me a Fortitude save.

Fenwarin: Oh, that's great!

Markus: Don't fail this, please!

Fenwarin: Oh, no.

GM: Alright. The poison works its way into your veins.

Fenwarin: Oh, man.

GM: Oh, oh.

Taury: That's... I don't like that at all.

GM: Ok.

Taury: Can you take that back? I don't like it?

GM: The poisoned courses through your veins. You don't take any additional damage from this.

Taury: But? 

Fenwarin: But?

GM: When you attempt to get healed, I'll let you know how bad it is.

Fenwarin: Oh shit!

Taury: Oh, boy. Rip Fenwarin.

GM: Markus, oh sorry, I'm skipping Fenwarin's turn. That was just your movement. [laughs].

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Ah he's fucked anyway. Let's skip him. [laughs].

GM: At least identify or something. You still have your standard, use it well.

Taury: Yeah give yourself a hug or something.

Morana: So if the duration for daze is one round, is that not until the end of my next turn?

GM: No, it's until it's turn, it loses it's turn. 

Fenwarin: Oh.

GM: Which was immediately after you.

Fenwarin: Yeah, can I attempt to identify what I've been struck with?

GM: Yes, that would be a Knowledge planes to identify this creature.

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: Yes, you identify the Vargouille and get 2 questions on this creature.

Fenwarin: What is it weak to?

GM: Weaknesses? It has no weaknesses.

Fenwarin: Oh fun. What is the type of poison I've been struck with?

GM: Alright. It only affects you once. This is not an ongoing poison. However, on injury, the damage caused by this creature's bite can then only be healed with magic. If the spell caster casting the magic healing makes a DC 20 caster level check.

Fenwarin: Wow!

Taury: That's so rude, [laughs] rip!

Markus: Ok.

Fenwarin: Uh Huh.

Morana: Welp

Taury: So this is why Taury is the tank.

Markus: And this is where Fenwarin should learn not to provoke attacks of opportunity, if at all possible.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Yeah.

Taury: I mean, don't kick him out when he's down. Jesus!

Fenwarin: Yip yip.

Taury: It's fine. There's like three healers or something. You'll be fine.

GM: Yeah,

Taury: Fine hopefully.

GM: Yeah, it'll be great.

Taury: Maybe.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I'm so safe now.

GM: Quick trip to Father Zantus, you know, tactical retreats.

Taury: If he's not busy.

Markus: Um, given the identify the poison, would he have learned how long the poison lasts?

GM: Oh, it's not a duration. This is just a status effect. This creatures damage cannot be healed because the poison's set in. It requires magical healing and a caster level check of 20 to then magically heal. That's it. That's all the poison does.

Markus: Ok. So it doesn't expire in like a day or a week or whatever? 

GM: No. 

Markus: Ok.

Taury: [Laughs] It is fucking rude. Yeah.

Fenwarin: This fiend is OP nerf.

Taury: Wait until you see there'll be another room and there's like ten of these fuckers. This is just the practice run. [laughing].

GM: Markus, I believe it's your turn.

Markus: Yes, I take it I can't clearly see this thing from where I am?

GM: No, it's, you can see it in the light, but you're back in the darkness so like the room's illuminated now and you can see in there, you can see the pool, you can see Taury like dodging this thing as it was biting at her. You see it snap at Fenwarin and him get hit as he runs into the room.

Markus: Ok, so if the room's lit I can see it. Yes?

GM: Yeah, it's right around the corner from the door. It'll have cover, but you can see it as it's flitting around.

Markus: And the knowledge to know, is a free action right?

GM: Yes. You also get 2 questions and identify this creature.

Markus: Ok, how hard is this thing going to be to hit?

GM: Alright. It seems about as hard to hit as any of you.

Markus: Ok, so not especially easy, but not really really tough either.

GM: Right. Without giving you specific numbers, that gives you good ballpark.

Markus: Yep, that's that's fine. Does it have any immunities?

GM: It does not.

Markus: Ok. Then as Markus glares at it and hums the refrain of a melody, it can please make a Will save.

GM: Ok. Alright. It was flying, but it falls to the ground. It will then roll a percentile to see if it hits hard enough to wake it. Your call on, if you want high or low for the result for this to stay asleep. And then if the result is matching with what you say, it will stay asleep.

Markus: Ah let's go high.

GM: High, aah it is low.

Markus: No.

GM: It falls just the right way and wakes itself back up. It is, however, on the ground prone.

Markus: Ah, it's still better than it was.

GM: Yeah which takes us to Taury.  Attacking against a prone creature gives you a +4 to hit.

Taury: Sweet. The questions that they're asking that, we as a party know that now, or is that specific to each character that asks?

GM: Depends on if they're specifically relaying what they learn or if they're keeping it to themselves.

Taury: Cool.

GM: I never know what, it's up to you guys to work out what is group knowledge and what is, 'I'm going to keep that to myself knowledge.'

Morana: I'm relaying.

Fenwarin: I will do the same.

Markus: Yeah, same.

Taury: Cool. I'm going to take a slash at it with my switch scythe because it's on the ground.

GM: Alright. You swing your scythe it, hit it cleanly because of the +4 to hit, and deal a bit of damage.

Fenwarin: A bit oh.

Taury: A bit is better than taking damage.

Fenwarin: Uh huh.

GM: It doesn't seem happy. It also doesn't seem too badly injured.

Taury: It is, isn't it?

GM: Morana, it is now your turn.

Morana: A Will save. 15 this time.

GM: Success.

Morana: Alright. -2 to attack for one round.

GM: Ok. It's turn, it will begin flying again, which provokes an attack of opportunity from Taury, and Morana if Morana has a weapon available, I don't think you do?

Morana: No.

Taury: So I get an attack for opportunity you say?

GM: You do, as it begins flying.

Taury: I'd switch scythe attack, hell yeah.

GM: Alright. That will miss.

Taury: Great.

GM: It is no longer prone, had it still been prone, you would have hit.

Taury: Yeah, it's flying now, isn't it technically.

GM: Yes, and it will attempt to bite you, Taury. That will miss. Fenwarin it's now your turn.

Fenwarin: Let's see, going to cast a magic missle on this bastard.

GM: Alright, roll your D4 of damage and add 1.

Taury: It's a really salty magic missile.

GM: [Laughs]. Semantic component of flipping the bird.

Taury: [Laughs]. It like comes out in, it's like a firework, but it's in the shape of a middle finger.

GM: Verbal component of fuck you! [laughs]. Yeah. Max damage from that. Well done!

Fenwarin: Awesome.

Taury: Yay.

GM: Alright. It now seems angry at you.

Fenwarin: "Stay away from me, please." 

GM: [Laughs] What would you like to do now?

Taury: It's weakness, is 'fuck-yous'.

GM: You still have your movement.

Fenwarin: I'll brace myself if it comes this way and attacks.

GM: Alright, Markus.

Markus: Hmm yeah ok, pulls out his relatively newly acquired sling and tries to fit it with a bullet... And misses.

GM: That will miss.

Markus: So how's the damage that high?  Ok yeah, that's me.

GM: Okay, that takes us back to Taury.

Taury: I'm going to take another swing at it with my switch scythe. Going to try and like cut its wing off. If it has a wing. Does it have a wing? Or is it one of those things that like float flies?

GM: It does have wings. Yes.

Taury: Yeah. Well, I want to cut one off.

GM: Alright. That's a sunder attempt. That is a combat maneuver. So that will be CMB verse CMD, you're attempting to cripple its flight.

Taury: My CMB or my CMD, which one am I rolling?

GM: CMB, combat maneuver bonus.

Taury: Cool.

GM: That hits.

Taury: Hell yeah.

GM: You managed to slice its wing. It can no longer fly, it falls to the ground where it begins using its tentacles to move around. It is not technically prone right now. It's also not using its preferred form of movement. Morana it is now your turn.

Morana: WTBDC 15.

GM: Success.

Morana: Motherfuck! 1 round negative 2 to AC. At least I still get something out of it.

GM: Yep, it's turned, which is the last turn for the attack being reduced. Since he can't fly over to Fenwarin its just gonna bite at Taury's ankles.

Morana: [Laughs]. Damn ankle biters!

GM: Which does hit.

Morana: Yeah.

Taury: Yeah that hits. 

Fenwarin: Oh my god.

GM: 3 points of damage and I need a Fortitude save.

Taury: Ok. 

Fenwarin: Is that enough?

GM: Is that enough yeah, that's enough.

Fenwarin: Ooh [laughs].

Taury: Taury is kind of a beast.

GM: Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yip. I am cosy right where I am, so another magic missile.

GM: Alright. 

Fenwarin: Yeah that's good.

GM: Another 4 points of damage.  Still up and moving. Markus.

Markus: Ah now that it's on it's, it's actually on the ground and it's not going to be woken up again by things specifically. Yeah, Markus actually starts humming a full lullaby and casts sleep. So Will save please.

GM: Sleep affects an area. How are you positioning this to not hit Taury or do you not care if Taury falls asleep as well? 

Markus: Oooh...

Taury: Oh Jesus Christ, don't put me to sleep. You're all fucked if you put me to sleep.

Markus: Ok, I'm just going to move my token so I can see the room... Oh right, Ok.

Taury: Uhh [laughs]. 

Markus: Ok. I'm not doing that then. It doesn't count as prone right?

GM: It does not, cause it's still standing on tentacle things, weirdly. It just has no movement speed.

Markus: Yeah, I'll miss with another sling bullet instead then.

GM: Ok.

Markus: Oh.

GM: That hits.

Markus: Does it? Ok! For?

GM: It does.

Taury: For 1 point.

GM: Markus helping!

Taury: [Laughs] In quotations, every time he does it, it's in quotations.

GM: Taury it's now your turn. Otherwise Markus wants to move up?

Markus: No.

Taury: Great. Gonna take another swing at it with the switch scythe. 17 hit?

GM: That is a hit.

Taury: Hell yeah.

GM: And?

Fenwarin: Please be dead!

GM: Finishes it off.

Fenwarin: Oh yes.

Taury: Rip.

GM: Alright. You have just killed this vargouille in this room. What would you like to do?

Taury: Was there anything interesting about the water? Or was it just where this thing was?

GM: As you look at the water, it's immaculately clean.

Taury: Can I do a Detect magic on it?

GM: Sure... Alright. You do not detect magic on the water itself, however the pool it's in does radiate conjuration magics, a moderate amount.

Taury: So wait, the water does that or the thing around it?

GM: The thing the water's in.

Taury: The basin or whatever, is it an actual basin?

GM: This pool lined with skulls. It's almost like a fountain but there's no fountain there spouting up water. It's...

Taury: Ok. Does it look like it's deep or is it just?

GM: No.

Taury:  No, just kind of shallow. And...?

GM: Yeah, it's only about a foot or two deep of water. It only goes down to the same floor level that you're standing on.

Taury: Ok and that's a door in front of us yeah?

Morana: Is Taury going to tell us that or should I a Detect magic as well?

Taury: I mean, you could do a detect magic, fuck it.

Morana: Oh yeah I will.

Taury: I don't know that she'd necessarily tell you.

Morana: Because Morana would think it looks a little weird that the water is so clean after it's been sealed for how long?

GM: Uh huh. Ok, so you also detect moderate conjuration magic on this pool.

Morana: Spellcraft?

GM: Sure, you easily identify the spell Create water.

Morana: Well, well that makes sense.

GM: Yeah for a pool without any source of replenishing to have standing pure water constantly, yeah that makes sense.

Morana: I mean you wanna leave a water dish for your pets if you're going on vacation.

Markus: Hah? 

Morana: Is joke.

Markus: You think that thing was somebody's pet?

Morana: Well somebody left it here.

Markus: Or it found its way on its own.

Morana: Yes, I'm sure it was capable of opening heavy stone doors by itself.

Markus: Fair point, I suppose.

Taury: The door in front of us the same as the door behind us?

GM: Yip.

Taury: Gonna open that too?

GM: Alright. You open the door and you are greeted with another hallway of stairs descending another 40 feet down or so, you can't see what it descends out into, but there's no door at the bottom from what you can see from here.

Taury: Taury is gonna keep walking forward.

GM: Alright.

Fenwarin: You go on ahead, I'm feeling a bit weird.

Markus: You ok?

Fenwarin: Yeah, I think so. I'll just stay at the back.

Markus: Markus will nod at that.

GM: As you get to the bottom of the staircase Taury, a red marble statue of a strikingly beautiful, but at the same time, monstrously enraged human woman, stands in the middle of this room, her stony expression twisted in fury. The woman wears flowing robes, and her long hair is held back from her face by an intricate headdress of hooks and blades. In her left hand she carries a large book, the face of which is inscribed with a seven pointed star. Her right hand holds a glittering metal and ivory ranseur.

Taury: What's a ranseur?

GM: It's like a glaive or a halberd. It's a polearm type weapon.

Taury: Pointy, sharp thing.

GM: Mmm, yep, it's a variation on that type of weapon.

Taury: Yeah. It's fancy. She's glowing or is it just red?

GM: It is made of a red marble.

Taury: Ok. Is there anything else around it or is it just this that I can see?

GM: The back wall seems to open up into maybe like a cave, like someone broke through the wall there.

Taury: Ok, are there any marks anywhere of like footprints and stuff?

GM: Maybe, that would be a Perception check or a Survival check.

Taury: Yeah I'll do a Perception check.

GM: Right. Yeah. It looks like the dirt that was from this opening has been tracked around this room. It's pretty messy around that area you know, maybe 10, 20 feet around that entrance exposure.

Taury: And does it look like people came in, or does it look like people came out of the cave?

GM: That would be a Survival check.

Taury: Ok.

GM: Specifically... Can't tell. You're so unsure about what's going on here. This could be ancient footwork. Like there's no guarantee that this was a recent thing, it's just, you know, this is here, ok.

Taury: Is there anything interesting about the statue other than, just it's just there?

GM: The ranseur looks like you can take it. It's not attached to or part of the statue it's an actual weapon.

Markus: Would we recognize who this statue depicts?

GM: That would be a Knowledge history... 21.

Taury: I'm going to roll that.

Morana: Oh my knowledge rules are off today.

GM: Alright. Markus, you look at this statue and after a couple moments of thinking about it, piecing together, you know, the seven pointed star on the book and this person who's really angry, this woman. You come to the realization that this is a depiction of Runelord Alaznist. It's spelled A l a z n i s t Alaznist. There ah.

Markus: Ok, I'm going to guess Runelord of Wrath?

GM: Yeah, seems that way.

Markus: Ok.

Morana: I need to do another Detect magic looking at the statue.

GM: Ok, you don't detect any magic on it.

Morana: Ok.

Taury: I presume Taury doesn't know that that's Alaznist?

GM: Not unless Markus tells you guys. None of your recognise who this person is, other than Markus. And it's taken him a few moments to figure it out. It is quite arcane, old old knowledge. It just happens to be one of his interest areas.

Markus: Yeah, it's something he's actively studied.

Morana: Does he relay that name?

Markus: What he does is, after a few moments while people are looking around, he'll comment. "Well, I suppose we found out which Runelord this belonged to.

Morana: Morana just kind of looks at him, "Ok?"

Markus: "Well I can't imagine they would have erected a statue to one of their, I think rivals is perhaps the best word, in their own domain. So."

Morana: Ok, would him clarifying that it's a Runelord, make me able to make another Knowledge check?

GM: Knowledge history. Sure. On Runelords in general...19. You know, that the Runelords supposedly ruled over the Varisian area back before they fell when Starfall happened like 10,000 years ago. You know that there was a collection of them. That's why they were the Runelords, plural. You know they didn't get along with each other. They were kind of like feuding war lords almost, according to the legends and you know what rumors tell. Beyond that, you don't really know a whole lot.

Morana: Alright.

GM: They just, they were the people at the top of Thassilonian society.

Morana: Gotcha.

GM: Taury, you have heard about Runelords, but you don't really know anything significant about them other than, they were Thassilonian.

Taury: Ok.

Markus: Oh, did someone actually do a Detect magic? 

GM: Yes. 

Morana: Yeah I did.

Markus: Ok.

Morana: You said there were footprints in the dirt? 

GM: A Perception check.

Markus: Yeah, I'll look as well.

GM: Yeah. Both of you notice there's been a lot of tracking of dirt around the area, as Taury begins to explore off down the hallways.

Morana: She can have fun with that, um... Survival to try and figure out what kind of footprints these are? 

GM: Sure.

Markus: I'd like to try and figure out if there's any indication of how recent they were, where they were going, that sort of thing.

GM: Sure, neither of you can really make out much of what's going on here. Morana, you know specifically that it's not because it's difficult to discern that there have been things coming and going through this area but, it's been so heavily trafficked that you can't really tell who, what, or how long ago, it's just well trod.

Morana: "There have been a lot of things moving through here. Anything down there?"

Taury: "Nothing of note. Small corridors."

Morana: "More doors?"

Taury: "Corridors. I didn't want to wander too far in case you might get lost."

Fenwarin: "Mmm. Which direction should we pick first?"

Taury: "The path most trodden I should suggest." And she's gesturing towards the footprints.

GM: So into the cave area?

Taury: Ah huh.

Morana: "I would tend to disagree, as that does not look like it is originally part of the structure perhaps?"

Fenwarin: "That's true, yeah."

Morana: "I say we look around the constructed area first, and then try to figure out what's burrowed its way in here."

Taury: "Well we are tasked with discovery. This looks pretty interesting. Can't imagine the rest of place is all that interesting by comparison."

Morana: "We are tasked with discovery of the structure, as that is not part of the original structure, we should stick to what was here first and then branch out.

Taury: "You afraid of the dark?"

Morana: "Are you afraid of old things?"

Taury: "No I'm just rather bored with them. Seeing as we missed out on our hunt earlier, I thought we could do some cave hunting. But if you are too afraid, I'll do whatever."

Markus: "Well, if it's as heavily traveled as people have suggested, aren't we as likely to find whatever came through the cave in these environments as we are to find in the cave itself?

Morana: "One would think, but logic isn't everyone's strong suit."

Taury: Yeah, Taury is ignoring that. She's looking into the cave to see if there's anything interesting in there.

GM: It looks like the cave branches off to both the right and left areas. It definitely has been excavated, rather.

Taury: Yeah, deliberately.

GM: In both directions. Yeah.

Taury: Is there any, like, objects, like on the ground or torches? Anything, anything at all? Like signs that there were people or, you know, some kind of creatures?

GM: No.

Taury: Ok, "Well, which way would you have us go then Morana, seeing as you are the leader, self-appointed?"

Morana: "I would start with the way with fewer doors as it would seem to be quicker."

Taury: "Well, this way doesn't have a door."

Morana: Morana kind of rolls her eyes, "Fewer branching pathways then."

Markus: "So north?" Or, well, no not necessarily, that's that map thing.

Morana: "Yes, that way." And she points towards the single door.

Fenwarin: "Well, that helps."

Markus: Is it actually north or is that just the configuration of the map?

GM: It is actually north.

Markus: Ok.

Fenwarin: "Well, let's go north."

Taury: "After you." she's going to gesture for like you guys to walk first.

Markus: "Really? You were so keen to take the lead before."

Taury: "That was when we were going the way I suggested. I believe it is pointless to go this way, but I'll follow your lead. I'm not getting myself killed because you can't go the correct way."

Morana: "Some people can't handle not getting what they want." Opens the door.

GM: You open the door and see a large chamber. Obviously, once a prison, as testified by the 20 or so cells that line the rooms perimeter. A rickety wooden platform overlooks the room with two flights of stairs descending to the prison floor 10 feet below. A 5 foot wide wooden walkway runs from the northern edge of the platform to a passageway to the east. Off to the east you can hear two voices.

Morana: Can I make out anything about them, what language they're speaking? Anything like that?

GM: Yeah. As the door opens, you can hear these voices. They're not being quiet.

Taury: Do they sound humanoid?

GM: That's a fair question to ask. But considering you don't understand the language, it's hard to tell. That would be a Linguistics check to identify the language.

Taury: Oh boy, everyone loves their linguistics.

Markus: Wait, is the entire party trained in linguistics?

Fenwarin: I am.

GM: Alright.

Taury: I mean, I have a +1 in it.

Markus: Do you actually have a skill rank in it?

Morana: That's actually untrained for me.

GM: So Taury and Morana you don't recognize this language at all. It is so foreign to you. Markus and Fenwarin, both of you recognize Aklo.

Morana: Uh huh.

GM: You probably don't speak it, but you've at least identified it.

Markus: Is that one of the elemental languages?

GM: It is not. Aklo is, some consider the first language. 

Markus: Ah ok. 

GM: One of the first languages. It's in contention along the lines of Abyssal and actual like first speech of the fey world, as being the first language.

Markus: Ok. Would we know anything about where it's commonly spoken?

GM: [Laughs] Commonly spoken. That's funny.

Markus: Like is there a particular...?

Taury: I take it it's like Latin. It's like no other...

GM: History uh yeah, Knowledge history to determine if you know, when and where Aklo was, common, in quotes.

Taury: Is Markus relaying what he's finding out here?

Markus: Ah probably but he's going to wait until he actually knows what he knows before deciding.

GM: Alright.

Taury: Yeah, cause I was just wondering if I should do the check or not. So?

GM: Both of you know that Aklo is a common language of the Underdark.

Markus: Ok, yeah, that will get conveyed quietly. [Laughs] "Whatever, whatever they're saying, the language they are using, they probably came from the Underdark somewhere. Hence probably the cave."

Morana: "So much for boring." Would the Underdark be Plains for knowledge or?

GM: Geography.

Morana: Oh, that's one of the weaker ones, alright.

Markus: Geography rather than Dungeoneering? Interesting.

GM: Yeah, just to know about it.

Markus: Ah.

GM: Like if you want to know things that are like inhabitants in that area of stuff, that's dungeoneering. But to know where it is and what it is, that's geography. Morana you know that the Underdark is a terrifying place. All the rumors and lore that you have ever heard about it is those that enter either never return, or those that do return are insane. Nothing good is ever talked about from those that have come back from the Underdark, what like legends and writings exist from those that have gone down and returned.

Markus: Point of clarification. Is the Underdark the same thing as the Darklands? 

GM: Yes. 

Markus: Yeah, ok.

GM: Are you going in stealthily as you enter this room?

Taury: I would hope so, yeah.

Morana: I suppose I should probably might as well try. 

Morana: Yup.

Taury: Stealth rolls?

Morana: This will be fun.

Taury: Ah yes.

Markus: From everyone?

GM: If you want to try to remain stealthy, yeah from everyone.

Markus: Wow. Yeah the dice apparently don't like stealth today.

GM: No it doesn't seem to be.

Taury: I'm kind of hefty, I'm kind of hard to be quiet when you're like a fucken, you know, absolute unit, sure.

GM: The rest of you manage to be somewhat stealthy. Creep into the room. As Taury does the extra weight of her weaponry, and all this gear she's carrying causes this old rickety platform to creak on every step.

Fenwarin: "Oh shit."

Morana: Morana sighs inwardly.

Taury: Does this room look differently to the other architecture?

GM: The main architecture, no. The presence of a wooden platform does seem a little different.

Taury: Yeah like does it look like an afterthought? Does it look like it was built later or?

GM: It's hard to tell, it's definitely old. How old? Hard to tell. It's better quality worksmanship than any goblin would have been able to do though, if that's what you were thinking.

Taury: That's not comforting.

GM: Perception ok. Going to roll Perception for these two, and see if they notice you guys entering.

Fenwarin: Oh, man.

Taury: [Laughs] I mean look, it's not a 66, but it's fucking close.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] That was OP.

GM: No nat 20s but might as well have been.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: As you enter, the creaking of the boards as Taury steps in. You hear the conversations stop.

Taury: Can we tell what direction to which they were talking?

GM: Ah, yeah.

Taury: Or are we about to find out anyway?

GM: Off to the east, and yeah you're about to find out.

Taury: I said it just as he fucking did that, yeah and I was like, well, that's redundant. Now I don't need to ask. [Laughs] 

GM: Yeah.

Taury: You're about to get an arrow to the face.

GM: So go ahead and roll your initiatives. And then I will reveal what's happening.

Taury: Yay look at that roll, that's more like it, not than nat 1 like earlier.

Fenwarin: Blackjack!

Morana: This isn't just going to suck the roll results out of all your attacks.

GM: This is great, alright. As you step on the thing, thinking maybe you were silent enough, then the conversation stops. You hear creaking up the stairs as rounding the corner, you see this...

Taury: I don't like this.

Fenwarin: Me neither it doesn't sound good.

Taury: Yeah this looks like an absolute dickhead.

Fenwarin: You see...This!

GM: You see a hairless humanoid lurching on back bent dog like legs. It's hideous mouth flanked by tiny arms with three fingered hands.

Taury: What's going on with its face? Are those tentacles or pincers?

GM: A bit of both.

Taury: Oh, I hate it. I hate that you said both.

Fenwarin: [Laughs].

GM: So he gets to the top of the stairs there and then makes an attack at Taury with a ranseur. It is a reach weapon, so anywhere within 10 feet, it can attack.

Taury: I wanted to pick up the other one, but I didn't.

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Well, I said it will be too heavy considering what I already have, and I like the tiny movement that I do have.

GM: That will hit.

Taury: Yeah, that hits.

GM: Is that a crit? That is not a crit, that is good for you.

Taury: "Thanks Morana."

Morana: "You were the one that didn't want to be bored."

GM: Have 8 points of damage.

Fenwarin: Holy!

GM: Lovingly applied to you by this thing.

Taury: Tasty that is. Ok so for the record, that is half the health that I had, so that's comforting.

GM: And then that is now your turn Taury.

Taury: Ok. Is this room lit up, by the way?

GM: No.

Taury: So it's it's dark in here?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Ok, so that's not helpful. Hmm ok. You said there were 2, but you only rolled initiative for 1. I don't like that.

Fenwarin: There's 2.

Taury: Where's the 2nd thing? It's not on the map, though?

GM: It is.

Taury: That's what?

GM: You just can't see it yet.

Taury: Yeah. That's the thing because I was gonna move and I'm like, oh, I don't really want to move now cause I don't know where that is. Which, it's probably behind it, I'm hoping it's behind it.

Fenwarin: Sudden flank [laughs].

Taury: Yeah ok. So I'm going to run to here.

GM: Alright. 

Taury: And shoot at it.

GM: That will provoke an attack of opportunity.

Taury: How? Oh, because it's 10 foot.

GM: Yep a reach weapon.

Fenwarin: Oh!

Taury: Yeah. I mean look, anyway it's fine. It's fine.

GM: That misses.

Taury: Ah hell, yeah, it does. She's not stealthy, but she's fast ok [laughs]. So I'm going to shoot at it with my bow as well. If I can do that.

GM: Sure, I'll be nice, this time. You manage to hit it.

Taury: In its ugly face.

GM: Ah well that's where you were aiming, but it hits the shoulder.

Taury: I'll take it. It's really ugly, it's actually uglier shoulder than its face [laughs].

GM: Yeah. Let me pull up a picture of a Sinspawn for you guys.

Fenwarin: Sinspawn?! What?!

Taury: Oh, yeah. The mouth is the bit I like the most [laughs] but the feet is the bit that I don't like [laughs]. It's the claws I don't like, the backwards knees? Like, no thank you. The mouth looks friendly. It's fine.

Fenwarin: Geez like, this is like Alien head and Predator mouth. 

GM: Yeah.

Markus: Yeah and it's such an interesting name for these things.

Fenwarin: Sinspawn.

GM: Uh huh.

Taury: I'm sure it's a misnomer.

GM: Alright. Number 2...

Markus: Somehow, I doubt it.

GM: 2, 3, 4...

Fenwarin: Definitely not a spawn of something bigger.

Taury: Oh why's it coming up to me man?!

Fenwarin: I see nothing.

GM: You were the first one it saw, that's all.

Taury: Oh, no, I understand why, I'm just... Anyway, it's fine.

GM: Ranseur attack misses. Fenwarin it's your turn.

Fenwarin: Yeah, I can't see anything right?

GM: There is one directly in front of you through the door.

Fenwarin: Ok so I can see it.

GM: About 20 feet away from you.

Fenwarin: Ah, does it cost an action to pull my crossbow out?

GM: Yeah, it's a move action to ready your weapon.

Fenwarin: Ok, well, I'll use my move then to take it out, and aim it squarely at the one right in front of me.

Markus: And Markus will lean aside to let you.

Fenwarin: Thank you.

GM: Sight of terror, panic ensues...

Fenwarin: [Laughs] Oh.

GM: Nat 20.

Taury: Oh nice

GM: Roll to confirm a hit.

Fenwarin: So same again right?

GM: Uh huh. 

Fenwarin: Ah damn it!

GM: Not a crit confirm, but you do hit, go ahead and roll the normal damage.

Fenwarin: Ok 6 damage.

GM: Alright. Anything else you would like to do?

Fenwarin: Oh I'll just basically reload and get ready for the next one.

GM: Alright. Morana.

Morana: First of all, the fuck is this, what's the Knowledge roll?

GM: [Laughs]. Yeah, that's a dungeoneering. You identify a creature known as a Sinspawn of Wrath.

Morana: Ok.

GM: Don't know how or why you would have known this, but you you do. And you get one question.

Morana: Any weaknesses?

GM: Hmm, going to be nice and say, would you like to ask another question?

Taury: [Laughs] 

Morana: Hit dice?

GM: 3.

Morana: Ok first of all, burning hands.

GM: Alright. That'll get both of them.

Morana: That'll be DC 15 reflex.

GM: I need you to make a Spell check against their SR, their spell resistance.

Morana: Ah, shut up. All right, what's the roll for those?

Taury: I had a feeling something like that was coming.

GM: That is a caster check. So it's your caster level plus your caster stat bonus, plus any bonuses you might have from traits or feats, I don't know if you have any. Uh,so all those bonuses with a D20.

Morana: 24. 

Taury: That's not bad.

GM: 24 alright. That will pass both of their spell resistance considering it's the same numbers. And now they make a deck save correct? A reflex save. 

Morana: Correct. 

GM: Alright. 1 success, 1 failure.

Morana: Success takes 2 I think, and failure takes the 5.

Taury: Make the 1 closest to Taury have the failure, [laughs] please.

GM: Ah, you don't control me.

Taury: I never said I did. [Laughs] No!

GM: Death's around every corner.

Taury: Ain't that the truth?

GM: Alright. Anything else you would like to do, Morana? You still have a movement.

Morana: I would 5 foot step but I can't because Markus is in the doorway so, no. Nah, looks like I'm just gonna stand my ground.

GM: Alright. Markus.

Markus: Are hexes subject to spell resistance?

GM: Are they a spell-like ability or a supernatural ability?

Markus: Ah, typically supernatural.

GM: Then supernatural is not, because it is not a spell, if it was spell-like then yes. That's also the difference between provoking an attack of opportunity and not, supernatural never provokes, spell-like does.

Markus: Ah ok yeah, Markus will do his hum a lullaby thing at the one immediately in front,

GM: Is this a mind affecting effect?

Markus: Given that the sleep spell itself is mind affecting, I'm assuming it probably is.

GM: Alright yeah I would agree with that. Nothing happens.

Markus: Yeah.

Taury: Wow.

Fenwarin: Ah.

Taury: Ban elves immediately!

Fenwarin: And you shut up! [Laughs].

Markus: Immunity to mind affecting at a guess because they're...

GM: Would you like to confirm that with a Knowledge check to identify these things?

Markus: I'm untrained in dungeoneering, so.

GM: Oh ok.

Markus: So I can't get above DC10, so there is no way I'm going to pass that [laughs].

GM: Ok.

Markus: Yeah, that's my turn.

GM: Well done. Very effective.

Markus: Hmm. Yes. 

Taury: [Laughs].

Markus: Ah actually, I will move back. Sorry, I will move back to open space in the doorway.

GM: Ok.

Taury: Run away! Absolutely it's fine.

GM: As this one 5 foot steps over to attack Morana. That will miss Morana.

Morana: Yip.

GM: Taury, it's now your turn.

Taury: Okey doke, ah no, I'm still in range... Bollocks. So I'm going to take another shot at it with the bow, the one directly in front of me and take the 5 foot step. Is that a crit? You want to roll a crit confirm?

GM: That is a 19 on the die.

Taury: Ok. 

GM: Alright, so you hit it. It's now very angry at you.

Taury: Can it get more angry?

GM: It drops the ranseur and charges you.

Fenwarin: Ah! This is great yeah.

Taury: Oh, great. And I have no reaction to that do I? 

GM: Ha! Nat 20. 

Fenwarin: Wow.

Taury: Fuck that!

GM: Rolling to confirm.

Taury: I don't know about good. Not as bad but.

GM: [Laughs] It was almost a crit fail! Rolled a 2!

Taury: I mean it. Fuck its, geez!

GM: Alright. Not confirmed, that's good for you.

Taury: Uh huh, not as bad for me is what the phrase should be.

GM: Uh huh, that's what I said.

Taury: You're gonna be taking Taury back in a jar guys. That's all that's gonna be left.

GM: 7 points of damage from a bite.

Fenwarin: Holy shit!

Taury: [Laughs].

GM: As this thing wraps its mandibles around you, and then I need a Will save.

Taury: That was 7 points of damage yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury:  I have 1 HP left. So uh... Maybe heal me maybe? So what is that I need? A Reflex, you said?

GM: Will.

Taury: A Will save oh, that's great, that's yip.

GM: That is a failure.

Taury: Uh huh.

GM: You are suddenly overwhelmed with such powerful rage as this thing bites into you, that you are now sickened.

Taury: Ok.

GM: And that sickened condition, at the top of your sheet, there's a little heartbeat type...

Taury: Yup. Yeah that condition thing.

GM: Yeah, you click on that, you can toggle on the conditions and it'll automatically do the math for you.

Taury: Awesome.

GM: So you don't need to keep track of minuses to what when.

Taury: It just does it for you?

GM: Yeah. It just does it for you.

Taury: Awesome.

GM: So toggle on sickened.

Taury: Everything on the sheet just went red. That's horrifying.

GM: Uh huh.

Fenwarin: Oh, my god.

Taury: Yeah. That's fucking shit, dude. But I'm on 1 HP so I don't know if it can get any worse but alright.

GM: Alright. For the next four minutes, you will be feeling these emotions.

Taury: Great.

GM: Or unless you're knocked unconscious or worse, before that time ends.

Taury: The sweet relief of death, is what you're saying?

GM: It's a possibility.

Taury: Oh, boy.

GM: Fenwarin. 

Fenwarin: Ah, yeah. [Laughs]

GM: You have a shot on 1 of them, clearly. Well, it's there it's got some cover. 

Fenwarin: Yeah? 

GM: But the other has moved out of your range. You can't see it through this doorway.

Fenwarin: Can I cast mage armor on Morana?

GM: Yes, I believe it is a touch spell.

Fenwarin: Yeah, yeah.

Taury: Could you cast it on Taury instead?

Fenwarin: I can't get to you [laughs]!

Markus: And it wouldn't help you. You, you have actual armor.

Morana: That's the same problem with healing you, actually. 

Taury: Yeah.

GM: Now, casting within range of a reach weapon, would be an attack of opportunity.

Fenwarin: Yeah it would be yeah, I guess.

GM: However, a touch spell you can cast outside of range, 5 foot in, and deliver the touch, without provoking.

Markus: Or you could defensive cast as well for future reference. 

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: Also an option. But why risk the attack or the failure of the spell, if you don't have to.?

Markus: Yeah, when you can do the touch.

Fenwarin: Yeah so I'll just go for the first one there and just step in the 5 feet for the... To make this spell work.

GM: So cast, step and touch, right?

Fenwarin: Yeah. Yeah on Morana.

GM: Trying to help you guys out here a little bit.

Fenwarin: Yeah appreciate it.

GM: Giving you a little bit of a tactical advice. This is why I gave you guys all of those bonuses on level 1 for extra HP and stuff. You also came down here with 2 less party members.

Fenwarin: That's true yeah.

Taury: Oh, fuck, yeah I forget about that!

GM: Uh huh?

Taury: [Laughs] So it's Deadeye's his fault is what you're saying?

GM: I am not saying anything. [Laughs].

Taury: Deadeye like...

GM: You rushed down here on your own accord.

Taury: I didn't, Morana rushed in here. I rushed down in the general vicinity.

GM: [Laughs].

Taury: I didn't rush in here [laughs].

Morana: You said you didn't want to be bored.

Taury: No, no. Taury she  didn't want it bored.

Morana: Well?

GM: So Fenwarin has stepped up and delivered mage armor to Morana.

Morana: What's the duration on that again?

Markus: An hour per caster level. 

Fenwarin: Yeah that sounds right.

GM: And that gives you a +4 armor bonus I believe. 

Fenwarin: Yes +4 to AC.

GM: If you were already wearing armor as long as it wasn't 4, the 4 replaces that armor bonus. So you take the higher of the 2 if you have armor on. But I don't believe Morana wears armor normally.

Morana: Actually, I do. But it's only +2.

GM: Ok. Anything else you're doing Fenwarin?

Fenwarin: Ah well, can't move anymore right? Or I'll provoke.

GM: True.

Fenwarin: So I'll just brace myself if he...

GM: Stay, stay within that range right?

Fenwarin: Yeah, yeah.

GM: Morana it's your turn.

Morana: Alright, so, this room was completely dark before we came in here right? 

GM: Yip.

Morana: Ok, logically speaking, that means these things are dark dwelling, especially from the Underdark. That could cause... I mean, desperate times and all that, alright I'm going to use my racial spell like and drop Daylight.

Markus: Ooh!

GM: Alright.

Markus: So Morana isn't actually human then?

Morana: I'll 5 footstep there before I do it. I mean, the the slightly orange skin and, you know, ruby colored eyes and fire colored hair, you know, they might have been a clue.

Markus: Wait. When did you describe those features?

Morana: I did.

Taury: You did not.

Morana: No, I did. I made sure to. I said she looks mostly human, but.

Taury: You never said orange skin, I feel like.

Morana: I did.

Taury: I don't think so.

Morana: I did first session.

Taury: Uh huh?

GM: [Laughs] Alright, Markus it's now shining like day in there.

Markus: Ok, and the ranseur, the statue is holding, is it one handed or two handed?

GM: Yeah, it is a two handed reach weapon.

Markus: Uhh, ok. I don't actually have vision on where any of these things are, would I have caught sense of movement from any particular directions?

GM: Well, you know that one charged off to the west.

Markus: I know one went roughly that way.

GM: Yeah, and the other is somewhere in that area. 

Markus: Yeah. Well, I can't do anything with magic right now. Ah, yes, it's going to have to be pull the dagger and... Yeah, I'm going to have to go there which will provoke.

GM: It will provoke. You will have cover from the door. I'll give you a +4 to your AC. That does not hit you.

Markus: I does not, definitely.

GM: As you step into the room, the ranseur swings at you, but you are ready for it, you expected it. You nimbly dodged out the way, and you get within striking distance.

Markus: Yep, but my base attack bonus isn't high enough, so I had to pull my dagger as a move as well. So yeah, that's me done.

GM: Alright. The sinspawn that you stepped up on, being that you're too close for you to hit with the ranseur now, it drops it. And then lunges at you to make a bite and 2 claw attacks.

Fenwarin: Oh man.

GM: All of them are at the same bonus.

Taury: I don't like these guys at all. They are real fucking mean.

GM: The bite lands, first claw will miss, second claw will hit.

Taury: Oof oy.

Markus: Yeah, we really suffer from not having a front line.

Taury: You do have a front line.

Markus: Ok.

Taury: You just have one front line.

Markus: Yeah, not having enough front line [laughs].

GM: There were some tactical stuff that happened too, as your frontline ran away from you.

Taury: Your frontline had nowhere to go except backwards and she wouldn't have gone backwards,

Markus: Our frontline was also using a range weapon, rather than a melee weapon.

Taury: I would have loved it for her to go backwards.

GM: No.

Taury: Well, the thing is, I didn't want to walk up to it because I just didn't know what it would attack me with if I was in melee range. So that's why I thought the bow would be a better idea, because you just got attacked with 3 claws [laughs]. And I would have been super dead if that happened to me.

Markus: Yeah, well lets see how much damage.

GM: Yep. Ok. I'm going to roll both of them together. So just one damage result. 6 points of damage from both attacks. Not too bad, considering.

Taury: Oh.

Markus: And a Will save?

GM: Yeah and a Will save. That will fail.

Markus: Really?

GM: You are now also sickened... for the next six minutes.

Taury: Oh, that's worse than mine. Geez!

GM: As just rage is overwhelming you.

Markus: And that's my best save by quite a significant margin? I just rolled crap.

GM: Yup, that can happen, the dice can betray you. Taury, it's your turn.

Taury: Ok. Can I move to there diagonally, 5 foot yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury:  Ok well I'll do that, uh and cast...

GM: Well, even a 5 foot straight back would be fine but this is tactically a better...

Taury: Well I want to avoid the charge again.

GM: Exactly.

Taury: That's what I was thinking yeah. That's why I was considering like where I was going to move, but I was going to cast syphiers gift on my bow.

GM: Oh.

Taury: Which would mean making a ranged attack with the weapon doesn't provoke an attack of opportunity?

GM: Not a healing spell, ok.

Taury: I don't. I can't do any of those, I haven't prepared any.

GM: You are a warpriest. You can spontaneously cast healing spells. Instead of casting a normal spell, you drop it and cast a healing instead.

Taury: I don't specifically have any of those, though. They're all like.

GM: That's a class ability that that class has.

Taury: Yes. But I don't have any healing spells, really, that can do anything.

GM: Cure light wounds.

Taury: I don't have that.

GM: Well, you don't have to prep it, you spontaneously cast it instead of another spell. So you pick one spell to not cast. Cross that off your prepared list and cast cure light wounds instead.

Taury: Ok, so that, I didn't know that. I didn't read that anywhere. So can I do that on myself?

GM: Yes.

Taury: And what's the roll for that?

GM: When you cast cure light wounds, you will roll 1D8 plus your caster level, which right now is just 1. So you'll get 1D8 plus 1 hits points back.

Taury: Ok, well, I'm going to do that because that's a better idea for now... Oh great, great.

GM: That worked out real well. 

Taury: Uh huh, I probably should have just cast Shefer's gift. But it's fine.

GM: Alright. Sinspawn's turn. It will be attacking Morana with its 3, since it no longer has its ranseur.

Morana: So it's moving then?

GM: No, you're right around the corner.

Morana: Oh, that one ok.

GM: Yeah, that one. Bite.

Morana: No.

GM: Alright, bite will miss.

Fenwarin: Yes, good, good.

Morana: With a +2 that's 19.

GM: First claw and second claw.

Fenwarin: Oof!

GM: It then it will get angry and move up. Angrier.

Markus: Is that even possible for these things?

GM: Eventually they'll spontaneously spark rage powers right? Gain classes in Barbarian as they fight more and more.

Markus: I'm just hoping they don't turn into the hulk

GM: [Laughs]. That would be terrifying.

Fenwarin: What the hell?

GM: Right. Fenwarin it's your turn.

Fenwarin: Ok. I'm gonna fire at the one close to Morana.

Markus: You'll be firing into melee if you do that.

Fenwarin: Why?

Markus:  You will be firing into melee, which will make it harder.

Morana: Um, tech...

Fenwarin: Haven't they both dropped their weapons.

Morana: Is it considered melee if both of us are unarmed?

GM: They have natural weapons of claws and teeth. 

Morana: Yeah.

Taury: How did you forget about the claws and teeth?

Morana: They didn't hit me.

Taury: Almost as noticeable.

Fenwarin: Mm hmm.

Taury: As its tentacle face.

Fenwarin: But if I fire my crossbow from here, I mean, I won't draw their attention or something, the attack of opportunity? 

GM: No, you will not provoke an attack of opportunity.

Markus: Neither of them have reach weapons anymore.

Fenwarin: Yeah. That's what I thought.

Markus: Which is a pity.

GM: It will just be a negative 4 to hit because of firing into melee.

Fenwarin: Alright.

GM: That's it.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

Markus: Yeah, they're actually less effective with the reach weapons [laughs].

Taury: Yeah, I noticed that. That's why I was cool to run away..

Fenwarin: It doesn't sound too good so uh lets uh buff up Markus with a mage armor.

Markus: Ah, I'm wearing better armor.

Fenwarin: Ok.

Markus: Or as good armor.

Fenwarin: Is there some sort of action then that helps me like, recover myself?

GM: The damage you took from that requires magical healing and a caster level check of a DC 20 remember?

Fenwarin: Oh yeah, I do, ok.

GM: Yeah. So even if you had something like a potion or whatnot, it wouldn't be effective because it's caster level would be base minimum.

Fenwarin: Uh huh ok. I'm going to put away my crossbow and take out my quarterstaff and basically brace myself then.

GM: Alright. Morana.

Morana: Alright. Well, when they're doing attacks of opportunity is that their bite or their claw?

GM: They seem to have been favoring the bite. 

Morana: Alright hmm.

Taury: Favoring the bite?

Morana: Alright, I'm a gamble something and get crazy with the cheese whiz here. I'm gonna provoke moving down this hallway.

GM: Ok.

Taury: Oh hey!

GM: [Laughs] This is going to be fun.

Taury: Oh, it's gonna chase him and I'm going to die.

GM: Ok,it misses you as you run through its area.

Morana: Alright. Target 7 hit points.

Taury: Ah, sweet, thank you. Definitely heavy breathing.

GM: [Laughing].

Morana: That's 5, 10, 15. I can move. It takes 10 feet to initiate a charge, right?

GM: Yes.

Morana: Alright. In that case, I'm going to stop here.

GM: Ah look at you being tactical.

Morana: I know right. Mage tank in effect.

GM: Ok. Ah Markus.

Markus: Ok. Of all of these which ones are actually taking damage?

GM: Both of them.

Markus: Does one looked more injured than the other?

GM: Oh, yeah. The one further away from you looks more damaged. It seems to be in rougher shape.

Markus: Ok. 5 foot step and try and stab it.

GM: Alright.

Markus: Yeah, no.

GM: No.

Taury: What's funnier is that the last time he did an attack and he didn't have a -2 penalty, he actually rolled lower. 

GM: Uh huh.

Markus: Oh, yeah. I've actually rolled a negative 1 before.

Taury: Uh huh and that's funnier to me. He did really well on this one by comparison [laughing].

GM: Ah, step up and go after Fenwarin. Bite claw claw, bite hits, claw misses, claw hits. 

Fenwarin: Holy hell!

Taury: These are dirty rolls man, just fuckin ah.

GM: Alright, have 7 points of damage graciously.

Fenwarin: Oh!

GM: Gifted to you, and a Will save.

Fenwarin: Will save ok... Oh come on.

GM: Alright. Go ahead and click on sickened, for yourself. 

Fenwarin: Yeah.

Taury: Welcome to the club.

GM: For five minutes for you sir.

Fenwarin: Stop with the rules!

GM: Once again the rage it seethes in all of you except Morana... soon.

Taury: Taury just has extra rage. She's already enraged, that's just bonus rage.

GM: I'm trying to be as fair as possible, I'm not singling anyone of you out, I'm spreading the damage around.

Markus: Yeah, I know.

GM: I'm not being evil. That's right I am not being evil. 

Markus: Yeah.

GM: I am trying to be as judicious as possible.

Taury: I am the benevolent GM, I don't know what you're talking about.

GM: I am the benevolent GM.

Markus: No.

GM: I give you gifts. It's just sometimes those gifts are damage.

Taury: That's true

Markus: We've gone over our heads here, I think in terms of being able to cope with this.

Taury: Honestly I think it's really the missing party member that's kind of fucked us.

Fenwarin: The two yeah.

GM: It does, doesn't help.  Taury it's your turn.

Taury: Okey dokey, so I can cure light wounds again?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Yeah.

GM: If you've got spell slots left that you can cast, yeah.

Taury: Yeah, I'll do that for sure. Ok so that's, that's decent. Yeah, that's not bad I can take that. Alrighty, and then after casting that I just have movement then?

GM: Yes.

Taury: With these square things here, is that those pillars or something that's there?

GM: Those are the jail cells.

Taury: And they're closed?

GM: Yes.

Taury: Ok. So then I might just move to here.

GM: Alright. Hey, Markus.

Markus: Hello. 

GM: This things gonna swing at you now, three times a bite claw claw.

Markus: Yeah. Ok.

GM: Bite will miss, claw hits.

Markus: No, it doesn't.

GM: That's a miss?

Markus: AC18. 

GM: Oh yeah.

Taury: Oh, nice.

GM: So close.

Taury: That clutch.

GM: And second claw misses as well.

Markus: Yeah, Markus is currently weilding shield and dagger. The shield is potentially more effective than the dagger.

Taury: The sickness doesn't have any negatives on that though, does it?

GM: Not on AC.

Taury: Thank fuck. 

GM: [Laughs] Alright. Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Yup. Well, wanted to swing at it with my quarterstaff.

GM: That will hit.

Fenwarin: Good.

GM: 2 points of damage.

Taury: What's the max that that could do or could have done? 

GM: 6. 

Taury: I was just wondering how bad the 2 is or whether the 2 is good?

GM: Morana.

Morana: [Typing]

GM: Ok.

Markus: I'm assuming that's a secret thing then?

GM: Yeah, ah Morana, you stare this thing and the boards it's standing on as it shifts attacking Markus, collapse underneath of it. It falls down... 20 feet.

Taury: Well that's gonna hurt.

GM: Landing on the broken shards of the board... takes 10 damage and expires.

Taury: Nice.

Fenwarin: Hooh!

GM: What would you like to do Morana?

Morana: Well, that's a big hole now, so I'm going to go 10, 15... Are these stairs over here or is that a walkway and I'd have to go all the way around?

GM: Up here, it is a walkway.

Morana: Ok, I can get under it though?

GM: Yeah, you can go underneath of it.

Morana: I have 10, 15, 20, 25, 30. Double moving.

GM: Sure.

Morana: No because that would have been a no, I can only do 1.

GM: Oh, right.

Morana: I'm underneath it.

GM: Yip. Alright that leaves Markus.

Markus: 5 foot step and flanking stab with a dagger.

GM: Alright. A beautiful +2 to hit.

Markus: So 15?

GM: That hits.

Taury: [Laughs] For another 1!

GM: Alright [Laughs] it's turn. It's going to continue to go after Fenwarin.

Fenwarin: Oh man.

Taury: Oh boy.

GM: Bite, claw, claw with the last claw actually landing.

Fenwarin: Uh huh.

Morana: Whoo.

Taury: Oh man.

Fenwarin: Holy shit!

GM: 3 points of damage.

Fenwarin:  I'm down at 1.

Taury: I thought you were going to say you downed. I was like what?

Fenwarin: I'm down to 1.

Taury: Down to 1? 1 is fine! I was down to 1 and I'm on 17 now, look what happens.

GM: Speaking of which, Taury it's your turn.

Taury: Okey dokey. Can I keep moving until I see it, or is that sort of like nada?

GM: Yeah.

Taury:  So I can just keep moving?

Markus: If you stop before the hole, you'll be shooting around the corner but you could still see it and shoot potentially.

Taury: Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm going for and I'm going to try and shoot around the corner at it.

GM: Ok. Yeah, firing into melee is a neg 4.

Taury: Yeah, sure.

GM: And then you have your sickness, which is a neg 2. So neg 6, enjoy.

Morana: Well, the neg 2was on damage.

Taury: Is that even possible or is it not possible?

GM: Yeah because there's a 5% chance

Taury: If it's possible I'll roll, if it's not possible... Like no, but how likely is it because if it's not, I'll do something else.

GM: It's a 5 percent chance.

Taury: Yeah ok, cool. Fuck it. Fuck it! I'll do it anyway.

GM: Ah that misses.

Fenwarin: It was such good damage.

Taury: I know and I can't fucking hit anything with it. [Laughs]. It sickens me. 

GM: Fenwarin. Battle Mage activate.

Fenwarin: Ok. 

Taury: Quiet saving our asses left and right.

Fenwarin: Ah, force missile this bitch in front of me.

GM: Alright yeah. Oh and you do this a number of times of 3 plus your int mod, nice.

Markus: Yeah it doesn't get better as you get more powerful but yeah, it's nice.

GM: Yes. It's just 1 missile but they're free.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: More or less.

Fenwarin: Ooh.

GM: Very nice. Ok, Morana.

Morana: Just double move to here.

GM: Ok.

Morana: It's all I can really do.

GM: Markus.

Markus: Yeah, let's see if the flanking stab will do another point of damage.

Fenwarin: [Laughs].

Markus: No.

Fenwarin: What?!

Taury: Oh that is the saddest roll.

GM: That that is a beautiful 0 to hit. [Laughs].

Taury: That's that's what we were talking about Colin. That's exactly what we were talking about. It happened like 3 times before.

Fenwarin: And it still only just would have been the 1 damage.

GM: Ah yip, its turn. It's gonna turn back towards Markus. See that you're just fanning it and then turn back to Fenwarin, who's actually dealt a damage.

Taury: No [Laughs].

Fenwarin: Oh my God! [Laughs].

Taury: That ego.

Fenwarin: That's your bate [Laughs]. 

Taury: I like to think that it just winks at him like, that was cute.

GM: I like your cool breezes yes thank you. Keep it up.

Taury: Yeah we don't get breezes in the Underdark you know.

Fenwarin: I'm so down.

GM: The monster names your dagger feather because you tickle it. So the bite hits.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: Deals 2 points of damage.

Fenwarin: Yeah I'm down.

GM: That puts you at negative 1, correct?

Fenwarin: Yeah, a negative 1.

GM: Alright. So you fall unconscious, and begin bleeding out. Taury.

Taury: Aha. Alrighty.

GM: You can see that Fenwarin has fallen.

Taury: I can. I can also see a gaping hole in front of me and the creature.

GM: Uh huh. 

Taury: Ok.

Morana: To be fair could she slide a 5 foot step to that corner space? Or would that require a check?

Taury: How big is the hole that you made is probably the question?

GM: It's just that 5 foot spot where the boards collapsed. It doesn't take up like the whole area but do you want to move by it?

Taury: Yeah but if I move there, then I'm in range for his, like fuckin melee attack.

GM: Yeah.

Morana: You have the most hit points.

Taury: I still don't want to get hit with that though.

GM: Your tank has become gun shy.

Taury: No, the tank just thinks that, you know, I don't, [stammers] how much.  Is this the one that's hurt?

Fenwarin: I stood my ground and the tank is going 'no I don't want to.'

Morana: Deer mark 2.

GM: Like how injured does this thing look anyway?

GM: Ah, it looks pretty beat up now.

Taury: Ok, because I wasn't sure which one fell, the one that was really badly injured or the one that was kind of fine.

GM: The one that was really badly injured was the one that fell.

Taury: Yeah, see there we go. Because I'm just wondering if I should move or should I just chance the fucking shot from here. But anyway, I'm reading a thing. Ok, I'm going to light an incendiary arrow.

GM: Alright.

Taury: Which takes a standard action to light it, but it burns for 2 rounds.

GM: Good to know.

Taury: So I'm not going to move.

GM: Fenwarin, I need you to give me a constitution save to stabilize.

Fenwarin: Uh huh.

GM: And not die anymore. So it's a flat Constitution roll, not a Fortitude save, just Constitution. Your DC is 10 plus the amount of negative hit points you are currently at. So right now you're at the best chance in 11. 

Fenwarin: Yeah. 

GM: If you fail, you take another point of damage as you continue to bleed out.

Fenwarin: Ok.

GM: You die, you become dead dead when your negative hit points equal your constitution score.

Fenwarin: I see, ok. I know what's going on.

GM: Alright.

Fenwarin: No.

GM: So you continue to bleed out.

Taury: That ratio minus 2. Oh, fuck. Elves, man, fucking elves! [Laughs].

Fenwarin: Yeah.

GM: Ok Morana, it's now your turn.

Morana: Alright. Would a Heal check provoke?

GM: Yes, I assume you're trying to go over to Fenwarin to do a Heal check on him, to stabilize him.

Morana: Right.

GM: Yep.

Morana: But, there can only be 1AOL per around, right?

GM: Correct. So if you provoke it by moving through the area to get to the other side, you're good. If you stop next to him and provoke from moving in, that's fine.

Morana: Alright, everybody cross fingers here I go.

GM: Ah, there could be more attacks of opportunity if they have the feit Combat Reflexes, then they gain attacks of opportunity equal to 1 plus their decks bonus total per round.

Morana: Right.

Markus: There are also other ways of getting extra ones, like some class features.

Morana: Well, time to, time to roll the dice here.

Taury: I mean, fuck it, he might as well try.

GM: Alright.

Morana: So try the roll.

GM: Miss.

Morana: Nope. 14 to stabilize?

GM: It does not stabilize. You needed a 15.

Taury: Aah haaa.

Fenwarin: Oh.

Morana: Son of a fuck!

GM: You don't make it worse because you don't fail by 5 or more. Good job.

Morana: I don't have that cantrip prepped. Fuck!

Taury: That's kind of where I was at, I didn't prep any of the things that could help.

Markus: I prepped things that could help, which its utterly immune to.

Taury: Well, no, I mean. Help to help Fenwarin, you know, like the healing and the stuff I did, it didn't prep those.

Morana: Yeah, and I'm not strictly a healer, so [Laughs].

Taury: Yeah.

Morana: Um... What's the damage for untrained, unarmed?

GM: Untrained, unarmed? I don't know if there is a difference in damage, it's just the attack that suffers.

Morana: Ok.

Markus: Does it not also do non-lethal?

Morana: I mean either way, if it's dead or if it's knocked out I don't care. So what's the attack penalty though?

GM: Neg 4.

Morana: Hmmm. Brings it to a neg 5 total. I don't even know if I can hit it, even if I roll a 20.

GM: Well.

Markus: No you.

GM: A nat 20 always hits.

Morana: Yeah, true.

GM: So there's always that 5 percent chance.

Morana: Fuck it. We'll try to kick it in the dick.

Taury: Does it have one? I mean, the ish is extensive on that.[Laughs]

GM: They are aberrations... Uh that will just miss.

Morana: Ah fuck, I needed a 19! No! Why! Why am I missing everything by 1?!

Taury: Ah!

GM: [Laughs].

Taury: The salt is, everyone just choking on the salt?

Morana: Stop laughing, you twat!

Markus: No.

GM: [Laughing] I can't help it!

Markus: It's fine, it's all fine.

Taury: Oh the salt, the unbelievable fucking sodium levels in this room right now.

GM: [Laughing] Oh, sorry. I couldn't hold it in any longer. Ah yes. Let me revel in the evil that is your demise and failure. Markus, it's your turn.

Markus: Ah, it's times like this, I really wish we had someone like Adoy in the party.

Taury: Say what?

Markus: A random character that I saw someone use once, Adoy, A d o y.  Small, green, hyperactive, fast, nimble wields a glowing sword.

Taury: It's a goblin?

Markus: Yes. It's also an indirect reference.

Taury: Ok.

Markus: What's it spell backwards?

Taury: I don't know it's late, I'm not...

Markus: Ok [Laughs].

Fenwarin: Ok really? [Laughs]

Taury: I don't... like this is too stressful for this kind of question..

Markus: Yeah, it was someone building kind of that person, but not in Pathfinder? Anyway, sorry my mind is digressing. Um yeah, 5 foot step and cast stabilize on Fenwarin.

GM: Alright. Fenwarin, you are still at negative 2, but you are no longer bleeding out. You no longer need to make stabilization rolls.

Fenwarin: Oh thank you.

GM: It is now the Sinspawn's turn. Hi Morana have some kisses or some hugs.

Taury: Oh, my god!

Fenwarin: What?!

Morana: Yes the bite hit, or the 19 hit.

Taury: Its so many!

GM: Taury.

Taury: Okey doke. So I'm going to fire said incendiary arrow.

GM: Alright.

Taury: It does mean that I have a -1 on attack. Just FYI.

GM: Ok.

Taury: Oh boy. So that's a miss.

GM: Alright, it misses. It hits the wall right above Fenwarin and then bounces down the hallway and lands back in this area here. Fenwarin, you are fine. Good job. Way to be unconscious!

Fenwarin: [Laughs].

Morana: Morana. It's your turn.

Morana: Alright, I'm going to 5 foot step over here and pick up Fenwarin's dagger, or is he the one that had the dagger or was it?

Fenwarin: No.

GM: It's Markus.

Fenwarin: A quarterstaff.

Morana: Alright then I'm thinking of the quarterstaff then?

GM: Yep, yep, yep.

Morana: And I will pick that up so that I am technically threatening melee, and someone can move in for a flank.

GM: Alright.

Fenwarin: I like it.

Morana: That's two moves so I lose my standard so that's it.

GM: Markus, it's back to you.

Markus: Taury seems to be content to shoot arrows at it so...

Taury: I was sort of hoping it would move and then, you know, so that I could shoot at it but it stayed in that corner where I can't fucken hit it, which is really annoying.

Markus: Yes. Step in and try and be ineffectual in melee.

GM: Alright.

Markus: I'm just glad there's a minimum damage roll... No.

GM: Is it possible for you to do more than 1 point?

Taury: I was just about to ask that.

Markus: Not while sickened, no.

Taury: And what's the max when it's not sickened?

Markus: 2.

Taury: Cause that's better! [Laughs] Ok fair enough. Let's just move past that it's fine, let's not focus on it.

GM: Oh, yeah.

Taury: Geez!

Markus: It's a dagger with a minus 2 strength penalty.

Taury: What is it made of, fucking cotton wool or something?!

GM: [Laughs].

Markus: No, that's what my arms are made of!

GM: [Laughs] Oh. Bite, claw, claw, going at Morana. 

Taury: Oh.

GM: All 3 miss.

Fenwarin: [Laughs] It's not a tickle fight yeah.

GM: The dice are recharging their power. Taury, it's your turn.

Taury: Ok so did we decide if I could step around this thingy?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: So, can I step to here?

GM: Sure.

Taury: I don't like the way you said that, but I'm gonna do it. That moved me like up here for some reason.

GM: Uh huh, give me an Acrobatics check.

Taury: Fucking knew he was going to do that. I knew it was coming because there was a long pause. Uh...

Markus: Why did you move there...?

Fenwarin: Sure you can do that. Now, give me 50 bucks.

Taury: I don't have that but, oh fuck! Fuck!

GM: And as you move there and try to find stable footing, the boards continue to crack away from earlier and you fall down on top of the dead sinspawn.

Taury: Great. That's fucking wonderful.

Fenwarin: Oh, shit!

GM: Have 4 points of gravity poisoning.

Taury: What the fuck is that?

GM: Full damage.

Taury: Gravity poisoning?

Morana: Remember, there's no gravity, life just sucks.

Taury: Huh. Alrighty so that just goes under regular damage yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Do I have to make saves to try and get out of the fucking hole?

GM: No, you're just underneath the platform now.

Taury: Yeah but how do I get out of it, just I mean, I have to fucking...?

GM: It's all open underneath.

Taury: Yeah, but to get back up?

Morana: You go around.

Taury: Or it's not a big?

GM: Yeah you just walk around to the other side over here.

Taury: Ok. 

GM: Yeah. So that was 5 feet of your movement, feel free to continue.

Taury: So what do you mean when you say I can like, I'm under the thing because that's a 20 foot drop no? 

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Oh, so I am in fact, underneath this and I have to then go to the stairs, is that what you're saying?

GM: Yeah, yeah,

Taury: Alrighty.

GM: You're under the platform, you just got to walk out.

Taury: I don't know if I liked the arrows or not, I felt like that was harsh but ok. So we got 5... 5,5, that gets me to about there, and do I have to go up? What was the... Yeah, sure cool.

Markus: And then if you want to take your second move action to go round, you can get partway up with the stairs.

Taury: Can I do that still yeah?

GM: Sure.

Taury: Ok.

GM: I'm in a helpful mood. Sure.

Taury: Ah yeah, I fucken, I don't like that, I don't like that one bit.

GM: Do you not trust me?

Taury: Not one bit, at all. But don't take that as an insult.

Morana: I refuse to answer as a biased observer.

Taury: As a biased absorber observer?

GM: Absorber [laughs].

Taury: Yeah, I'm tired dude.

Morana: I said what I said.

Taury: It's fucking hot here man! Anyway, was that full movement there, or do I have 5 or 10 more? Because...

GM: We'll put you there and call it good. Alright. Morana. It's your turn.

Morana: Alright with the +2 from flanking I actually have an attack bonus with the quarterstaff so...

GM: That hits.

Morana: How's the damage with a quarterstaff again.

Fenwarin: 1D6

GM: D6.

Fenwarin: Yep.

GM: Plus your strength, if you've got it or, if it's a negative on your strength, it's minus.

Morana: Yeah it's it's a negative. Bonk!

Taury: Those 1 damages, they're all going to add up [laughs].

GM: Ok. Markus show him the power of feather!

Fenwarin: [Laughs] tickle it.

Taury: [Laughs]. This feather like glow blue when  there are orcs near?

Markus: Yeah. No.

Taury: Ah and you got that 2 damage this time, you just didn't get the hit.

Markus: Fun fact. That 2 damage is actually 1 because I'm sickened. Can I do 5 foot step?

GM: You may.

Markus: Ah ok.

GM: So the sinspawn is going to attack Morana again, because Morana is the actual threat. Bite, claw, claw, does the 17 hit you?

Morana: Yeah.

GM: Alright. You finally have been bitten. Yeah. 4 points of damage and I need a Will save, let's see if you can make the save that no one else has.

Morana: [typing]

GM: Nat 20!

Taury: Nice!

Fenwarin: Whoa!

Morana: Headed for the win!

GM: I don't know if you're just too calm and focused from fighting this thing, that it doesn't affect you or that you can't get any angrier at it?

Taury: Yeah.

Morana: Yeah flip a coin.

GM: Either way you're unaffected, Taury.

Taury: Okey dokey. No wait, I go there and I'm gonna shoot at it because I have an incendiary arrow still surely, yeah? Because I wouldn't have lit one I would have lit two is the kind of... that was the genuinely the assumption that I had cause they only burn for 2 rounds.

GM: Alright.

Taury: Yeah? 

Markus: Go for it.

GM: Fire fire your incendiary.

Taury: [Laughs]. I like that he says that. Like, it's whatever.

GM: That'll miss. A fiery bolt flies over his shoulder right by your face Morana, it hits the wall behind you and ricochets off into the the room with the statue.

Morana: Morana just gives a look that says 'really?'

Taury: Can I drop my bow at the end of the turn?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Or do I have, yeah cause I'm gonna do that to take out my scythe?

GM: Alright. Morana, it's now your turn.

Morana: Ag, I might as well just try to swing at it... No, I had a feeling.

GM: Markus.

Markus: [typing] Yeah, that's about right.

Taury: That is shocking, truly shocking [laughing]. 

GM: Yip.

Fenwarin: Yeah.

Markus: Alright. I have more spells, but they're not going to be useful against something that's immune to mind affecting things.

Taury: What we're saying, if this monster is a fucking dick! That's what we're saying.

Fenwarin: That's the least we could say.

GM: Morana.

Morana: Yeah, I'm probably going down!

GM: Claw.

Taury: Oh, boy.

Morana: I'm definitely going down!

Taury: Oh Jesus, fuck this thing! And it's fucken 20s, 18s and 19s.

GM: Yeah.

Fenwarin: Did all of those hit?

GM: 2 of them did. 

Morana: 2 of em, 

Fenwarin: Oh shit.

Morana: Yup, still enough to put me down.

GM: Are you at 0 exactly?

Morana: No I'm at negative 1.

GM: Ok, Taury it's your turn.

Fenwarin: Please go in and smash him to bits!

Taury: I will, unless it kills me before I get to do that. Ok, so can I move like say, 5 foot forward, attack 5 foot back?

GM: No. 

Morana: No, you just move and you stay there and you attack?

GM: Yup.

Taury: Cool.

GM: There is a feat that lets you do that.

Taury: Uh huh, okey dokey. Does it matter what way I approach it depending on what way it's facing?

GM: Nope.

Taury: Because I don't get flank or nothing?

GM: Nope.

Markus: Not yet.

Taury: Yeah.

Morana: Not anymore.

Taury: Yeah. Well, you fucking moved too soon! I was getting there and then I fell down the hole that you made! [Laughs] Oh, well anyways alrighty so what is the range on my side again I've forgotten?

GM: It is 5 foot. It's not a reach.

Taury: It's 5 foot yeah. I literally have to get right beside it.

GM: Yup.

Taury: Fuck it. Fuck it. Fuck it. I'm going to move in and take a swing at it and let's hope I crit because if I don't, I'm taking 3 claws to the face! Oh boy.

GM: Huh... Morana, go ahead and give me a Constitution save to stop dying... You're stable at neg 1. Well done!

Taury: Nice.

GM: Markus.

Markus: 5 foot step, not step. Yeah, law of averages says I have to roll above a 10 at some point.

GM: Sinspawn is finally going to attack you again Markus. It's been a while.

Markus: Yeah.

GM: Bite, nat 1 claw nerr.

Taury: Oh.

Fenwarin: Oh, my god.

GM: Both the claws say hello. Have 5 points of beautiful damage.

Taury: Oh, my days!

Markus: I'm fine!

Taury: Well, look, at least if we have to roll new characters, we could have some tanks.

GM: Taury.

Markus: Yes.

Fenwarin: Why, unlike you? [laughs]

Taury: I'm still alive, with 13 HP.

GM: Um, depending on the tactical situation and decisions as battle happens, your lineup isn't too bad.

Taury: I'm just saying.

GM: Especially if the controllers get to control.

Markus: Yeah, and it'll get better once we've got a few more levels and we've got like the, start getting more and more spell effects available to us.

Fenwarin: And the full party.

GM: Yeah, the insanity of when combat happens and everything goes sideways. That's the problem you're facing right now. So Taury, it's your turn.

Taury: Uh huh. Can I move into flank here?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Ok, just I'm double checking before I do it because the last time remember and I had an opportunity to do it and I didn't know it and I forgot. So what does that get some pluses or something?

GM: +2 to attack.

Taury: +2 to a 12?

GM: That hits.

Taury: Fuck yes, it's unfortunate because that's the lowest damage I've rolled so far, but it's the only 1 that's hit, it's so annoying. Because I rolled a 9 before and it missed and I'm like fuck.

GM: That kills it.

Taury: Fuck yes!

Fenwarin: Finally. Oh, my god.

Taury: Wow. Well, the thing is, at least like his dagger might be shit, but it's a melee weapon and that's what meant I could flank so.

Markus: That's part of the reason Markus has it [laughs].

Taury: Yeah, that's pretty dope.

GM: You have survived battle. Two of you are unconscious.

Taury: "Survived" in quotations.

GM: No one died. They're just out, they need healing but they can recover, it's not terrible [laughs]. So, the two of you that are still remaining, what would you like to do?

Taury: Ah, I have to like concentrate in order to prepare one of these spells yeah?

GM: Yeah, you would need a nights rest. Eight hours rest to re-prepare spells.

Taury: Ok. Yeah so I can't do anything, really. Can I? Like, what do Heal checks do?

GM: If you do a Heal check on them, if you're trained in it and you get a 15 or better, you can stabilize them. If you get a 20 or better, you can restore 1D4 hit points, plus your wisdom modifier to them.

Taury: Ok.

GM:  With an additional +1 for every 5 above the DC.

Taury: And trained just means I have a point in it, basically?

GM: Right. However, doing the check to restore HP to them is called Surgery or Treat deadly wounds.

Taury: And I could injure them more?

GM: It's possible, if you fail that you could injure them more, and it also takes an hour to do.

Taury: And what would, the Heal check would stabilize?

GM: They're already stable. Both of them.

Taury: There are already stable so there's no point to do that.

Markus: If they weren't I have it as a cantrip memorized, so.

Taury: Yeah, I have it too but its not prepared. Sucks, anyway.

Markus: I can get one of these two up of yeah, in the circumstances tactical choice, it's got to be Morana. Oh dear [laughs] yeah have, a whole 2 points of healing.

Taury: I mean.

GM: That will put you at 1 HP, you are now conscious Morana.

Taury: It's better than nothing.

GM: Yip.

Taury: True, but no one is officially dead, so it could have gone worse. It definitely could've gone worse.

GM: Alright. Morana, you're awake. The sinspawn next to you is dead.

Morana: "You finally, we're able to deal with that."

Markus: "Yeah, thanks for whatever it was you did in the fight."

Morana: "I was just trying to block it."

Markus: "Taury killed it. I don't suppose you have more healing spells prepared?"

Morana: "No, I've used everything I had."

Markus: "Yeah, I hoped but, well I suppose we can carry Fenwarin up for assistance?"

Morana: "I see no other choice."

Taury: And Taury is going to reach over and pick him up when you say that, considering she's the biggest heftiest,

Markus: Ok.

Taury: he's going over the shoulder.

Markus: "How are you doing Taury?"

Taury: She's just heavily panting. She doesn't say anything.

Markus: "Well, I think it's time we beat a withdrawal for now, there might be more things down here."

Morana: "That seems like the only option we have."

Markus: "Ok. Well, nobody's saying otherwise. So."

Morana: Morana is already walking towards the stairs.

Markus: Yeah, Markus starts heading that way.

Taury: Yeah, Taury is following you, but she's probably slower because she is carrying Fenwarin and being bled all over.

Markus: He's stable so he shouldn't be bleeding.

Taury: Yeah, but there's blood right?

GM: Oh yeah there's a lot of blood.

Taury: Yeah, that's what I mean and now she's covered in it.

Markus: What you weren't before?

GM: Yes, all of you are covered in blood.

Markus: Yes, so we retrace our steps back to the surface then I guess?

Morana: Yip. 

Taury: Ah hum.

GM: Alright. Upon reaching the surface you see Mr. Quink standing there reading a book, seeing you come up. "Oh, you've returned? Ah, sooner than expected."

Morana: "Don't go down there."

GM: "Oh, how was it? You look a little worse for wear."

Taury: "Regarding price, we will be needing bonus."

GM: "Bonus?"

Taury: "Yes, assurances for injuries."

GM: "Hmmm..."

Taury: And she stares him down. Like staring at him.

Markus: "Can we discuss that when we're not all bleeding?"

Taury: "I thought perhaps it would emphasize our point."

Morana: "I would think that bringing someone out unconscious would emphasize it enough. We can talk about that later. Let's get him some help."

GM: "Oh, oh my! Yes. Just head down the road to the chapel, Father Zantus will be sure to see you quickly I'm sure, at least one of the clergy will. And then once you're able, make haste back and give me a full report, please!"

Markus: "Yes, I suggest at least until, well, until we're in better shape to go back down or someone else wants to, you seal it up just to be safe?"

Taury: Taury has already walked off with Fenwarin towards Father Zantus.

GM: "Seal it up? It's that bad?"

Markus: "There are creatures down there that shouldn't get out."

GM: "Hmm." He kind of kicks the hatch, it slams closed behind you.

Markus: "Maybe put some rocks on it so it can't readily be opened?"

GM: He sets his book down on the ground and walks over and tries to pick up a large rock.

Markus: Given Taury's walked off Markus will try and help.

Taury: I mean, she's prioritizing. He's like injured [laughs].

Markus: Yes. Markus is not disagreeing with the priority choice um, but because we don't have our big strong person.

GM: He is straining to pick up this rock, it's moderately sized, maybe 40 pounds. He's struggling, he's not even really lifting it he's like sliding it over towards the hatch.

Markus: Yeah, I will do what I can to help.

GM: Alright. Roll a Strength check.

Markus: This is going to go badly.

GM: Alright. The three of you together manage to pick this rock up a couple feet. You're still all straining, you're lifting with your backs, you're doing it all wrong but you get it over and you set it on top of the trapdoor hatch. He's panting, you're all worse for wear already as it is. "Ah! That'll do it I think. ohhh!" as he puts his hands on his back and stretches backwards "Oh ah not as young as I used to be."

Markus: "Yes. I can't speak for the others, but I would very much like to find out what else is down there but, we need to be better prepared for those creatures."

GM: "Hmm, well, I'll take your word for it for now, but do hurry back and get me a full report when you're able. I'll have your payment ready then."

Morana: Morana is going to look for a guard.

GM: Ok. The garrison is about the same distance away as the cathedral is, just off another angle.

Morana: She's going to try and find one that's either off duty or maybe the one in charge of assignments.

GM: Ok. You walk into the garrison, there's a few of them there playing cards.

Morana: I'm sure she's quite a site, you know, oozing blood from various wounds.

GM: One of them looks up at you."Oh, has there a murder?!"

Morana: "No, we need someone, or at least some kind of detail, over at The Old Light."

GM: "What?" 

Morana: "We were assigned to go look at some ruins underneath The Old Light. There are creatures there that you do not want roaming the town. As you can tell by the state of me."

GM: They look at each other. Look at you, look at each other, do a quick rock paper scissors. One of them gets up from the table, "So alright I'll head over, is anybody over there right now that I can talk to?"

Morana: "Quink should still be over there."

GM: "That loon oh, this will go well." 

Morana: "We just need someone to watch the exit to the ruins to make sure nothing comes out. We're going to be going back down there once we are at full capacity once again."

GM: "Why not just seal it up as ...?" He's grumbling as he grabs his equipment not looking at you while you're telling him all this.

Morana: She will be satisfied with that and go to the chapel.

GM: Alright. He's maybe a pace or two behind you as you leave, going separate ways. He's off towards The Old Light, you're off to meet Father Zantus. Taury you're the first to arrive at the cathedral where one of the acolytes meets you.

Taury: What specifically are the acolytes again? They're just priests or are they?

GM: They are priests in training, nuns, that sort of thing.

Taury: What just would like would they be helpful in... 

GM: Oh yeah.

Taury: ...aiding him or would I specifically need Father Zantus? Is the question I'm asking.

GM: They can cast healing spells as well, they're just not as high a level as he is. He's the senior clergy member, more or less.

Taury: Yeah cool. "Father Zantus, I require a Father Zantus, this man is injured."

GM: "Oh! Oh, my. They cast a Cure light wounds immediately on Fenwarin. Have 9 hit points back Fenwarin.

Taury: Not bad.

GM: While this one's administering aid to you. Another one runs off to go get Father Zantus. Fenwarin, you wake up, you're in the cathedral being tended to as Father Zantus is rushing up with a couple of their acolytes. 

Fenwarin: "Uhh ooh..."

GM: "Oh, my dear, what what has happened to you all look in a dreadful state?" 

Fenwarin: "Uh..."

Taury: "I would rather not talk about it."

Fenwarin: "The old ruins, uh."

GM: "Ruins outside... It's been merely four hours or so since we last saw each other. It's not enough time to go off into the Hinterlands for ruin exploration and make it back. You didn't fight the Sandpoint Devil, did you?"

Fenwarin: "No, no Old Light, Old Light."

Taury: "Not yet."

GM: "Not yet? That's bold words lass."

Taury: She just smirks at him when he says that.

GM: Have another 13 back Fenwarin. And and he nat 20s his check so you are at full health.

Taury: "Might I also request some healing hands myself?"

GM: "Certainly", he gestures at one of the acolytes to give you a Cure light wounds, they give you a couple.

Taury: I presume that's full health yeah?

GM: Yeah.

Taury: Sweet. 

GM: "[Mumbles] I don't even know what to... Ah wah... Where are the others?"

Taury: "Back at The Old Light."

GM: "The Old Light?"

Taury: "Yes."

GM:  Markus you walk in about now.

Markus: "Ah, Fenwarin's awake I see."

GM: He snaps his fingers and points at Markus, a couple of acolytes rush over and both of them do a Cure light wounds near simultaneously.

Markus: "Ah, thank you."

GM: Father Zantus is counting heads, "There's still one missing at least, where where is the shorter fellow?" He whispers, "The rat one?"

Markus: "I believe he's off seeking his fortune elsewhere."

GM: "Oh."

Taury: "Rats are known to travel, sewers and whatnot."

GM: "May Desna guide his path?"

Morana: "Oh sure, HE's the only one missing."

GM: Morana, you walk in about now, well, Father Zantus is praying a prayer for safe travels for Deadeye.

Morana: Morana Looks at the others and says, "I've arranged for a guard to be posted at the exit."

Taury: "I'm sure they are only delighted to help."

Morana: "Oh, of course."

Markus: "Thank you, Morana. Good thinking."

GM: Have some healing Morana.

Taury: "Right well, we should head back, do more, round two I suggest."

Morana: "I suggest waiting until tomorrow."

Taury: "Why are you tired?" She's joking.

Morana: "Would you..." Morana just tilts her head and says. "Would you like to be healed the next time you get blitzed in the face?"

Taury: "Ah, we have plenty of healing here. We could take our old friend Father Zantus with us, is that right?" And she pats him on the back condescendingly.

GM: He looks both shocked and confused.

Taury: [Laughs].

Morana: That's that's an achievement right there.

Markus: "I suspect the Father has other obligations?"

GM: "Yes I do, thank you though for the kind offer to join you heroes in your heroing, but I am no hero."

Morana: Morana mutters something to herself.

Taury: "Well know that you're welcome to join us any time." And she winks at him.

GM: "Yes, thank you. Now is there any further business you have or?"

Morana: "Hmm, I'm finished here." Morana leaves.

GM: He bows to you, a half bow, and then goes back to his duties as many of the other acolytes do.

Markus: Yeah, Markus will thank him and the acolytes that actually healed him.

Taury: "What do you know of The Old Light Zantus?"

GM: "Hmm? Oh." He turns back around. "Said to be some ancient lighthouse like tower of something for the ships coming to port in the area, or some such."

Taury: "Do you know of any tunnels underneath it?"

GM: "Tunnels? No."

Taury: "No, I thought not. Alright, good evening." And she's just gonna leave.

Morana: Morana is still muttering to herself as she walks out the door.

GM: "Hmm, stay safe."

Fenwarin: Yeah, I thank Father Zantus and Desna before I leave.

Markus: Markus will go to one of the shrines and pray before he leaves.

GM: Alright. Are you going to designate which one specifically or will any of them do?

Markus: Is anyone still around?

GM: Out of your group or of acolytes and whatnot? 

Markus: Out of the group.

Taury: I'm probably outside the place.

Morana: Morana is long gone.

Fenwarin: I just went out yeah so.

GM: Alright. Sounds like you're alone.

Markus: Yeah ok, in which case, I'll keep that back for now then. 

GM: Alright.

Fenwarin: I'm assuming it should be obvious from looking at my sheet which one?

GM: Ah yes but, not everyone has access to your sheet right? Wink, wink.

Markus: What I was alluding to is obviously Father Zantus and the acolytes will know which shrine it was he prayed at?

GM: Yes. Which is fine. Alright, you go back to The Rusty Dragon or your own home, depending. And rest up for the rest of the day. Those of you that might still be down a couple hit points or so, natural healing occurs every night's rest. And that is, you gain hit points equal to your level, plus your constitution bonus, never less than 1. So if you've got a negative in your constitution modifier, you still get back at least 1.

Markus: Ok so I'm not quite going to be on full health.

GM: Alright. Later in the evening, Aldern comes by with a large bore. He hands it off to Ameiko to prepare for the hero's feast as he calls it.

Taury: I like that. 

GM: And then any leftovers are open for the rest of the public and for Ameiko to do with as she will, but the choicest meats, should be given to the heroes table. Aldern will join you for dinner and try to feed Taury a couple times.

Taury: Yeah, he's not going to [laughs].

GM: But he ensures that you all eat very well tonight and does provide pleasant if not, somewhat annoying company.

Taury: Pleasant for everyone except Taury.

GM: No, he's still nice. He's just...

Taury: Ah he's not nice, he's force feeding her food.

GM: [Laughs].

Taury: I mean I want her to bite his finger, but I'm like, she wouldn't but she wants to but she wouldn't.

Morana: Morana is eating, but also writing at the same time.

GM: Alright. As you turn in for bed that evening, not much happens the rest the day, is kind of the point of this as you intend to rest up to go back the next day.

 	That's all the time we have for now. To learn more about the show, the cast, etc. head over to http://wayward-expeditions.com/ .