The Tomb of the Lizard King

[hedgeknight]

Needless to say, the group is a bit shocked and nervous about how Bronn just dropped dead in front of them. No one volunteers to really get too close to him or the poisoned chests. While Cassius wonders aloud about Bronn returning as an undead creature, Sai convinces Fahima to check the contents of the chests for traps. Roan steps back, not daring to get too close, as the rogue examines the chests without touching them. She is confident to say there are no further traps on the big chest of coins, nor on the chest with the gold trimmed case. As for the other small chest...well...she's not sure.
While she's checking, Lt. Dan says to Cassius, pointing at Bronn, "I guess you plan on keeping his sword, eh?"

Meanwhile, Zan stands guard at the door in the vestibule, watching the hallway. As he stifles a yawn, he nearly chokes as he sees a creature emerge from the shadows and into the hallway.

Grzzlat.png (87.52 KiB) Viewed 184 times

The creature looks like some odd type of vulture. It glances around the walls, spying the acolyte tied up on the floor. The acolyte begins screeching in fear, calling out for help. This seems to enrage the beast and it quickly approaches the acolyte and rakes its claws across the young man's face, shredding his cheek and ear! The acolyte howls in agony, but this only seems to enrage the beast even more!

[Rex]

Fahima

On hearing the screeching, "What the Hades is that?"

She draws her scimitar.

[gurusql]

Zan

Zan seeing the extreme creature will cast Color Spray holding to stun the creature or worse.

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

"For now at least." He responds to Lt. Dan and then draws the blade when the screaming starts.

Cassius runs to the doorway, prepared to see more carnage.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan moves out to where the creature and acolyte are and pulls out his crossbow and loads a +1 bolt into it and fires at the creature. "What tha bloody hell is that frickin thin?" deciding to ask questions and attack at the same time.

Light Crossbow (Quarrel +1) Init [1d10]=5, To Hit [1d20]=10, dmg [1d4+1]=3+1=4
Init [1d10]=7

[hedgeknight]

Zan seeing the extreme creature will cast Color Spray holding to stun the creature or worse.

The range on this spell is 0. Zan will have to move a lot closer to cast it

Here is a quick layout:
C - Cassius
F - Fahima
R - Roan
Z - Zan
x - Acolyte
V - Vrock
Sai's player is firefighting in NC and so I will move him into the fray, should it come to that. Gormundel and Lt. Dan are not in play yet. Both doors are open allowing viewing into the hallway.

[Rex]

Fahima

Fahima will move to the door Zan is in. If she goes through or not will depend on Zan's action.

[gurusql]

Zan

I got the impression the Vrock was a lot closer.

Zan will fire a sling bullet at the Vrock hoping to lead some room for others to get by.

Sling: [1d20]=19 Dmg: S/M [1d4+1]=4+1=5 L [1d6+1]=4+1=5

[hedgeknight]

Zan
I got the impression the Vrock was a lot closer.

Maybe Zan was a lot closer? If he was in the vestibule (just past the secret door), then he could have stepped up and cast Color Spray. I'm good with either action.

[gurusql]

I am happy with the Sling, Zan is not going to charge towards it

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

"Good gods, what is that?!" The Archer would rather fight it at a distance, or at least not in a cramped hallway. Cassius stows his blade and readies his bow, firing at the creature.

Initiative: [1d10]=7
Longbow (17): [1d20+3]=19+3=22
Longbow damage: [1d8+6]=6+6=12

[gurusql]

Forgot Zan's Initiative

Initiative: [1d10]=9

[Rex]

Fahima

Seeing everyone go to missile weapons Fahima move even with Zan and Cassius and if she can still attack she uses her staff-sling.

Initiative [1d10]=2

Staff-Sling Bullet [1d20+5]=1+5=6 to hit [1d6+1]=4+1=5 large damage
Natural 1
Staff-Sling Bullet [1d20+5]=2+5=7 to hit [1d6+1]=2+1=3 large damage
Natural 2, seriously bad rolling.

I just confirmed, in 2E the sling gets 1 attack a round and the staff-sling gets 2/1.

[hedgeknight]

That's a Big Chicken!
Initiative Order: Fahima (2), Roan (5), Sai (6), Cassius (7), Zan (9)

In the temple of the lizard king, the companions come face to face with a foe unlike anything they have encountered...and are about to find out they are seriously out of their league, because...
"This foe is beyond any of you!" Gormundel shouts, finally laying eyes on the demon in the hallway. Undeterred, the companions from Port Torvin attack!

Fahima loads a sling bullet in the leather strap on her staff and whips it toward the creature...but as if cursed with bad luck from the demon's glare, the leather strap snaps, sending the bullet zinging past Zan's head, close enough to part his hair!
"What tha bloody hell is that frickin thin?" Roan asks, taking aim with his crossbow and sending a bolt toward the Vrock...missing it easily.
Sai steps into view of the beast, and just as quickly, sends two magical missiles of energy streaking toward it. The missiles burst against the Vrock's chest and it hisses in anger.
Seeing the foe, Cassius unslings his longbow and fires an arrow directly at the Vrock's head. The arrow flies true...and shatters when it touches the beast, leaving not a mark.
Like the Halfling, Zan whips a sling bullet at the demon and like others, the bullet flies true...and bounces off its hide.

Suddenly, the Vrock shimmers and disappears...only to reappear in the midst of the companions! Falling back, they look up at it towering over them, standing 8' tall, the tips of its wings and head scratching the ceiling! The abysmal stench rolls off it and it appears to be a cross between a large human and a vulture, with strong, sinewy limbs covered with fine gray feathers. It seems to be holding a scrollcase in one of its talons.

Vrock.gif (217.21 KiB) Viewed 120 times

"Foolish mortals," it hisses in a raspy thin voice as the air is suddenly filled with stinging spores! The spores emerge from the body of the Vrock in a cloud, lighting upon the companions, implanting into their flesh! (4 pts damage to everyone) To their horror, wherever the spores touched flesh, stringy vines emerge and begin to grow!
"Where is the Patriarch?" the Vrock screeches.

You guys are deep shit.
Give some time and think about what you are going to do.


Rolls:
Sai initiative: [1d10]=6
Magic Missile: [2d4+2]=7+2=9
Vrock MR: [1d100]=7
Spores: [1d8]=4

[hedgeknight]

TotLK Vrock.jpg (226.08 KiB) Viewed 118 times

[Monsieur Rose]

Cassius

He whirls to face the demon, scratching at the vines and attempting to remove them. "The Patriarch is dead. I killed him, so whatever hold he had over you is gone. You are free to return to your plane."

Cassius stows his bow and continues de-weeding himself while standing his ground. He motions for the others to back away.

[Rex]

Fahima

Slips a magic bullet into her sling as Cassius starts talking.

[GreyWolfVT]

Roan sighs and puts away his bow and grabs both of his maces. He stands ready but listening and alert.

[gurusql]

Zan

Zan being a hand-to hand guy will back away (to the secret door) from the creature.

[hedgeknight]

"Foolish mortals," it hisses in a raspy thin voice as the air is suddenly filled with stinging spores! The spores emerge from the body of the Vrock in a cloud, lighting upon the companions, implanting into their flesh! (4 pts damage to everyone) To their horror, wherever the spores touched flesh, stringy vines emerge and begin to grow!
"Where is the Patriarch?" the Vrock screeches.

Gormundel can't find the words to answer and Lt. Dan is literally shaking in fear. He could soil himself at any...oh, he just did.
And the vines continue to sprout from your flesh, causing pain as they threaten to spread over your bodies. (2 damage)
As others prepare for battle, it is no surprise to hear Cassius answer the Vrock's question.
"The Patriarch is dead. I killed him, so whatever hold he had over you is gone. You are free to return to your plane."

The Vrock turns its hairless head and deep black eyes on Cassius. "Dead?" it croaks. "Is that so? Then what about my reward for this?!?" It holds the scrollcase in front of Cassius' face.
"Wh-what were you pr-promised?" Gormundel finally manages to stammer.

"Blood and flesh. Flesh and blood! And I was about to enjoy some when you foolish mortals attacked me. Your weapons are useless against me, don't you know?" the Vrock mocks and chuckles. "I could kill you all easily...but there is no sport in that. My spores will do the trick soon enough."

As the spores begin to spread, you're quickly coming to the conclusion the demon is correct. If you don't somehow stop them, the spores will kill you!

Stats:
Cassius - AC -1/3, HP 17/39
Fahima - AC 4/8, HP 20/29
Roan - AC 5/6, HP 34/49
Sai - AC -2/4, HP 21/30
Zan - AC 9, HP 9/15
Gormundel - down 6
Lt. Dan - down 6

Rolls:
Spore dmg: [1d2]=2