Another Step Beyond (Inactive)

Game Master MaUC

Tai raises a hand at Jaazkara and looks at the specter.

"You do not seem hostile. What are you trying to accomplish?"

The metallic specter stares at Tai Leng for a moment. The single red glow in its "head" turns white for a second.

It replies in a language you never heard, spoken with a grave, unnaturally flat voice, free of any inflections or humanity. Then the specter disappears...

But this time, silence doesn't reign. You hear a sharp, angry voice speaking so fast you struggle a bit to understand.

"Stupid mammals! Get out! You ruin everything!" a tiny reptilian creature shouts from the second floor of a ruined house. "Getout!!!Getout!!!Getout!!!"

Jaazkara bows to the monk's wisdom, and stays her hand. When the kobold yells from the ruined house, she tilts her head, thinking for a moment.
Jaazkara then stows her weapon and raises her hands in sign of peace.

And I'll make a Perception check as I'm going to see if I notice any badly hidden ambushes or the like
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Calm down, cousin; Jaazkara no wish to 'haert you. Can you tell what happen here? Will you speak to Jaazkara?"

As she speaks she walks slowly, and tries to fill her voice with genuine benevolence.

So...I guess I should roll Diplomacy?
Diplomacy!?!!: 1d20 ⇒ 20

She tries so HARD

You constantly get a passive Perception check... You don't need to roll it unless you're actively searching the area and/or unable to Take 10 for whatever reason.

"You! Why are you walking with mammals?! Don't you know they are trouble? This is the third time I've been attacked by spirits because some furry freak decided to show up uninvited!" The kobold nags angrily, waving his arms around. "And I haven't been here for even two full moons!!!"

He kicks a pebble in the group's general direction, but it falls short. Very short. Barely covering half the distance before stopping completely... It doesn't seem like the kobold was trying to actually hit anyone, just venting frustration and trying to make a point.

Jaazkara maintains her non-threatening demeanor as she continues her approach. She thinks a moment, then speaks confidently.

"Be at peace, little cousin; 'dese warmbloods are...different. 'Dey have shown 'demselves to be. 'Dey not harm Jaazkara, and we no harm you, yes? Come, talk wid' us. Jaazkara share her food, and wine. And maybe we talk about 'dis place? Or 'dee o'dders you say come before us...?"

The lizardwoman displays uncharacteristic tact when she speaks to the little kobold, seeming sincere. She shrugs her pack to her side and rummages for her wineskin and some travel foods. She thinks to herself as she gathers the makings of a small but filling meal.

"I really hope he talks to us; I don't want the others to think there's reason to hurt him."

Here we think in italics, sir.

"I'm not your cousin, lady! And they certainly aren't either! I don't even know who you are!" the kobold speaks with conviction "And drop the tone! You may be bigger than me, but you aren't better than me! If you wanna talk, talk! But do it quickly! Before your ape-friends cause even more trouble!"

The kobold doesn't approach your group, but doesn't leave or hide either. He remains atop the half-ruined house, pacing impatiently from one side to another without taking his eyes off you.

"Apologies for the inconvenience. I will think twice before not allowing a fellow sentient creature to be roasted alive by a pseudo-undead creature in the future." Leng says, bowing deeply to the irate kobold.

"That thing wouldn't be roasting anyone if you hadn't disturbed it, mammal." the kobold replies quickly. "Nothing happens when I'm alone. It's only when your tailless ass shows up that the spirits get angry!"

"What're you doing here anyways?" Cyrus asks while looking around for anymore potential threats.

"Living. Working. Minding my own business... What are you doing here?" the kobold answers in quickly spoken words. "Other than angering the spirits, that is!"

"Living. Working. Alas, our work requires that we make others' business our own, and so we are here."

"Bah! Your kind's insane! Instead of digging a nice den in the ground, you take a thousand thousand stones an' pile them into your bizarre open-air den! Twice the work for half the protection" And then you don't even stay there! No... You have to come out an' bother everyone else!" the kobold's voice is obviously annoyed and impatient, but not really hostile. "If you really want to stick your nose where it don't belong, why doncha go down the well? You already disturbed every other spirit around... Why not also annoy the only one that don't care 'bout your furry faces?"

"Well! Maybe we will!"

"What lives down the well? Or un-lives, as the case may be."

"Have too much fur in your ears? I just told you! It's a spirit!" the kobold groans impatiently. "Bigger an' stronger than every other one around... Saw it kill dozen birds with a lightning an' drag them down the well once. More active too! It don't wait for you furries like the others!" The kobold gives you a mischievous smile. "I stay away from the well so it don't try to eat me, but if you're so happy to intrude, it's all yours! I'm sure you can climb down the rope."

The kobold doesn't miss a beat.

"Why hesitate? Afraid you'll get eaten by the big bad spirit? Don't feel bad... You won't be the first! Or the second!" he sneers. "I can lend you a lamp, if you want... Not that you'll need it to find the spirit, but at least you get to see the floor under your feet... That way you know where to run when you see the spark!"

Jaazkara is taken aback by the kobold's response, but is undeterred.

"Jaazkara not t'ink she bet'ter, scaly one. Jaazkara speak kind to not offend. Jaazkara only wanted to talk."

"Well... We are takin' aren't we? What do you want, anyway? What you looking for?"

"Well, indeed. Perhaps we SHOULD go check it out. It may give us more an idea of what the history of this place was."

Leng goes to check it out.

Jaazkara watches the monk as he goes, and speaks to the kobold.

"You t'ink people make 'dee spirits here res'less; why? Do d'ey not appear when you are here alone? And why you say spirit in well not care about us?"

Sorry for the delay.

"Well, indeed. Perhaps we SHOULD go check it out. It may give us more an idea of what the history of this place was."

"You t'ink people make 'dee spirits here res'less; why? Do d'ey not appear when you are here alone? And why you say spirit in well not care about us?"

"Those spirits you woke only get angry when the city apes show up! They don't mind animals or noble reptilians like us... Well, except for the one down the well. That one will go after anything that gets too close. It's different from the others. Bigger. Angrier. With more tentacles."

Leng goes to check it out.

The well is oddly well-preserved, despite its age, but doesn't look magical in and of itself, just well-built.

Tai Leng cautiously approaches it... From as far as 30 ft from it, he can already feel the surge of static electricity in the air... A few steps more and the monk senses a faint but discernible aura of hostility, directed at nothing and everything. When he reaches it, he can feel steam and hot air rising from the well.

A quick look reveals it's about 120 ft deep... At its bottom rests a larger underground chamber, with water rising no more than a few inches above the stony ground, which is littered with a few animal skeletons (all completely clean of any flesh) and a few silvery glittering dots, possibly coins. The water itself is very still, but doesn't look stagnant.

Surely the kobold is mistaken and there's nothing dangerous down there.

Leng goes to descend, but looks back and realizes nobody has followed him.

"What's the matter?"

"Right behind you." Cyrus gestures down into the dark dank hole.

Tai Leng once again reveals his uncanny ability to spontaneously turn into a dragon. XD

Carefully, you climb down the well, using its rope to compensate for the extra difficulty imposed for the oddly smooth stone work. You feel nearly all of your hair stiffen with static electricity... And the sense of indiscriminate hostility you felt before increases exponentially with every yard you move down...

Finally, after climbing down over a hundred feet, you feel your feet partially sink in cold, still water as you reach the bottom of the well...

Around you, you see a dark chamber with arching ceilings and a stony floor too smooth to be natural and too complex to have been originally intended to be just a well. The little piece of land where you stand abruptly breaks off into deeper, murkier waters. It's as if you were standing on a tiny underground island.

You realize that the silvery sparkles you saw from the top are indeed coins... And a few other silver objects, including a couple daggers and some cutlery. Oddly, none of them display any rust.

Despite all of this, what grabs your attention the most is the overwhelming feeling of anger and despair, slowly, but steadily growing inside your hearts. The sensation is too sudden and powerful to be natural, and you know your minds are under attack, conscious or not, by something angry, powerful and unforgiving.

A moment later you hear screams coming from up the well, for a millisecond you consider the kobold, but as you look up, the notion is quickly removed from the realm of possibilities:

Two specters, one with red eyes and one with four arms fall down the well, grappled and locked into vicious combat all the way to the bottom. They hit a non-existent water line a few meters above you and are obviously hurt by the impact, but even that doesn't slow down their struggle, which now takes place floating in mid-air, but descending quickly, as if they were desperately fighting underwater and quickly sinking!

The red-eyed specters wields a weird ax-like weapon, while his four-armed opponent uses two short swords. Their battle is bloody and vicious, with both creatures fighting relentlessly, ignoring pain and injury to kill the other!

No more than a few seconds later, a new specter lunges from the dark! It's as big as a horse and moves at blindingly fast speed! Its body is faint blue in color and vaguely vulpine in shape. Its mouth is large enough to grab the limbs of both combatants at the same time! Taken by surprise, the red-eyed specter and the four-armed one stab the newcomer repeatedly, torn between fighting each other and the creature.

The three-sided fight remains fierce and deadly, with faint spectral "blood" forming a dark mist in the air as the creatures quickly tumble around the air until they disappear a few moments later.

And that is when the feeling of anger and despair gets so powerful, it's almost painful to resist it!

- - -

Everyone: Roll Perception.

Everyone (Except the Paladin): Roll Will against fear (DC 18) to avoid being Shaken. You get a +4 on this save because of Cyrus' stupid Aura of Courage... ¬¬

- - -

Despite the water, the ground is not uneven or slippery enough to be considered difficult terrain, but it's slippery enough to cause a -2 to Acrobatics and to all checks made to avoid losing balance.

Also the whole place is dim light, with the sole light source being the well's entrance. The murky waters and far ends of the chamber are unnaturally dark.

Last, but not least: Roll20 map's updated.

You realize that the silvery sparkles you saw from the top are indeed coins... And a few other silver objects, including a couple daggers and some cutlery. Oddly, none of them display any rust.

What's odd about it? Silver doesn't rust. =p

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

I suppose "tarnish" or "oxidation" would have been better word.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Cyrus draws his Falchion and runs a hand along the blade, enchanting it.

Magic Weapon

I'll be nice and assume you have a round to buff before what comes next... After all, the spectral fight did take more than 6 seconds.

Jaazkara looks back at the kobold, and says "T'ank you, dragonkin, for your time and words; perhaps soon you not worry about ghosts any longer." With this she nods and moves towards the well to descend.

Below, she immediately draws her weapon and looks at the scene playing out with detached concern and interest. She notices the glittering metals beneath the waters, but focuses her attention on the fight playing out.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Eitylen

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

- - -

Something stirs in the dark waters around the little "island" where you stand, but only half of you notice it. Before Tai Leng and Eitylen can warn their allies, a ghostly red-eyed figure moving on six clawed paws lunges from the water in a violent burst of speed!

- - -

- - -
Eitylen rushes forward and tries to stab the monstrosity in mid-air, but his blade simply bounces off the creature's unnatural carapace!

dagger: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

- - -

The monster continues his trajectory towards Brother Cyrus.

bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 damage: 1d8 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 10 + (1) = 12
grab: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Taken by surprise, the Paladin only notices the creature's fangs after they are firmly stuck to his flesh! Pain lashes through Cyrus' body, and for a short, but endless moment, all he can do is twist his body in a instinctive attempt to avoid being impaled and trapped by the creature!

- - -

Brother Cyrus: Take 11 piercing/slashing and 1 electricity damage (total 12, not counting DR or resistances).

Brother Cyrus and Jaazkara are still Surprised. Therefore: Tai Leng's turn!

As per our house-rules, you can't use full-round actions, but you can still use a move action to move up to half your speed AND then use a standard action for whatever you want.

- - -

Round 1
Tai Leng's turn.

You failed to mention the size of this creature in your description, holy crap.

Leng rushes forward, aiming to throw the creature off of Cyrus!

Trip: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Second Attempt?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

On the very off chance that 26 succeeds, I use 2 Ki to enable myself to Ki Throw the Huge creature and reposition it to the square behind me, off Cyrus as marked on the map.

You failed to mention the size of this creature in your description, holy crap.

Ah, indeed... My bad! I rewrote the description a couple times, so I forgot to add a word about its size in the final version.

Between its size, strength and extra limbs, the creature manages to shake off Tai Leng's efforts to move it, but the monk's efforts do not go unnoticed.

A glowing red eye moves independently from its match, like a chameleon, and gives Tai Leng a disturbingly vicious stares. Short streaks of lightning start zapping through the creature's ghostly grey hide...

- - -

Round 2
Brother Cyrus' turn (followed by Jaazkara).

Remember, you can act out of order when you're next to each other in the initiative count. Eitylen will wait for his turn last every time, unless you want him to go first for whatever reason.

Brother Cyrus wrenches his shoulder free and turns, bringing his falchion to bear. It's blade is quickly coated within white flames as Cyrus attempts to bring it down in an overhead chop.

"Gods! Grant me thine might!"

SMITE EVIL!: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Damage: 2d4 + 17 ⇒ (4, 2) + 17 = 23

Yep. Campaign is still cursed. AC is 23 against it right now.

Most rolls so far have been pretty good. You have no reason to complain about bad luck... Yet.

Oh, and remember to add the Smite Evil bonuses separately. It doesn't make a difference in this case, but sometimes it will... Like with the other specters you faced.

Cyrus' attack is fierce, but the creature is unexpectedly nimble for its size, and swiftly evades the paladin's blade!

- - -

Round 2
Jaazkara's turn.

Caught off guard and too late to react quickly, Jaazkara finally gathers her wits about her and brings her polearm around to try and strike the monstrosity! Fury fills her in an instant as she faces this new threat.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

I assume I have to move a bit to re-position myself to attack? Or am I close enough with reach?

You know there's a Roll20 map where you can check that stuff right? In any case, all you needed was a 5 ft-step.

Jaazkara manages to punch through the creature's hide, but notices her fauchard's blade doesn't go quite as deep as she expected... (e.g.: it has (low) DR)

To make matters worse, electricity runs through her weapon and into her body, causing pain and wound to Jaazkara.

Electricity: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Eitylen steps up and stabs the spirit, taking advantage of the momentary focus the monster placed on Tai Leng.

stab: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 sneak attack: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) = 10 1d100 ⇒ 80

The spirit's eyes glow brighter!

Bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 damage: 1d8 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 10 + (2) = 15
Tail Slam: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 damage: 1d8 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 7 + (6) = 21

It strikes bites Brother Cyrus again, while simultaneously using its fail to club Tai Leng! Then turns (more) translucent and leaps back into the water, quickly submerging itself. It's still possible to see it underwater, though.

- - -

Brother Cyrus: Take 15 damage (13 B/P/S + 2 Electricity).
Tai Leng: Take 21 damage (15 B/P/S + 6 Electricity).

Everyone: You get an AoO.

- - -

Round 2
Tai Leng's turn.

AoO!: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Damage: 2d4 + 17 ⇒ (2, 4) + 17 = 23

+5 Damage if it's an outsider/undead/dragon

The creature slithers away and by avoids Brother Cyrus' strike by inches!

Tai Leng and Jaazkara can still make AoO.

- - -

Round 2
Tai Leng's turn.

IIRC you can activate Power Attack on an AoO and it doesn't carry to the next round?

Power AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Leng tosses a pair of Shuriken at it.

Shuriken: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d2 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Shuriken: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Brother Cyrus plants his sword in the ground, draws his bow and fires.

Fly true my arrow!: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

+5 Damage if undead/dragon/outisder

Huh... Tai Leng's post didn't create the "1 new" note for me.

The creature reaches the water untouched, relying on its speed and carapace to protect itself from incoming attacks Look at that! Dodge + Mobility was actually useful!.

(It's cover that you get when partially submerged right? Not concealment.)

Once the creature is (partially) submerged, it's easier to pinpoint, but the water still serves as a protective barrier... Tai Leng's shuriken misses by a hair's breath, due to the displacement of water making it difficult to assess precisely where it's vital organs are.

Guided by divine might, Brother Cyrus has better luck, and sinks an arrow on the monster's flank.

- - -

Round 2
Jaazkara's turn.

AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Sorry Im late

Jaazkara looks to the distorted sight of the creature beneathe the waters, making a quick judgement before leaping -quite literally- into action!

The lizardwoman takes a few short steps back, never looking away from the beastly apparition in the waters. She raises her polearm above her head to use it as a spear, then bolts forward suddenly and leaps at the edge of the small island, aiming to drive her weapon into the beast from above...or leave herself dreadfully vulnerable to it.

Can I make a Perception to get a better view of it?
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

...aaaaaaand, trying to leap at it like a fool...
Athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Welp, my own long-ish post that likely amounts to naught*SIGH*

Ok... Here's the deal:

Next time there's a random uncalled skill check or whatever just before an attack roll or relevant check, I'll just ignore it and use its roll for the attack/relevant check, then use the following rolls for whatever it is that you rolled.

If you want to make random extra checks for whatever reason, just add it in ooc text AFTER the relevant roll.

- - -

e.g.:

I attack the monster *rolls attack*

If it changes anything, I try to take a look at it before attacking. *rolls Perception*

There's no such thing as Athletics check... But I do allow you guys to use Climb checks to jump.

- - -

Hmmm... Eitylen doesn't have ranged weapons. Should he throw one of his daggers? Well, I guess it's better than doing nothing... And he has more than one weapon anyway.

Eitylen quickly draws one of his blades and throws it at the phantasmagorical monster!

dagger: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Unfortunately, the creature once again uses the water itself as a shield against incoming attacks. Its red-eyes glow blue and spark with electricity as the beast slowly opens its jaw... Revealing foot-long fangs and an increasingly bright light that soon turns into lightning!

The powerful current of energy leaps to Tai Leng, and then from him to Eitylen, Brother Cyrus and Jaazkara!

Everyone: You take 6d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 5, 5, 5) = 22 electricity damage; Roll Reflex (DC 18) for half damage.

As if this weren't bad enough, the electricity around the monster's hide increases in power, permeating the whole water around! A few sparks and arcs of electricity even occasionally appear on the silver objects around you!

But what's most disturbing is the aura of the creature. Something about it feels... Wrong. You feel like it sticks to you like tar!

Anyone with Kn(Arcana) can make a check with a +2 bonus.

- - -

Round 2
Tai Leng's turn.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Being half-dead already, Tai Leng drops unconscious from the electricity.

Ouch! By one! I don't know if it makes any difference, but one of the house-rules is that you are Disabled, but not unconscious (like when you're at 0 hp) until your hp goes lower than negative con bonus (min 0), so in the case of Tai Leng: -2 hp. That means he only loses conscience when he reaches -3 hp.

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Cyrus toughs it out by gritting his teeth while the electricity runs through his body, jumping from metal plate to metal plate of his breastplate.

He then draws another arrow before taking aim and firing.

Back beast! Return from whence ye came!: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Man this bow is getting some g@$&%+n work done. +5 more damage if it's undead/dragon/outsider

Oh yeah before I forget, Swift action lay on hands too

Heal!: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11

Reflex!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Jaazkara cringes and grips her weapon, trying to ignore the surging pain going through her body.

1d20 ⇒ 16

Nvm, then...

Brother Cyrus' arrow pierces the creature's hide and sticks to its neck!

- - -

Tai Leng: Please, update your current hp in your character profile.

Round 3.

Jaazkara's turn.

Jaazkara strikes at the creature once more savagely, spurred into furious action by the creature's electrical attack against the group.

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20