DM Fang Dragon's Strange Aeons (Inactive)

Game Master FangDragon

Filbert that's actually a door to what was once a bunk room. The bunk has long since disintegrated into a pile of rotted wood. There's nothing of value in there. I'll let you re-do your actions, to make things clear, the windows are now marked in blue. Just like the real world, the sun rises in the east.

Oops, GM can Filbert target the blue window at 1 o'clock from his position? If so his movement will remain the same, moving towards the door outside

Lizzie withdraws outside. Filbert aims a blast at one of the small windows shattering it. Winter throws a dagger towards the eastern window, already damage from Filbert's earlier attacks against the Star Vampire, a large chunk falls to the ground! She then hurries after Filbert. Heinrich tries to tumble past the Demon, but one of it's icy cold claws rakes his back as he darts away towards tow eastern window!

AOO, Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3

In an act of selfless bravery, Luxina stands her ground and faces the demon to allow her friends time to escape! She jabs as it with her torch, but with reflexes like greased lightning it recoils and laughs hideously. Despite Luxina'a caution, it's counter attack throws her off. It's ghostly claw passing straight through her gear leaving deep ice filled scratches!
I'm probably missing something, how did you get Holy on it? :)

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (4) = 5 <--- HIT
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (6) = 10 <--- MISS
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5 <--- MISS

Filbert Springbit

Winter
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Luxina Tenebris
Shadow Demon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' <----- WE ARE HERE

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 1 ----

Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (29 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (9 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (9 rounds), Dex Mutagen (369 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (19 rounds), Align Weapon
---- Round 2 ----
Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (28 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (8 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (8 rounds), Dex Mutagen (368 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (18 rounds), Align Weapon

Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Winter, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Luxina Tenebris are up.

I had thought I read in a hurry that someone casted align weapon on our weapons, must've been mistaken then.

Winter cast align weapon, communal. It lets you bypass the demon's DR 10/Good.

Round 2
"Lux, going toe to toe with that thing isn't a great idea, might want to give it some space." Filbert calls out as Luxina is left alone with the creature. Sending a blast at the creature trying to draw it away from Luxina

Kinetic Blast+PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage+PBS: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

GM Filbert will continue to back away if the creature moves his way

Round 3

And again .....
Kinetic Blast+PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage+PBS: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 6) + 7 = 19

"I know, but someone has to hold it up!"

Attack, Torch, Flames? Aligned Weapon, Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 4 = 81d3 + 1 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (3, 2) + 1 = 9

Uh-oh

After missing with her especially bright torch, Luxina holds it close for another attack, but then it blows up in her face.

Fire damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8
Reflex Saves: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 211d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Luxina is on fire

Luxina did you roll for the number of rounds the special light torch to last, didn't see it if you did. it last 1d4 rounds so wouldn't you have another 2 rounds before it goes boom possibly? Self immolation isn't the light we need right now :)

I rolled for it earlier up in the posts. It was 3 rounds, I might have even been a round off in counting. That was before I didn't hear anything that it was fire-resistant. So else I might have just dropped it. It was right after that shadow demon emerged and we had 1 round of prep.

Oh geez that archetype has a built in foot gun. I'm going to rule it works the way dragonhunterq suggests (RAW Cevah is right but never mind that). So DC 15 reflex save which Luxina made - nobody is on fire.

Waiting for Lizzie, Heinrich and Winter.

Yeah I know it's horrible. I figured the archetype was too flavourful in a dark setting not to play it. Maybe it works better with a strength build alchemist?

I agree the flavour is great! The retaining rules are available should you feel the need (e.g. you want to try a strength build).

Agrippa smashes the window some more

Attak!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Status:
25/25 HP

Wait...i'm the 1st to get outside?

"Get your behinds out of there guys and girls!"
Lizzie expected her friends to have withdrawn out before she would have.

Seeing some of them, but Agrippa out of sight, she figures the smashing of windows on the east side to be him.

She runs over there.

Yes! Brave sir Lizzie withdrew (double move) while Luxina went mano-a-mano with the demon ;) Meanwhile Filbert and Winter smashed windows on their way out (only a single move possible) and Agrippa went to smashed the eastern windows from the inside.

Lizzie rushes round to help Agrippa smash the eastern window, but from outside. Filbert nervously sends a powerful blast at the Demon but it easily dodges aside.

Winter throws another dagger, this time at the Demon. It thunks solidly into the things chest before flaring with a golden radiance and falling to the floor! It is incorporeal after all.
Dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Agrippa swings his weapon in a great arc, smashing the window into tiny fragments. Almost none of the ruined and soot darkened stained glass is left.

Luxina swings with her flaming torch, attempting to burn the demon! Unfortunately it sidesteps her swipes easily, and when the unstable chemicals suddenly combust powerfully singing her the demon laughs cruelly! It steps back and chants something before a amazing cataract of fire explodes from the demon. A moment before the deadly torrent impacts, a corner of Luxina's brain says, It's a shadow evocation, hardly there at all She shouts, "it's casting an illusion!" Standing firm she disbelieves the terrifying image of a Fireball spell and is merely singed by the hot winds.
Luxina Spellcraft DC 19: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 <--- PASS
Luxina Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 <--- PASS
Fire Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 3, 5, 3, 3, 1, 4, 3) = 35 Disbelieved, and save made so 10% of damage is done. Lucky that could have been fatal.

Winter Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 <--- FAIL
Filbert Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 <--- PASS

Filbert Springbit

Winter
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Luxina Tenebris
Shadow Demon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' <----- WE ARE HERE

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 4 ----

Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (26 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (6 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (6 rounds), Dex Mutagen (366 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (16 rounds), Align Weapon
---- Round 5 ----
Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (25 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (5 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (5 rounds), Dex Mutagen (365 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (15 rounds), Align Weapon

Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Winter, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Luxina Tenebris are up. 3 rounds till sunrise.

I expected something else to have happened, at the start.
Steady retreat.

That's the trouble with PbP. It's hard to coordinate combat plans.

Winter took more of the brunt of the illusory fireball than anyone but even then it mostly just singed her. Filbert was barely touched.

Filbert continues to lob ineffectual blast at the demon, trying to garner it's attention and draw it outside.

Kinetic Blast+PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
damage+PBS: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11

"Perhaps I'd do better to knock the building down...."

Agrippa moves to assist Lizzie's defense We must only hold it until the sun rises! he calls out
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Aid AC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Luxina takes total Defense and gestures to the demon. Bring it

AC up to 29 I think?

Lizzie watches the combat unfold through the window as her friends combat the demon! A lump forms in her throat as she watches Luxina, standing firm against the darkness. A tiny voice at the back of her head asks - shouldn't that be me?

A bundle of nerves, Filbert's blasts land anywhere but where the demon is. It laughs with glee as it looms over Luxina, intent on extinguishing the plucky upstart! As it to tenses to strike, Heinrich barrels over waving Red Destiny here and there, seeking to distract it. Some how this works, for despite the demon attempting to savage her, Luxina manages to avoid everything. Doing a good Neo impression!

Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (5) = 9 <--- MISS
Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (1) = 5 <--- MISS
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (5) = 7 <--- MISS

Oops I forgot Winter. I do hope Winter will be back before long.

Winter throws yet another dagger at the Demon, which flares with radiance as it slices through a spectral arm which starts leaking a cloud of inky darkness!
Dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Those are touch attacks. Luxina normally has Touch AC of 13, she has +2 deflection due to Prot from Evil. +4 dodge due to total defense and +2 (untyped vs 1 attack) due to Agrippa, +4 from shield and +2 from the dex mutagen for Touch AC 27 I think.

Filbert Springbit

Winter
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Luxina Tenebris
Shadow Demon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' <----- WE ARE HERE

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 5 ----

Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (25 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (5 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (5 rounds), Dex Mutagen (365 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (15 rounds), Align Weapon
---- Round 6 ----
Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (24 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (4 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (4 rounds), Dex Mutagen (364 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (14 rounds), Align Weapon

Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Winter, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Luxina Tenebris are up. 2 rounds till sunrise.

Luxina continues her defiance of the ugly shadow demon and takes another round of Total Defense to lure its attacks out.

"That all?"

Crap! Sorry, I keep waiting my turn and keep not realizing that I am up.

Confirm the crit threat?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Winter was pleased to see her dagger slam into the demon's arm and injure it and held her hand out for it's return to her. Deciding that it was time to make this thing less able to ignore their attacks or flee Winter called upon the power of her goddess and said, "My goddess is the bane of ghosts and you are enough like one that she commands you be put down in her name!" The blessing of her goddess flowed out and into the demon attempting to anchor him more firmly into the material plane so that he could be dealt with mroe easily.

SR if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
I cast ghost bane dirge Will 16 negates, if he fails he takes half damage from non-magical and full damage from magical weapons for 5 rounds.

Round 5

Trying once again, Filbert aims for the demon

Kinetic Blast+PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
damage+PBS: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 = 10 treated as magic weapon damage if applicable

GM, I'm on the road will continue to try and post daily, bot though if needed to keep things going

Would sunlight come in from the east windows, if i smash them?

The Eastern window is already smashed beyond recognition. Filbert was blasting through it when fighting the star vampire and Agrippa pulled down the last few tattered remnants that he could reach. The sky to the east is all reds and yellows, it won't be long now until the sun pokes above the horizon.

Stay Alive Luxina!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Agrippa continues assisting the wily alchemist in defense

Lizzie calls out to the creature.

"Hey, big and ugly! Don't you want someone smaller than them to pick at and make an example of."

She slightly lowers a lower eyelid with a finger and sticks out her tongue. (Bleh!)
"Or are you a chicken?"

Diplomacy to provoke?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Steeling himself, Filbert sends a blast of shrapnel at the demon, this time it hits with a resounding crack! Yet the damage wasn't quite what he'd hoped for. Unfortunately Winter is right, this thing is incorporeal and it has DR. The align weapon bypasses the DR but not incorporeal so I need to adjust damage done.

Winter calls upon the power of the Lady of Graves, beseeching her aid. A pulse of blue fire ripples out, but it shatters when it touched the Demon. Sorry it has SR 17

Heinrich continues to try and assist Luxina, who focuses on dodging everything the Demon can throw at her. She taunts it but it cackles evil as it turns instead on the one who awoke it! It's insubstantial claws rake through Heinrich, threatening to freeze his heart. It's bite was the worst causing ice to from all over his face!

Luxina has touch AC 27, Heinrich on the other hand has touch AC 12+4+2 = 18...
Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (1) = 5 <--- HIT
Crit?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6) = 8 <--- NO CRIT

Claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (3) = 4 <--- HIT

Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (1) = 3<--- HIT
Crit?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + (2) = 7 <--- CRIT

Lizzie shouts at the demon from the window, but it has a new plaything! Something it will love to death...

@Lizzie That would be intimidate. Which doesn't work like that.

Filbert Springbit

Winter
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Luxina Tenebris
Shadow Demon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' <----- WE ARE HERE

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 5 ----

Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (25 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (5 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (5 rounds), Dex Mutagen (365 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (15 rounds), Align Weapon
---- Round 6 ----
Filbert Springbit
Winter Magic circle against evil (24 rounds), Align Weapon
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Shield (4 rounds), Align Weapon
Luxina Tenebris Shield (4 rounds), Dex Mutagen (364 rounds), Align Weapon
Shadow Demon Align Weapon
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Aid (14 rounds), Align Weapon

Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Winter, Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa and Luxina Tenebris are up. 1 round till the sun rises...

Really? Insulting is intimidate? The antagonize feat would have been convenient right now....
Haha....still a pity such a high roll doesn't do squat....

Lizzie runs back to the entrance, as the demon didn't bite the bait.

"Luxina, Agrippa, fall back behind me, come on."

"Agrippa! Snap out of it! Leave!"
Luxina glances at Agrippa with a deep stare.
"Now!" She snaps as she begins to block to shadow demon again.

Total Defense yet again

"Come get a taste of me."

"He snap out of it?
Come on, you do yourself. Sun's almost coming up, don't risk yourself."

Agrippa wisely withdraws behind Lizzie and the others No Map access atm, but withdraw action towards lizzie

Status
6/25HP

Agrippa moves to behind Luxina initially, to avoid AoO from the shadow demon.

Angered at eh failure of her spell Winter throws her dagger once more the blade sailing out at the demon's shadowy shape..
Dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Lizzie's gambit didn't work, so she ran back just in time to see Filbert propel a rotten wooden board towards the Demon with terrible force. It disintegrated peppering it allover, like buckshot!

Kinetic Blast+PBS: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 <--- HIT
damage+PBS: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 5) + 7 = 17

Angered by her spell's failure, Winter threw another knife but the Demon shifted at the last moment causing the blade to tumble harmlessly past. Luxina bravely tries to grab the Demon's attention while Agripa wisely tries to withdraw, but the demon was having none of that!

BTW this thing is actually medium sized. I just made it larger because it looks badass.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31 <--- No AOOs
Claw, Touch AC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25Damage: 1d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (6) = 9

It's great wings beat and twisting like a leaf on the wind it surges up and over Luxina to strike Agrippa down! Seizing his frozen heart, the investigator collapses on the floor. Throwing it's head back in triumph, the demon cackles madly! But at that very moment the sun finally poked up over the horizon... It's golden rays flooding in through the window and the door. The demons' cry of triumph wavers and turns into a howl of anguish as the party tear the now helpless thing limb from limb!

COMBAT OVER, somebody better help Agrippa...

Agrippa has infusions of Cure Light Wounds....

Anyone going to help him?

Lizzie rushes over to Agrippa.

"Hang on there."

Searching his pockets, she finds 1 (or 2?) vials labeled 'Restoratives'

Uncorking one, she pours them down his throat.
Healing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Healing, if needed: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Agrippa splutters and wakes

Gah! We've won then!

"Yay!"

She gives Agrippa a firm hug, happy to see the man no longer all wounded and KO.

With the fight over and Heinrich bleeding out Winter rushed over to him as she prayed and reached out with a pale golden glow in her hands to touch him. When she did the energy entered his body and began to heal the his injuries. With the spell having taken it's course she seemed relieved and said, "That should do for now Heinrich."

cure moderate: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 8) + 5 = 14

As a reminder the current situation:
* The cult has taken over Fort Hailcorse, the fate of magistrate Padgett and the guards is unknown.
* Count Lowls seems to have vanished and his residence is in lockdown.
* There have been reports of strangers in town and wired graffiti of an alien city, the one from your shared dream, has been appearing all over town.
* The cult has been empowering the Star Stelae via human sacrifice for purposes unknown.
* Up to one third of the population have vanished according to the Sleepless Detective Agency.
* Momijii is dead but Heinrich discovered a ritual using the Star Stelae that could bring back anyone, no matter how long ago they died.
* A splinter faction of the cult wanted to bring back somebody called Aridnah. Undoubtedly that would be a very bad thing.
* Bringing Momijii back via the ritual would use a great deal of power, likely setting the cults plans back.

Thanks for the summary. We've pretty much expended our resources here today... but we can still plot tomorrow.

Agrippa stands shakily and says We should get back... under the cover of daylight we can speak more about our situation.

Back to the Inn? Or maybe the Detective Agency first to spread the word that there are Undead guarding the fort, and that means nothing good for the people of Thrushmoore.

I'm voting for the agency to inform the populace.

By the time you've caught your breath and headed back into town the first fishing boats are well out into the lake. It's still deadly early and most normal folks are in bed, so it takes a while for anyone at the Sleepless Agency to let you in. Eventually you are ushered in and are invited to share breakfast with Cesadia. Still somewhat sleepy Cesadia half yawns, "Oh Miss Winter, you have returned! Wait. Something's happened hasn't it, I can see it in your eyes. Tell me everything."

Agrippa shares the nights events...beginning with the Zombies in Fort Hailcourse, through the attack by the Revenant (and Momijii's demise), and then the party's investigation of the Old Chapel.

It's worse than we thought. Much, Much worse.

Cesadia's frown deepened as Agrippa explained the evening's grim findings, gasping when she learns of Momjii's horrific death. Her expression changes subtlety once Agrippa tells her of what they encountered at the Old Chapel.

One the tale is told she tells them, "Well I suppose that solves one mystery at least. Everyone always wondered what happened to Causton Creed, but never dared to ask. Still I find the answer troubling, what was such a thing doing buried here, and how long has this cult been associated with Thrushmoor? Something tells me you're going to need to be careful Agrippa, Lowls fancied himself as a scholar of the occult. There's dark things in his and by extension your past and that Tome was likely the least of them... Frankly Lowls was always a bit of a blow hard, ridiculed by real scholars. His ego would never let that stand, and I fear he may have delved very deeply in order to one up them."

Glancing around the group she asks, "So what will you do now? Are you going to try this ritual to bring Momijii back? Also any idea how we can keep people safe - obviously we can tell them to avoid the fort, but somebody going to have to deal with the cultists..."

Agrippa says

Indeed. I.... have thought a little about it and one could fall into Abyss itself studying such things. I will endeavor to balance my own safety with the seriousness of our mission.

and then Agrippa says Mistress Cesadia, I have a plan.

The Plan; or at least the beginnings of one

1) Fort Hailcourse is a problem
2) The Count's mansion is a problem

The cultists could be located at either location, or at both. However, we KNOW that Hailcourse is compromised for sure and we have seen it. So, we should therefore prioritize Hailcourse.

Step 1) The Sleepless Agency (and whomever of us has that particular skillset) will rile up the townsfolk (pitchforks, torches, that sort of thing) and lead them to the gates of Hailcourse drawing the attention of whatever is there.

Step 2) The Heroes, not needing the cover of night anymore, infiltrate the Fort in broad daylight negating the advantage the enemy has in darkness.

Cesadia should ensure that the civilians don't take casualties and run away if any true threat presents itself.

However, this plan doesn't answer the question. When do we resurrect Momijii using the profane ritual described in the book?

Cesadia ponders the plan and replies, "Well we can certainly make some noise, but I'm not keen on asking civilians to put themselves in danger. it would be awful if they started shooting, still I wonder how many the cult has inside the fort, it can't be an overwhelming number because we wouldn't be here having this conversation if they did."

The question of what to do about Momijii is she's happy to defer to you. So what are you going to do about that?