DM NomadSage's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

Ancestral Spirits

Ameiko assumes an authoritative tone, "I will remain with the caravan. Shalelu and Koya with me. If you wish, Sandru or Kelda are at your disposal."

*Ahem* Ameiko coughs.

"Lets take Kelda with us for this one," Parity finally gets put, stunned by Ameiko's sudden, but welcome, take-charge attitude.

Ancestral Spirits

Heng listens carefully to the tale of the gathered Kami. His eyes pass over the others as they confer, but he seems distracted and finds himself unconsciously humming the spirit's song. He nods to Miyaro and Ameiko.

"Yes, let us rest now and Miyaro can guide us to our destination in the morning," he simply says and retires for the evening.

Spirits

Agreeing with the others, Harlan prepares a small fire (unless there are objections from the spirits) and cooks a filling meal of camel burgers with rice and a spicy chili sauce from the stores.

"Eat up! It's not goat but it'll have to do."

Spirits

Malnival smiles at Kelda. "Good choice Parity."

Ancestral Spirits

While you are eating Harlan's dinner offerings, a single kami steps up towards your campfire. He is tiny, only about a foot in height, but appears to be an ancient warrior, complete with graying beard, black gi and exquisite sword in his sash. Other than his size, the only other feature that highlights him is the gnarled tree branch growing from the top of his head.

The warrior bows low and respectfully. "I am Akumi, fukujin warrior of the eastern wood. Since you are going into the House of Withered Blossoms, I humbly ask a small personal favor."

Akumi frowns, looking sternly embarrased. "My ward, a bonsai tree, small by your measure, was recently stolen by hobgoblins. They took it into the pagoda, and though my oath prevents me from going in to retrieve it, I can feel that it is still alive, somewhere inside. I have been bound to my ward for centuries, and should it die, I believe I will share the same fate. I humbly beg you to recover the tree for me."

The kami bows again and awaits an answer.

The House of Withered Blossoms
Date: 23 Calistril 4712

The next morning dawns cold and calm. Camping in the peaceful clearing leaves you remarkably well rested and refreshed. The kami council from the night before are all gone, leaving you alone in the silent forest. When you are ready to set out, Miyaro guides you into the trees on a northerly heading.

The day passes without significant event, but after midday, the aspect of the surrounding wood begins to change slowly. The further you progress, the more you notice signs of decay... dead trees, thick fungi and a hint of something on the air. The snowy cover also fades as the air grows warm and humid.

At mid-afternoon, you reach the edge of a steep terraced garden, descending into a vast depression ahead of you. The way forward is obscured by thick undergrowth and massive pine trees, their branches wreathed in thick webs. Miyaro guides you along the edge of the terrace, the first layer a rice paddy, overgrown with wild rice plants sunk into opaque, bubbling water.

House of Withered Blossoms

Miyaro stops at the top of a broken stair, bisecting the terrace descending into the depression. "This path will lead you to the pagoda, at the center of the garden. I will remain here, if you wish, but this is as far as I can go."

Spirits

Having retired early, Heng misses the small kami's request.

House of WB

Heng bows deeply to Miyaro and replies in flawless Tien,"We have been most fortunate in our guides. First, Ulf to guide us over the top of the world and then you, Miyaro, to lead us safely through the Forest of Spirits to this place. A thousand thanks, Miyaro."

"We'll find this tree of yours, swordbrother, assuming it doesn't interfere with our need to eradicate the oni, but I get the feeling we can probably do both. How will we know which little tree it is?"

Before we enter, Parity will cast keen edge, resist cold, and see invisibility.

Ancestral Spirits

Akumi ponders a moment, then nods and plucks a tiny twig from the branch on his head. He hands it over to Parity, saying, "My ward will react to this part of me like metal drawn to a magnet. If you find my tree, this will identify it for certain."

House of Withered Blossoms

Miyaro nods to Heng, "I will be here when you return. There is no true safe place here like the clearing, but I know a few secluded glades to camp unperturbed."

Ancestral Spirits

Harlan smiles as Parity agrees to the quest, happy to see the bitter gladiator caring for another.

House of the Withered Blossoms and Jerkface Oni

"Thank you for guiding us Miyaro."

"Skygni, you were able to smell the undead coming on the storm and the oni, do you smell anything like that now?"

HoWB

Skygni sniffs deeply, then releases a disgusted snort. "The whole place stinks of decay and blight over a layer of something sweet... like rotten flowers."

Heng frowns observing, "The smell is unlikely to improve. Let us begin." He carefully leads the way down the steps.

The Garden of Vivid Decay

The broken stone steps descend to a landing along the next terrace, turning into a path of flagstones that parallels the edge clockwise. The stones are cracked and jagged, overgrown with weeds and fungi, but it is much clearer than the garden it cuts through.

The garden is mostly overgrown and home to thousands of huge, vividly-hued turquoise, orange and crimson orchids, opium poppies, black roses and the white and violet lotus flowers. Hundreds of broken statues litter the edges, depicting kirin, dragons, lions and great fish, whilst streams dance through it on their way to oblivion at the garden’s heart.

Keteleeria trees of massive scale tower over everything, obscuring the sky. The boughs are spun with thick webs that are home to thousands of unnaturally large orb spiders which, some growing to around two feet across). You also see scores of cocoons hanging from the high branches, the shape and size of man and beast alike, wafting like paper silhouettes in the air. Most are still, though a few still twitch and struggle against their bonds.

The Garden of Vivid Decay

know nature : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Heng is distracted from admiring colored flowers by the silent approach of the floating spiders.

"Harlan, ghostly spiders are approaching. Would you bless me with the ability to walk on air once again?"

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25

We'll just go ahead and assume Parity told Heng :)

OOPS, I was reading that as for Parity AND people that rolled the required perception. My bad, long day and brain a bit slow. Maybe just put the perception roll under Parity's spoiler if it only applies to him...

btw, damn, Parity! I though I had a good perception modifier...

I'm not 100% sure Parity made the roll... awaiting response. Either way, with the point out, the incoming foes are still invisible.

The Garden of Vivid Decay

[dice=know nature ]1d20+3

[dice=perception]1d20+16

Nevermind. Do over.

Heng cranes his neck to take in all the strange blooms and feels a momentary tingle at the back of his neck. His hand reflexively goes to his tattooed scalp as he glances around to see if his companions sensed anything...

So this is a DM thing. When I took Blindness as a 2-feat flaw, I gained Blind-fighting and Skill Focus Perception as the bonus Feats, giving Parity the following total:

+10 ranks, +1 Wis, +3 class skill, +6 Skill Focus (now that he has 10 ranks) -- I'm not entirely sure where Hero Lab is getting the final +1 ... still hunting for it So lets assume +20 for now.

The blind condition makes him auto-fail visual checks, the skill focus wasn't just specifically for audible checks, it was for all Perception, didn't specify non-visual since we all assumed that would never be an issue. Now with magically imbued sight ... does he still receive all of his bonuses ... DMs call. If you take away the skill focus (the tradeoff for the blind flaw) for this "visual" check, then he would fail it

AND for Heng ... my Boolean logic tells me an OR function would fit your assessment better :)

Ah, okay... my misunderstanding. Parity makes the check, but even if he points them out to the others, the spiders are invisible and completely silent. You get one round of prep before they arrive.

Initiative Order: [28] Spiders, [22] Parity, [18] Malnival, Heng, [11] Kelda, [6] Harlan

Malnival cast a spell.

Haste yall!

AND for Heng ... my Boolean logic tells me an OR function would fit your assessment better :)

what can I say, sometimes logic fails me after a day spent wrangling middle schoolers through adventures in science...

Heng is distracted from admiring the strangely colored flowers by Parity's warning of unseen spiders. As he assumes dragon stance, he attempts to detect evil. "We are not used to defending ourselves from what we cannot see, Parity. Perhaps it would be best to quickly advance to the House and hope to avoid these spirit spiders."

"Concur ... lead the way, I'll cover but be careful of getting us pinned down with another group of spirits."

Parity will move with the party, using antagonize to pull a spider off Harlan or Mal.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Round 1 Init 6

"Invisible spiders? Neat!"

Per Heng's request, Harlan gives him the ability to walk on air.

Believe it or not I'm...walking on air. Never thought I could be...ok enough of that. Cast Air Walk.

Round One
Initiative Order: [28] Spiders, [22] Parity, [18] Malnival, Heng, [11] Kelda, [6] Harlan

With Parity's warning, you have a few seconds to prepare before the spiders are on you. Two suddenly pop into view, jumping down on Heng and Parity from the front. They are massive specimens, but most disturbing are their human-like faces, surrounded by manes of shaggy fur.

Parity's last-second warning gives Heng an opportunity to duck the thing's mandibles, but the second lands a solid bite into Parity's arm. He feels the spider's venom sear through the wound.

Inputs for R1?

Spiders from Mars

Round 1
AC:28/23, hp:89, Ki 8/9, Stun 9/9, Fire 9/9, dragon style, hasted, air walk

With the strange and horrible creatures now apparent before him, Heng hits hard and often.
ki defense, flurry blue spider

Flurry 1: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 1 = 16
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8 + 1d6 ⇒ 5 cold

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 = 32
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8 + 1d6 ⇒ 3 cold

Flurry 3: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 3 cold

Flurry 4: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15 + 1d6 ⇒ 5 cold

Haste1: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 1 = 25
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16 + 1d6 ⇒ 3 cold

Round 1
HP: 87/102 (77/92) + 1 Con Damage (15)

Fort Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24, Con Dam: 1d2 ⇒ 1
Know Arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Suishen, 1-handed w/Power Attack and Arcane Strike channeling force punch

Round 1 Init 6

Harlan dismounts Skygni.

"Flank them and I'll heal from here."

With that he blesses the group.

Bless

Mal?

Sorry was helping friend move last 2 days.

Malnival moves forward attempting to aid Heng by flanking the spider.

Power Attack:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28possible crit!

Confirm Crit:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Crit Damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Haste Attack:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Do not forget I hasted yall!

Round One, continued...

Parity retaliates, slamming the spider with a force-imbued sword strike. With magical speed, Malnival circles to flank, slicing the spider deeply before Heng whirls into a flurry of punches, breaking a couple legs and smashing it's head to pulp; it collapses.

Kelda jumps in, slashing her blade at the second spider and carving a serious gash in its thorax. A moment later, Harlan's magic blesses the group.

The remaining spider immediately disappears, but a second later, two more pop into view behind Harlan. They bite him viciously, injecting their venom before they too quickly disappear.

You don't get a haste attack unless you make a full attack. Map sent; positions of the spiders are where they were before they disappeared, but currently there are no spiders in view.

Inputs for R2?

Spiders from Mars

Round 1
AC:28/23, hp:89, Ki 7/9, Stun 8/9, Fire 9/9, dragon style, hasted, air walk

Heng's lip curls over a tusk in a snarl of frustration as the strange spiders disappear again. The monk quickly regains his composure and stepping into a ready stance prepares to lunge at any giant eight-legged freak that reappears.

ki defense, ready to strike to stun

Readied Attack: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 1 = 22
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12 + 1d6 ⇒ 5 cold + Stun DC 17

Round 2

HP: 87/102 (77/92) + 1 Con Damage (15)

Fort Save#2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21; beat the poison!

Parity will holler out, "Heng! Mal! Two more coming to flank you, be ready!"

Parity will hold until they appear, unleashing a round of attacks and using lunge for the round to reach out to 10 feet if necessary.

Malnival stands ready with his scimitar, waiting on the spiders to appear.

Readied Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

I forgot to add +1 to my attack for Harlan's bless. Speaking of which, shouldn't your attack modifier be higher Mal?

Also forgot the +1 from bless although I remembered haste this time.

[ooc]Yup. Should be +13. not sure what happened there.

Round 2 Init 6

Fort Save DC 18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Fort Save DC 20 (Second Dose): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"Ow, the spider jerks bit me."

Feeling the poison coursing through him and afraid of what it will do, Harlan neutralizes it.

Neutralize Poison.

Caster Check DC 20: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Thought I would only need this if Mal couldn't take my cooking...

Round Two
Initiative Order: [28] Spiders, [22] Parity, [18] Malnival, Heng, [11] Kelda, [6] Harlan

Everybody stands a few terse moments, waiting. Harlan removes the poison in himself, and Skygni begins to growl. As called out by Parity, two more spiders appear between Malnival and Heng, biting out but not before you try to hit back. Malnival misses but Heng lands a good hit. Skygni also gnashes the spider's leg with a deep wound. The first spider bites Malnival, but the second misses its mark.

The spiders then quickly disappear again.

Inputs for R3?

Spiders from Mars

Round 3
AC:24/23, hp:89, Ki 7/9, Stun 6/9, Fire 8/9, dragon style, hasted, air walk, blessed

Stepping up into the air, Heng ascends over Harlan's head to a height of about ten feet and inhales, ready to release a dragon roar the next time the spiders appear.

Air walk up to W-21, ready 15 ft cone, DC 17 will for half, unshaken
Readied Roar damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 14 + 1d6 ⇒ 2 fire + shaken 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds

Round 3

"Harlan! Kelda! The other two are flanking us!"

Parity will 5-foot either to the NW or SW depending on where that one is, and ready a channeled acid touch

To hit: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 61, 1d100 ⇒ 31
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 12 + 5d4 ⇒ (3) + (4) + 12 + (2, 2, 2, 3, 4) = 32

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 1d10 + 14 + 5d4 ⇒ (5) + (7) + 14 + (2, 1, 1, 3, 4) = 37

Round 3

"I noticed, believe me."

Seeing that he and Mal have taken some wounds Harlan channels to heal.

Channel: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 3, 1) = 9

Excluding the spiders.

That done he draws his dagger and waves it towards where the spiders were.

Malnival readies another attack.

Attack:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Damage:1d6 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14