DM NomadSage's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

Parity charges after Ito into the dark, running on a slight cushion of air about 1 foot above the ground. (movement rate is 70)

If he can attack ... channel corrosive touch

To hit: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 5d4 + 22 ⇒ (6) + (2) + (3, 4, 2, 1, 4) + 22 = 44

Harlan initiates plan Haul A$$ while casting the previous healing spell without provoking.

Previous roll or new one DM?

17 or CLWM: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

You can use the new roll, for what its worth. Kiyomi & Malnival?

Kiyomi draws her bow back and fires at Emperor, still singing! Inspire Courage +4!
Bow!: 1d20 + 15 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 4 = 21 for 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 4 = 12 damage!
Bow!: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 4 = 27 for 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 4 = 6 damage!

Round 4
AC:30, hp:80/130, Ki 3/11, Stun 7/13, Fire 9/10; dragon stance, fire, inspired, displaced (50% miss)

Seeing that Parity has retreated the wrong direction, Heng urges Malnival to retreat and assumes dragons stance. His fist flares with red flames as he pummels the threatening undead samurai.

magic/silver/cold iron/lawful fist: 1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 16 + 4 = 34
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 22 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1
flurry 2: 1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 4 = 24
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 21 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2
flurry 3: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 4 = 33
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (7, 6) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 25 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
flurry 4: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 11 + 4 = 33
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 18 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3
flurry 5: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 4 = 19
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 24 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Malnival falls back covering his halfling friend.

Kiyomi & Heng should have extra haste attacks also...

Harlan casts a burst of healing over the group and falls back towards the cave entrance.

Still visible under the brilliant flare, Kiyomi tracks the retreating Ito and fires, hitting it once. Like Suishen before, the arrows from the ancestral bow seem to burn the undead emperor.

Ameiko pulls the corpse back a few more feet, then cries out when Parity charges after Ito. Malnival withdraws carefully, covering Harlan. Heng smashes the skeletal Shojinawa samurai several times, sending broken bones and pieces of rusted armor flying in all directions. The graveknight crumbles beneath the assault.

Parity chases Ito and hits him again with Suishen, leaving another burning wound. This time his magic penetrates Ito's natural defenses, causing further damage.

Parity vs Ito SR: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Still blinded in the brilliant light, Ito withdraws around the corner and into the shadows south, breaking line of sight and finding some sanctuary in the darkness there. His body appears as if it is leaking darkness, losing substance in wispy smoke that comes from his burning wounds.

The remaining graveknight spins and charges after Parity, looking to protect its master.

Graveknight vs Parity (charge/PA/haste): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (11) + 25 = 36; Damage: 1d10 + 19 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 19 + 6 = 32 plus Acid Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8
MI?: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Actions?

Round 5
AC:30, hp:80/130, Ki 3/11, Stun 7/13, Fire 8/10; dragon stance, fire, inspired, hasted, displaced (50% miss)

Heng sighs as he notes that he is still heading the wrong direction, but cannot leave Parity to face the forces of evil alone. He charges after the skeleton warrior, leaping to deliver a flying kick.

magic/silver/cold iron/lawful fist: 1d20 + 16 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 16 + 4 + 1 + 2 = 41
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 2 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 6 + 2 + 2 + 4 = 24 + fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Parity, committed to the attack, and last aware that the party was taking Ameiko to safety continues to pursue the evil necromancer, ignoring the graveknight next to him and urged on by Suishen's powerful reaction.

Why is it you are so effective against this thing?

Another similar attack with corrosive touch, this time swift casting mirror image to reup it prior to the assault (but after the move)

To hit: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 5d4 + 22 ⇒ (7) + (4) + (4, 2, 1, 1, 3) + 22 = 44
Spell Pen: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 = 17
Images: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Standing by the escape tunnel Harlan uses a channel.

Channel: 7d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 3, 3, 4, 2) = 26

Excluding baddies.

Malnival feels the healing surge from Harlan and fires a bem from his hand at the grave knight.

Rangef touch for scorching ray: :
Ray 11d20 + 15 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 15 + 3 = 31
Damage:4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 3) = 19

Ray 2:1d20 + 15 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 3 = 36
Damage:4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 3) = 13

Ray 3:1d20 + 15 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 3 = 23
Damage:4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 4) = 12

Kiyomi continues singing INSPIRE COURAGE +4 and fires at the evil Emperor!

Daikyu: 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 15 + 4 + 1 = 39 for 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 4 = 12 damage!
Daikyu, Haste: 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 4 + 1 = 36 for 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 4 = 7 damage!
Daikyu: 1d20 + 10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 4 + 1 = 27 for 1d8 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 4 = 6 damage!

Harlan heals everyone with a energy channel, except for Parity who is too far away.

Ito no longer in line-of-sight, Kiyomi takes aim at the remaining graveknight samurai, plugging it with three arrows for significant damage. Ameiko drops the corpse and continues her mocking performance against the undead.

Heng charges and lands a crunching kick into the back of the graveknight, driving a deep divot into its back armor. Malinval casts a triad of fiery rays into the undead, turning the rest of it into ash.

Malnival vs graveknight SR: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Parity chases Ito into the shadows. Out of Kiyomi's magical daylight and no longer blinded, the former emperor parries Suishen with one of its sword arms. Although he cannot see it, Parity senses Ito growing and regaining strength within the shadows. Ito says nothing as he counterattacks.

Ito vs Parity: 1d20 + 24 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 24 - 3 = 35; Damage: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (5, 5) + 11 = 21 plus Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 1) = 12; MI?: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Ito vs Parity: 1d20 + 24 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 24 - 3 = 27; Damage: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (5, 2) + 11 = 18 plus Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) = 10; MI?: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Ito vs Parity: 1d20 + 24 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 24 - 3 = 40; Damage: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 1) + 11 = 15 plus Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6) = 17; MI?: 1d6 ⇒ 6

*

Initiative Order (Round Three):
[23] Graveknights/Ito
[22] Harlan <<<
[18] Kiyomi
[17] Ameiko
[14] Heng
[11] Malnival
[06] Parity

Actions?

"I guess we're...uh...not running away then?"

Harlan Delays.

"Do we have to destroy the Emperor?" Kiyomi asks.

Round 6
AC:30, hp:106/130, Ki 3/11, Stun 7/13, Fire 8/10; dragon stance, fire, inspired, hasted, displaced (50% miss)

"Do we have to destroy the Emperor?" Kiyomi asks.

"I don't know that we can destroy it." Heng mutters to himself. "Parity, fall back! Destroying the demon would only be a pyrrhic victory if we are left too weakened to escape the Well. Remember your oath to the Empress." The monk returns to Ameiko's side and picks up the corpse again.

With a heavy sigh, Parity salutes the healing Emperor and withdraws (70 foot movement rate)

"Malnival, grab the light arrow and let us leave this foul pit."

Malnival nods his head and draws an arrow from his quiver. The magus speaks a waord of arcane power and the arrow glows with magical light.

i was specifically referring to Kiyomo's daylight arrow which seemed to frighten the creature, but whatever.

Been awhile! Lol i forgot about it.

Parity hesitantly falls back from the shadowy cave, joining the others outside in the water-filled cavern. Malnival grabs the glowing arrow on the way out, taking the light with you. The shadows fill the space behind you, and though you cannot see Ito, you can feel his cold hatred. The undead emperor does not pursue out into the main cavern.

End of Combat!

Using your flying magic, you withdraw up and out of the Well of Demons. None bar your exit, but you can feel many eyes following you on your way.

Once the party is clear, Heng sighs and frowns down of the pit. "Once the Empress is restored to her throne we should come back and destroy this place and the demons within for good." He shifts the corpse on his shoulder. "Now let us see the former Emperor restored with his body."

Harlan nods.

"Could we ever really cleanse this place? It's worth trying, but one impossible task at a time right?" He smiles at the group, casting about for any injuries that need immediate treatment.

Kiyomi smiles at Heng's optimism. "Indeed, sir Heng, it would be an epic task. Let us, as sir Harlan suggests, take one task at a time. My Empress, what is your next need?"

"Get the last emperor's blessing by putting his ghost to rest and then get out of this blighted land that Pharasma frowns on." Parity slams Suishen into his scabbard and then leads the way back, stalking angrily.

You make your way back through the cemetery and to the Imperial Shrine. Upon entering, the ghost of Higashiyama Shigure appears. He approaches slowly, and you can feel waves of shock and relief washing over the simmering rage. He examines his body with a sad look, then turns to you. "I thank you for your service. Now, see that my remains are cremated and properly interred here in an urn. Then the blessing of my family will be yours."

Heng looks to Kiyomi to provide instruction as to the proper protocol for cremating an Emperor. He offers to use one of the party's long held elixirs of fire breath to ignite the pyre.

Kiyomi thinks for a moment, before instructing Heng on the protocols. Taking 10 on Knowledge Nobility nets me a 33

Kiyomi is familiar enough with the proper noble and religious rites that she can guide the rest of you through it. The mausoleum also has the requisite cremation facilities to accomplish it easily. After Shigure's body is reduced to ash, you carefully collect the remains into an urn inscribed with the Higashiyama glyph. You return to the Imperial Shrine and place the urn among others of his family.

The ghost watches you, intent and silent, as you complete the solemn task. When finished, he nods, and you sense great relief, mixed with an undercurrent of sadness and regret. A cool spring breeze passes through the shrine, carrying the clean scent of fresh blossoms and sea water, and you notice too that the rage from Shigure is completely dispelled.

"You have restored my dignity and what little remains of my honor," Shigure says, bowing low with respect. "As I am, there is little I can do to properly repay you, but the blessing of the Higashiyama family is yours." With his blessing and all other tasks completed with honor and respect, you sense that the blessing of Amatatsu Onoko is granted as well. To Ameiko, he adds, "You are now invested with the blessings of all five royal families -- the Jade Throne will recognize you, if you can reclaim it from the usurper." There is a glimmer of the former anger, but it passes swiftly. "I wish you skill, wisdom and good fortune, for, as much as you've accomplished this far, your greatest task lies ahead."

"Before you depart, are there any questions I can answer?"

"I am still uncertain what the Oni of the Five Storms have to do with the Jade Emperor. They have harried us since Ameiko's heritage was revealed. Do they serve him or does he serve them?"

"Wait, did you not mention that an adviser named Anamurumon served the Jade Regent?"

"The Oni of the Five Storms are guiding the Regent for their own machinations ... I believe he is their puppet."

Shigure's eyes narrow, "Soto Anamurumon, he is Takahiro's grandfather. I did not interact with him directly. Takahiro brought him to court as a personal adviser. I understand he is his only living relative. Of course, anything I was told was likely a deception."

"I knew Takahiro for years, and he always seemed an honorable and dedicated friend..." he shakes his head sadly. "I was blind to their treachery until it was too late, and I did not perceive any connection between Takahiro, Meida or his grandfather and the oni."

"Our research has revealed that the leader of the Oni of the Five Storms is named Anamurumon as well. I do not think that it is a coincidence." Heng's eyes look back in the direction of the Well of Demons. "The deprivations that we saw in the House of Withered Blossoms rivaled the abominations within the Well. Minkai and the Empress will not be safe so long as either remain."

Heng pauses, lost in his thoughts. Then returns to the spirit. "We also read that the Oni leader is particularly vulnerable to the five ancient weapons of the royal families. I believe that we have recovered the Amatatsu and Higashiyama weapons, but do you know what or where the other weapons are?"

Shigure shakes his head, "I do not. They are likely lost, or well hidden. Those weapons are anathema to the oni, so if captured, they would probably destroy them. Although, some arrogant types might keep them as trophies." He ponders a moment, then nods and adds. "Within the depths of the palace is the Imperial Vault... the treasury of Minkai. Any valuables taken by Takahiro and his henchmen -- things they would want to keep out of sight and out of the hands of their enemies -- could be found there. I expect the Seal of the Higashiyama is there now."

"This may be a false hope, however, for the vault is guarded by a sovereign dragon. She is an ancient and wise creature, and is bound to protect the vault's contents. Only those with the authority of the Jade Throne can access the treasures therein."

"A dragon. Great...."

"Surely an honorable dragon will see the Empress' right and will not bar our way!" Kiyomi says in a slightly awed voice.

"You are right, Kiyomi, but probably not before it eats Mal ...", Parity cracks a rare joke and smile.

The elf frowns at his friend and kicks a rock on the walk way. "It did not eat me!...Just chewed on me a little..."

"Surely an honorable dragon will see the Empress' right and will not bar our way!" Kiyomi says in a slightly awed voice.

"She does not serve Ameiko, nor me when I was emperor. She does not serve Takahiro, either -- her oath is to the Jade Throne itself, empowered by Shizuru. Despite his treachery, Takahiro currently has legitimate command of the throne."

Heng frowns at Malnival. 'You need to be more wary and pay attention, Malnival. Remember that you have a wife and soon a child."

Heng again queries the dead emperor, "We have diverted most of the Jade Imposter's army, but the Typhoon Guard guard Kasai well. Is there a hidden way into the palace so that we may focus our efforts directly on removing the false emperor as quickly as possible."

Shigure shakes his head, "No. The palace was designed to be secure. If there are secret passages, I do not know of them. I suppose you could fly in, given your means, but that approach will be watched and guarded."

"Yes, we are aware of that. We were invisible and attempted to fly into Kasai last time and it did us no good. We narrowly avoided the guards. Perhaps we should travel at night and rely on more mundane disguises."

Kiyomi smiles at Heng. "I can aid you with such disguises, sir Heng. I am adept at makeup."

Heads up, I will be traveling from March 12-15. I will probably have some Internet access, but please NPC me as needed during this time!

Heng has finished his questioning of the former Emperor and turns to the others. "Did not Onoko ask that we return to her after we have secured the blessings of the other families?"

Eh, I just handwaved the 'return to Onoko' step and assumed she was paying attention. You got the Amatatsu blessing when you completed Shigure's task. But you're more than welcome to seek her out, or any other spirits, if you so desire.

"Should we return now to Kasai? Master Asachi may have some suggestions on how to infiltrate the palace."

Heng rubs a hand over his tattooed scalp. "I do not wish to endanger Asachi by spending too much time with him. Perhaps we should be fully prepared to enter the palace before we leave this place. I should like to stop at the entry shrine and give my respects before we leave. We may wish to rest there and then make our way to Kasai."

Heng wishes to offer himself in service to Shizuru at the shrine where the snaky lady was first encountered.

"You will be as safe here as anywhere. Excepting the Well of Demons, the rest of the Shrine will be accommodating to you. The oni cannot access this island, and Takahiro would have to ferry any henchmen across with him. I doubt he will leave the palace to attack you here, assuming he even knows you're here," Shigure says.

Heng bows to the former emperor and suggests that the group rest at the shrine near where they were originally arrived on the island.

I guess it was actually a Temple to Shizuru

Once they have returned to the Temple to rest, Heng sits in meditation in front of the Golden Dragon idol and offers prayers to Shizuru. He does not know if it was in fact Iro-shu that his hermit father worshiped, but after trying to follow in his father's steps for so long, Heng thinks that it is now time to forge his own path. Although, he will always honor his father, it is not Iro-shu that speaks to the virtuous wanderer, but Shizuru. He cannot just retreat to distant mountains to pursue self-perfection as his father did. To do so would cede this world to the demons and dark spirits that lurk in the shadows, ready to spread death and misery. Heng will never wield a sword, but he prays to Shizuru that he may be her silver blade to restore justice and virtue to these stolen lands.

As he sits in meditation, he ponders the way to most effectively remove the Jade Regent and restore Ameiko to the Jade Throne.

alright, Heng is pledging himself to Shizuru and using Mystic Insight i.e. divination for any additional guidance in taking out the JR.