Doug M's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

nope, still LE. (Asmodeus doesn't have a lot of antipaladins, and he doesn't allow the lesser archdevils to have any at all. This has led to the popular misconception that only CE characters can be antipals.)

Bref stops his lesson with Morsum and races down the hall shouting at the sky

GOBLIN STILL LONELY!!!

He runs taking random turns. LEFT...RIGHT...RIGHT...LEFT...STRAIGHT...LEFT...RIGHT.

Then he stops and looks around. He pulls his chef's hat on tight and chews gently on his rolling pin.

3d8 points of damage.

What it feels like? It feels like going into a room and petting a cat that doesn't want to be petted, and that suddenly turns and slashes your hand.

SNAP CRACK A blue-white spark of lightning arcs from the book's iron cover. Jax is knocked flat on his back on the carpeted floor.

You have the strong impression the book is conscious and playing with you.

The teifling howls in agony and spasms for a moment on the floor before leaping to his feet. He snarls and spits a string of curses at the book. He stalks away from it and walks over to the library walls, starting to pull books out.

Fine. Let's see if there's anything here that discusses what exactly you are..

Jax is going to attempt to research in the library, rolling whatever checks necessary (Know: Arcane +7, Spellcraft +8) to figure out what the book may be using the words that he managed to read.

The knight squeezes his eyes shut for a moment before looking back at the Cardinal. "I lost."

"Of course you did, my son. You are but a wolf cub. This is a leader of the pack of Hell itself." The Cardinal chuckles. "I have seen Sir Marcel tear the wings from an angel for a moment's respite from boredom."

Sir Edmin shakes his head, still dizzy with the rush of infernal power... and the memories. Fragments of his memories. Sir Marcel's. Some of his memories and the... the flavor of his thought. Does it go both ways? Does he have some of my memories too?

The Cardinal begins to make a sweeping arcane gesture. Sir Edmin turns and looks back at the dark figure standing before the altar. Baron Marcel Wolfram, torturer and tyrant, murderer and monster, proud and fearless champion of the King of Hell. Upon his belt he wears an iron buckle with a single numeral on it: I.

We'll meet again. Which of them is thinking that?

Sir Edmin doesn't have time to consider the question as something big and impossible picks him up and shuffles him back to Horn House.

Fine. Let's see if there's anything here that discusses what exactly you are..

Jax is going to attempt to research in the library, rolling whatever checks necessary (Know: Arcane +7, Spellcraft +8) to figure out what the book may be using the words that he managed to read.

You get +5 to Arcane and +2 to Spellcraft rolls while in here, but the DCs on this one may be rather high. You can make two rolls per day, and you can't take 20.

Bs pbhefr, lbh PBHYQ nyjnlf whfg nfx fbzrbar. Vg'f abg yvxr lbh'er qbja va n qhatrba be fbzrguvat...

Back in his room, Sir Edmin looks at himself in the mirror. His nose is very different now, but... not so bad. He closes his eyes. Different on the outside. Different on the inside? Yes. Things seem to have fallen into place somehow.

The servant girl, eyes downcast, brings him a basin of water to wash his injuries. Sir Edmin glances at her. Is it the same one he shouted at earlier? He's not even sure. He was so angry then. Well. He is still angry. But the anger is... different now. Focused.

Sir Edmin is a Champion of Asmodeus now.

Sir Edmin has a purpose.

GOBLIN STILL LONELY!!!

Also mutilated, in terrible pain, and hungry. Sometimes it's not easy being the Smartest Goblin Ever.

This is an interesting dilemma. I have no interest in being a thrall to a lesser just because he or she was a vampire before me. At the same time by your own words your minion has not had the most success in his attempts to create lycanthropes and we both know that even a powerful werewolf or wererat is a pittance to a weak vampire.

The Cardinal nods. "It's true. These were, you might say, proofs of concept."

I am a believer in the arcane and the divine.

"We may mobilize these resources as well, depending on how things go... you understand, my dear Judge, I would like you to succeed. A vampire Lord Chief Justice would fit my vision of Dark Talingarde very well. But at this time we have only a few truly powerful arcane and divine casters. In fact, we have but one of each. And he and I are both fully occupied at the moment."

Cardinal Thorn steeples his fingers again. "For now, let us try this. Allow Zargo to examine you. I will instruct him to make this research a priority. He's going to have some spare time anyway, now that he's finished tapping the last of those captive adventurers..." The Cardinal looks thoughtful. "Yes, you can tell him to flush that one now. He'll want to try for another brain-in-a-jar. Tell him I specifically forbid it. In fact, tell him no more experimentation along those lines until further notice. They take up much too much of his time, and they all end up catatonic or insane. Well, all except for B-21. And we're certainly not going through that again."

The Cardinal rises and smiles. "Let us say this then, dear Judge. You will allow Dr. Zargo to examine you and to research the possibilities. I in turn will assure you that no action will be taken without your prior approval and consent. I agree, we certainly don't want you being accidentally turned into an alchemical ghoul or some such ridiculous thing. I need you healthy and sane."

well he tried eating already this day and couldn't so he drank, then later he took off.where did he end up when he ran away?

Init 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 Dren would not allow the other witch to complete her spell...

Tohram rises with the Judge:
Yes, healthy and sane are rather important to me as well. Which brings me to a question. With my . . . circumstances . . . I have a bit of a problem with most magical healing. Now, one such as yourself capable of drawing on the darkness of the pit would have no problem healing me. However, I doubt you will be out there in this "civilization" called Talingarde, and from my limited experience with those who escaped from the prison, none can call upon the dark energy to heal me. Would you have access to a Wand that would call upon the cold power of Hell to renew my body? I believe either one which would cause me, or the others, to heal rapidly much like the denizens of the pit, or one which would simply call up the dark negative energy of our Lord. Both of these would be usable by me, and the one that speeds up healing like a devil should be usable by all in the party.

The reason I ask this is because, to say the least, I would not expect to find either in this holy mockery worshipping land, and I thought you might be able to access one. After all, as you just said, keeping me sane and healthy is rather important.

Jax gets to work then and spends the whole day here. As he works, he winces from time to time, stretching slightly blackened fingers and aching muscles.
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Jax gets to work then and spends the whole day here. As he works, he winces from time to time, stretching slightly blackened fingers and aching muscles.

1d20+12
1d20+12

Yup - Dicebot hates Jax.

1d100 ⇒ 50

"My dear son, Asmodeus helps those who helps themself. You're a resourceful man, Judge. I'm sure you'll think of something." The Cardinal purses his mouth thoughtfully. "Mind, the Eighth Knot has a cleric of our Father. One of the few. And the Seventh Knot, also... no, wait, he died. Never mind."

"I generally leave you young people to settle Knot-Knot relationships amongst yourselves, as long as nobody is actually maimed or killed. So, feel free to discuss the matter with him. Trik, he calls himself."

Tohram bows his head: Thank you Father, I shall talk to Trik and see what can be arranged.

If there is nothing else, Tohram thanks the Cardinal and heads back to his room so that he can call Morsum to play with Toothpick. He also seeks out the alchemically deranged dwarf and instructs him that the Cardinal has granted him right to examine me, but that I am not to be harmed in any manner.

Sir Edmin looks the girl over for a moment and smiles."Go wash yourself and then draw me a bath my dear. I will be requiring your assistance for the evening."

The knight moves to the table and pours himself a glass of wine. " Also, have someone bring more wine and food, enough for us both. We will need to keep up our strength, for tonight I have something to celebrate."

Finding nothing of interest Bref returns to his room. He orders a servant to bring him lots of soft food and booze every 3 hours. He then proceeds to build a massive fort in his room. Passages,non lethal traps whole nine yards.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR FIRST ANTIPALADIN LEVEL

BRAVO Edmin and DM!

DM to try and preserve the sequence of event I will post in the discussion thread a more speedy summery of Cуровую's actions from the day prior to this meeting.

-

Initiative 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Spellcraft 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Is my 'dear' cousin actually casting a spell or is she making an attempt at bluffing and trying to provoke me into starting the fight, if and only if she is actually going to release a spell then I will use a Force Missile to disrupt her spell.

Bluff 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

'I have been named the Hand of the lord Cardinal and have been in compact with him and have his favor. To strike at me is to strike at him! Who do you think requested your presence here sweet Elise?'

Edit: Turned my perception check into spellcraft instead, if perception is needed then the roll is 18.

Judge you learned a juicy bit of information there, our host is the only high level priest here, although what he considers 'high' may be relative and there is a high level wizard allied to them, perhaps he or she made the veil.

You have just an instant to realize that your cousin is bluffing. She's not casting an actual spell -- she's just waving her arms. When she realizes you're onto her, she shifts smoothly to a sweeping, sarcastic gesture of greeting and a mocking bow.

"Ah, of course -- the Ninth and final Knot. The bottom of the barrel. Well, an enterprise like this needs expendables, and the Cardinal is a man who appreciates comic relief." Elise sits back down, a picture of elegant contempt. "Watching you rub yourself against every male around you in a sad attempt at manipulation? I've always found that entertaining. So I'm sure our dear Cardinal will get a chuckle out of it as well."

You have just an instant to realize that your cousin is bluffing. She's not casting an actual spell -- she's just waving her arms. When she realizes you're onto her, she shifts smoothly to a sweeping, sarcastic gesture of greeting and a mocking bow.

-

Cуровую will return the gesture, but making sure her bow is two fractions of a degree higher and not as low as Elise's,

'Dearest cousin, SO good to see you here, the lord Cardinal did fulfill my request. I was getting quite homesick, nothing like your charm and whiles to put a layer of frost on this manse.'

Cуровую continues with a wry smile, 'and don't worry, I shall leave all the men here to you, after all its you who got all the beauty, I had to content myself with having intelligence, ambition, skill and everything else. I was never the dependent one craving validation.'

Hey if you've got it flaunt it.

There are three others at Elise's table, all male. They wear the VIII badge.

Two of them are fair-skinned, dark-haired men of medium height with identical features... either some odd magical effect, or they are identical twins. One is dressed in green and wears leather armor. The other wears a chain shirt and prominently displays a golden holy symbol of Asmodeus.

The third man is tall and slender, and has the unmistakable features of a half-elf. He has a massive two-handed sword slung over his back.

As Elise speaks, green leather frowns; holy symbol smirks, obviously amused; and half-elf glares at you with hatred.

A white bird flutters down from above and lands on Elise's shoulder. It turns and looks at you with eyes that are much too intelligent for a bird.

Zimu, make a DC 16 Will save, please.

-

'Only three men, sweetest cousin? '

Cуровую looks genuinely puzzled.

'Are they particualrty potently virile or have you become more conservative in your old age?'

'Then again, your special variation of Enlarge did wonders when your harem was small in number.'

Cуровую is one part bluster, one part bluff, one part thanking fate that Bref and Dren are in the same area, two parts playing the Game her siblings have done for millennia.

The Game continues
-

Sense Motive 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Cуровую is too focused on her cousin (and why shouldn't she, she is the biggest threat here) to notice the men.

Will 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Hey I found the low rolls!

A spine chilling hand grasps at Cуровую, she loses her nerve and stops baiting bitcqueen .. er her cousin, and will definitely ask Bref into looking into having white bird stew up as a repast soon. She walks towards the Gob, trying to keep her trembling in check. Damn the whore. Oh my pardon, damn my dearest cousin, the whore.

sense motive vs. DC 22 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

sense motive vs. DC 14 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Dren stands back and watches the sparring going on between the two women. He is facinated by their exchange and just too absorbed to notice anyhing else.
He doesn't register the insult, it's not so subtle meaning lost on his almost alien mind.
He watches the others carefully, he is hoping to judge their reactions to see if they are hostile to the 9th knot or possibly just don't care.

At the end of the exchange he asks his companion of the 9th knot, Do the two of you always interact in this manner?
What is it's purpose?
Do you seek dominance over each other?
Do you wish to destroy each other?
I am sorry for all of the questions. This will be the first time I have spent a extended period of time away from the lab...I am facinated by human interactions.

[b]Do the two of you always interact in this manner?

What is it's purpose?
Do you seek dominance over each other?
Do you wish to destroy each other?

From a game standpoint, if say, at level 8 or so, were Cуровую to have my hands wrapped around Elise's neck and her hands around mine as we plummet down a waterfall, I would be quite content with this campaign.

Something about your cousin causes you to roll badly...

Elise lets her gaze roam over your companions. She stares for several moments at Bref, whose head is still grotesquely swollen. The hint of a smile quirks at one corner of her elegant mouth.

"Dear Zimu. Still the same vulgar little creature." Elise leans back and takes a sip from her glass. "In a way, it's good to see you. You've been here less than a day and your companions are already collecting Corrections. By next week I suspect you'll pick up a Level Three, with the Fire and the Worm. That'll be something to see. Watching the Seventh was fun, but this will be so much better."

"And then of course there's your final examination. We've already passed ours, of course, without any serious difficulties. We leave tomorrow, on a mission. You, on the other hand..." Elise looks up at the ceiling, a little dreamily. "Trik, how many casualties did the Seventh take going through there?"

"Well, that depends." Holy Symbol is grinning broadly. "That druid who came back as a kobold... do we count him once, or twice?"

"Say, once."

"Okay, then... one hundred and eighty percent casualties."

"Thought so. Thank you, Trik. Always good to have someone who can do the numbers." Elise turns back to you. "So you'll understand that I'm truly sorry when I say I won't be here to watch your short and eventful career as a servant of Hell. But I very much look forward to hearing about it after the fact."

Elise stands up. "Well. If we're headed for the frozen wastelands of the North, I'm going to want a last hot bath first. I'll see you at the second bell, my friends." She glances at Zimu again. "As for you, little cousin... goodbye." She sweeps out of the room. A moment later, the white bird glides after her.

There's a moment of silence. Then Holy Symbol laughs out loud.

"Nine Hells and an outhouse! I'm glad we stayed the extra day. I wouldn't have wanted to miss this."

"Come on, sit down. The scrambled eggs are good today. Who are you people, and how did you come here?"

Bref still threw the hammock. He did not stop. Damage was way back, and it was certainly a hit.

SM1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"So you'll understand that I'm truly sorry when I say I won't be here to watch your short and eventful career as a servant of Hell. But I very much look forward to hearing about it after the fact."

-

Some of her confidence returning,

'Do be most careful sweetest cousin, and please I pray and beseech you, don't get yourself killed while your away'

Switching to tongue of Auld Giant

'Because, as you well know, nothing in this world or the next, would be more agonizing to me than missing hearing you scream as you die'

Bref still threw the hammock. He did not stop. Damage was way back, and it was certainly a hit.

I figured you would want to hold off on that. Certainly Zimu could tell you to stop -- talking is a free action.

But if you're sure you want to go through with it, you can... are you sure?

Dren takes the invitation and sits down...
Thank you...I am Dren, the Goblin is Bref, and you know of the female Zimu. They escaped Branderscar prison, I don't know their story yet, I just joined them...my road was quite a bit easier. I was rescued by Tiadora from the authorities as my master was involved in plotting against the realm, she thought I may be of use to the 9th.
You have been here long?
What is this "final examination" that you are speaking about?

Absolutely. She did not say stop. Bref threw then hid as before, besides a hamhock must be non-lethal and I am following the third loyalty here. I am beyond reproach. Now if you are out of game telling me not to do it then that is a different story

-

Bref please see discussion thread, I really appreciate the Goblin Chivalry and trust me I have your back too, BUT lets save the food fight for another day. Think of how many pies and cured hams you can throw while Hasted

Edit: posted 39 seconds after Bref! Bref if you do a DC 8 Sense Motive you'll see that Cуровую got this!

TOO LAAATE!! Goblin throws then flees!

Bref wrote:

Bref still threw the hammock. He did not stop. Damage was way back, and it was certainly a hit.

I figured you would want to hold off on that. Certainly Zimu could tell you to stop -- talking is a free action.

But if you're sure you want to go through with it, you can... are you sure?

Actually Dren was going to say something if Zimu didn't...I assumed her statement called us both off. If possible Dren would also get in the way of the hamhock or stop him if possible...

Mage Hand to tap the Gob and reassure him its ok?

Bref has Int 16, he should pick up on some of this.

Elise the white bitc wrote:

"So you'll understand that I'm truly sorry when I say I won't be here to watch your short and eventful career as a servant of Hell. But I very much look forward to hearing about it after the fact."

-

Cуровую fights though the fear, and makes it toward Bref.

Some of her confidence returning,

'Do be most careful sweetest cousin, and please I pray and beseech you, don't get yourself killed while your away'

Switching to tongue of Auld Giant

'Because, as you well know, nothing in this world or the next, would be more agonizing to me than missing hearing you scream as you die'

-

Besides I was winning that one.

I'm glad we stayed the extra day. I wouldn't have wanted to miss this."

"Come on, sit down. The scrambled eggs are good today. Who are you people, and how did you come here?"

-

Cуровую remains standing for the moment, but smiles

'My thanks for the offer, but I am unaccustomed to sitting with men I have not yet met. Perhaps if you shared your names we could get past that bit of a hurdle.'

Cуровую eyes each of the men in turn, 'Now then, which of you most lucky of fellows does my sweet cousin distrust the least?'

'You can tell me which one(s) among you are her lovers, or I can simply look for the most scratched up or the ones who have sever eye conditions. I do intend to congratulate your constitution for getting past her stench.'

On the other hand. I suppose it depends WHEN this happens. If Bref is still really scarred and CHA damaged then he certainly is not there. That means he cannot eat without pain and would not go to lunch. So I suppose it might not happen. Fair enough. No hamhock. As before Bref is in his room making and imporving his fort. Leaving only to put out his chamber pot, collect his food and more supplies for his fort, and the occasional Necril lesson from Morsum

And get booze, by food of course I mean soft stuff

Actually I would love for Bref to be there, so you can identify the white bird, I want you to start designing a full banquet with that white bird as the centerpiece de resistance.

Well, here's what will happen. Elise will yell that she's being attacked. Tiadora will show up quickly. Elise will try to imply that the entire Ninth Knot participated in the attack, but this won't fly. Tiadora will come after Bref and catch him. (You cannot avoid Tiadora in the mansion. You probably can't avoid her outside the mansion, either.)

The 'Third Loyalty' defense will not fly, because Elise was not actually attacking you. Asmodeus does not accept "I fell for a Bluff" as a defense. Also, Tiadora dislikes Bref and wants to torture him. (Well, she dislikes everybody, but she particularly dislikes Bref.)

Being tortured by Tiadora could result in changes to your character that could make Bref less fun to play. So, last time: are you sure?

Will have some comments and statements in about 20 minutes. Did not realize we were all in the room when the Cy/Elise show was going on.

Ninja'd. Okay, Bref is not there. (Upon consideration, that works -- he probably wouldn't be.)

Actually I would love for Bref to be there, so you can identify the white bird, I want you to start designing a full banquet with that white bird as the centerpiece de resistance.

Did not realize we were all in the room when the Cy/Elise show was going on.

It's breakfast of your first full day at the mansion, after a good night's sleep. Anyone who wants to be there, is.

Jax watches the entire exchange between Cimu and her cousin impassively, he's already sat down to eat. When the other members of the group offer their table, he bounds up and switches seats.

Well, looks like we ended up with two cats in our knots, eh? How are you fellows doing today? You can call me Jax and you might be..?