GMTrex's 3-25 Storming the Diamond Gate (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

Khakil leers intensely at Trifle and Gaidal then shrugs.

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A tall and stately tiefling with short horns hidden in her long black hair wanders into the room, hand on the pommel of her longsword.

"Sorry I'm late," she says, "There I was giving good work for mediocre pay when the owner of the ship decided to sail off with the ship half-done and all us builders on board! He thought he could get away with stealing our labor before shoving us off into the sea. Well...we took care of that!"

The woman's grip on her pommel tightens as she runs her tongue over her fangs.

"Anyway, I'm Trifle, we're all Pathfinders, and the master of swords wants us to go on some hare-brained adventure into the tapestry, kill all the Aspis scum, and activate some portal but don't go in. Did I get that right? It seems straightforward enough. Let's go already!"

I'll update Trifle's page later, but she's now fifth level. Good for killing Aspis scum.

Ivy giggles at Khakil

"Charmed," states Khakil.

He clasps his hands together and cracks his knuckles before stepping towards the tapestry.

"Shall we, then?"

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Khakil spends his hour doing research; the rest of you can make last-minute purchases if need be.

"Right. If there are no more questions, then get your butts in there. Good luck."

The process of entering the tapestry is a bit of an ordeal. You are lowered via block and tackle to one very specific spot on the Tapestry. After ensuring you are touch the right place (a symbol of three nasty, hooked sickles) the Venture Captain utters the command word and you are sucked into the Tapestry.

Inside, it is HOT. The last rays of the demiplane's arcane sun dwindle over the horizon, bathing the landscape in an eerie twilight. Behind each of you is a glowing, 2-foot diameter globe of blue light that only you can see -- your essence marker, and your return home.

A hundred feet ahead, a great stone sphinx rises over a sea of brown sand, breaking the otherwise monotonous, dune-filled horizon. Flanking the impressive sculpture, two faceless statues stare eternally into the endless desert. A faint flicker of torchlight dances from within the stone structure, causing the sphinx to belch out strange shadows at irregular intervals. A quiet rustling of nearby palms and the gentle splashing of water offer refuge from the hot sun.

Cott glances at Trifle "About time you joined us. " He gives a sharp whistle and reaches out to scratch Jenny, his faithful raptor companion, on the head as she stalks over to stand by his side. "Enough chit chat. Let's get to it then. "

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"There! " Khakil urges the others. "Let's make haste to the palms for cover. The Aspis will surely have lookouts scanning the horizon."

He scans his surroundings and tries to recall any relevant information he can on this type of area while dashing towards the trees.
Knowledge (geography): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Once he puts a tree between himself and the sphinx, Khakil changes into his hot weather gear.

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Cott hangs back as the bard rushes forward and scans the oasis before proceeding. Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

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Cott quickly notices some tracks in the sand, coming from the sphinx and going around the oasis. Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 There are a LOT of tracks, all going in one direction, but you surmise that this is probably the course of a regularized patrol rather than a whole army moving at once. The number of distinct tracks is difficult to discern but you think it's probably about three.

Speaking of which... you hear a gaggle of voices coming from the stairs below the sphinx's blank faces -- growing louder.

MAP is now updated (see "Campaign Info"). You have 1 round or so before the patrol emerges, so use it wisely. If you're going to try to hide and set up an ambush, please roll a stealth check in addition to whatever else you're doing.

Alerted by the noise, Khakil readies his shield and draws his rapier as he crouches down in the shade of a tree.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

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Upon seeing the tracks and hearing the approaching voices, Cott quickly ducks in amongst the trees with Khakil and motions Jenny to his side Cott Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Jenny Stealth : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

He closes his eyes, concentrates for a moment and winces as claws sprout from his fingers and his mouth fills with fangs. Use Totemic Transformation - Natural Weapons

He flashes Khakil a fang filled grin and whispers "I wasn't expecting the fun to start so soon."

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I picture Jenny smoothly slinking through the sand and shade of the trees like a zephyr, followed by Cott flailing his arms and doing that Monty Python walk.

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Trifle frowns at Cott, who somehow manages to be louder while rummaging around under the palm tree than his raptor does. She ducks behind the tree as well.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Trifle will draw her sword and wait.

Of course she's quieter than me, she's a small, dexterous, ambush predator. I'm not. Yet. Give it another level and I can be a dinosaur too.

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FYI folks, you need something to hide behind; use the map. Rolling stealth while standing in the open desert ain't gonna get you much. :P

Not that it's likely to matter, given that Cott just released a foghorn-sized fart.

After watching most of the party hide successfully Ivy moves to duck behind the tree by Khakil. Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Hey, that was MY tree. It was enough for just me. They all ignored the GIANT ROCK right next to them.

1d20 + 6 - 14 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 14 = 1
1d20 + 6 - 14 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 14 = 12
1d20 + 6 - 14 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 14 = 7

A trio of well-armed humans emerge from the Sphinx just as Cott lets go the loudest fart you've ever heard. You hear the mutterings of a hurried curried conversation as the trio quickly retreats back inside.

Cott mutters an oath as the figures notice him and retreat back inside. "Well, no helping it now, they know that we're here. After them!"

He flexes his claws, emerges from the trees and sets off at a run towards the sphinx with Jenny at his side.

This use of Totemic Transformation will only last 1 minute. Let me know when that time has elapsed

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Trifle furrows her brow as she looks at the running druid. "Hey, Cott!" she calls, "Get back here. It's best to walk in with a PLAN!"

Trifle mutters under her breath about amateur pathfinders stumbling into Aspis nests.

Ivy huffs in aggravation and agreement with Trifle "What do you suggest? They are sure to alert other Aspis and have some form of defense against intruders.." Ivy hunkers down lower and takes out her Black Blade. "What can you sense around us, Faerahrn? Any traps between here and the Sphinx?" Ivy telepathically asks her Blade.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

"Is anyone especially good at lying? I mean, as long as we don't openly look like Pathfinders we might be able to at least get in the door before they notice."

Khakil hastily casts message after Cott.

"Would you calm down and get back here? Even if they assume that the pathfinder society has been sent here after hearing a mere flatulence, it wouldn't matter because you're likely running straight into a trap! Come back here before you bull rush into that danger zone. "

Khakil sheaths his rapier and walks out from the brush.

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Cott slows to a halt, glances longingly at the portal to the sphinx where the men had fled, and then trots back over to his companions. He grimaces as his saurian features recede. "Alright let's hear your plan then."

Khakil smirks at Trifle.

"Honey, that's what I live for."

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"My understanding is that the high level members of the Aspis conceal their identities, so these guardsmen won't know any difference if we act like we belong. Khakil, does that sound like something you could manage? The rest of us could sheath our weapons and pose as your menacing guard." Ivy crinkles her Elven features into a scowl. "Between Cott's animal-like visage and two females, such as us, I think we could maintain a believable guard. What say you, Trifle?"

Khakil swings around his backpack and takes to his knee. "It would have helped if we had actually gotten eyes on any Aspis to see if they shared any sort of uniform or emblem..." laments Khakil as he rummages through his backpack. "but I feel I have the ability to try and fit in nonetheless."

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"Did none of you study the Aspis during the hour given to us by the Master of Swords?" Ivy sighs and looks skyward. "Gozreh, help me," she mutters. "The Aspis symbol is a gold shield with a snake. Low level members carry a bronze item hidden on their person. Silver ranks higher than bronze and those members carry a hidden item as well."

While you guys are preparing to enter the building, I'd like to get a preferred march order for use throughout the scenario. You can change it at any time, but this will be the default otherwise.

As a baseline (chosen randomly by me), here's the current "default" march order:

Cott
Jenny
Ivy
Khakil
Gaidal
Trifle

Cott looks incredulous. "The Aspis know only two groups have access to this demi plane. Us and them. So if your plan is to convince them that you're a high ranking member of their organization that they've somehow never heard of, never seen before, and didn't come through their end of the portal... well you'd better be a real m!$%~~+$#%%& of a bluffer. Lead on then, the big man and I will follow your lead. " Says Cott, nodding at Gaidel.

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"Actually, there are many individuals and groups that have been preserved - well, trapped, really - in the tapestry for centuries. Didn't you all meet that funny tribe of Korada-worshippers in the temple? They weren't Aspis or Pathfinders, they were just unlucky as hell. We could pretend to be mercenaries who'd been stuck here for hundreds of years and want to sign up to defend their sphinx! It would make for some fun lies, at any rate."

"Oh, come now!" exclaims Khakil. "You know as well as I that this will be so much more fun than merely bull rushing in. Don't be so cynical. "

He begins to prepare his disguise as a member of the Consortium, noting Ivy's intelligence.

"Besides, you are incorrect about who could have access to this realm. Areshkagal is a goddess of portals, amongst other things. Who knows how stable they all are, or if the Aspis even know of each one!"

Ivy turns to Cott and asks sweetly, "You thinking running into an ambush, farting loudly, and giving the enemy the upper hand is a better idea, Druid? Do try to remember we are intending to live through this, won't you?" After batting her eyelashes at Cott, Ivy addresses the rest of the party. "I'm still open to other ideas, just sharing the information that I know. Does anyone have another suggestion?"

"I came here to kill Aspis, not play dress up. But if you want to put on a little mummer's farce to get us inside, it's all the same to me as long as the end result is the same. So what's our cover story then? "

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"Just keep your fanged mouth shut and I'll handle the rest," Khakil ensures the skeptical Druid. "This approach will provide a better opportunity to gather intelligence, and possibly find out additional Aspis plots. It would do you good to communicate with actual people instead of your pets, for once."

Khakil finishes his disguise as a ranking member of the Aspis and begins to trudge through the sand towards the sphinx, beckoning the others to follow.

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New march order: Khakil, Cott, Jenny, Ivy, Gaidal, Trifle.

At the top of the stairs, the great stone head of a the faceless sphinx towers over you. Torchlight from within illuminates the stairs and spills out into the growing darkness of the desert. You hear no sound other than your own footfalls and the faint gusting of the wind over the dunes.

Cott keeps a wary eye and ear out as he proceeds forward besides Khakil, while doing his best to pass as an unassuming bodyguard.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

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Ivy lays her hand against the comforting hilt of Faerahrn to gain additional information about their surroundings and quietly follows the group.
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

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Khakil glances at each obelisk as he walks by.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

He figures, 'why not?' and casts prestidigitation to create a miniature bronze replica, which he pockets. He shifts his eyes to the entryway and checks to see if anything looks suspicious or out of the ordinary.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

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Khakil doesn't notice anything out of the ordinary. Are you going in?

Khakil ascends the steps into the sphinx with an air of confidence.

The stairs go DOWN, not up.

Khakil leads the descent, weapons sheathed and shields stowed, with a haughty look on his face. He doesn't even reach the bottom step before three arrows fly towards the bard. No greeting. No challenge. No warning.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 HIT DMG: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (2) = 4
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 HIT DMG: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (4) = 7
Arrow 3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 HIT DMG: 1d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (5) = 8

TOTAL DMG (Khakil): 19 (Please update your HP entry in Class/Levels as we go along.)

Initiative!

Khakil: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Cott: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Ivy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Gaidal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Trifle: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Baddies: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Surprise Round: three bowmen stand up from behind crates and shoot at Khakil, wounding him seriously.

Round I
Ivy: CURRENT
Khakil:
Cott:
Baddies:
Gaidal:
Trifle:

Ivy is up first! Keep in mind that your weapons, etc., are currently stowed.

MAP is updated.

EDIT: (For some description of the room.) The dusty stairs from the desert outside open into a large antechamber filled with all manner of crates, boxes, and other storage containers. A large mahogany desk rests in front of two bookshelves that hold several thick, black leather ledgers. Three pegs jut out from the wall near the double door that leads from this chamber to the south.

How did Arrow 3 hit me? My AC w/o a shield should be at 17. Also Cory just informed me that he has no intention of playing this at any point. We should send Gaidal back through his portal.

How did Arrow 3 hit me? My AC w/o a shield should be at 17. Also Cory just informed me that he has no intention of playing this at any point. We should send Gaidal back through his portal.

Flat footed AC. Re: Gaidal, thanks, I'll pull him out.

Ivy unsheaths her Black Blade and takes a five foot step into the Sphinx, while casting Daze at the Aspis to the right of the door way.

Khakil snaps one of the arrow ends sticking out of him in half as performs his signature move and drops to the ground.

"Not a word, wild man!" he yells at Cott as he equips his shield.

"I knew this was a stupid idea." Growls Cott as Khakil drops to the ground.

He barks a command in an odd tongue none of his companions can comprehend while pointing to the bowman straight ahead.

The raptor screeches and is across the room in an instant, reaching out to slash at the northern most bowman with a razor sharp talon.
talon: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10talon damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Cott then draws his Wand of Cure Light Wounds and jabs angrily at the bleeding Bard.
touch attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13healing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

1d8+3

Since it's a wand, you use the wand's creator's caster level rather than your own, which, in this case, is 1 unless you spent crazy money (wands cost spell level x caster level x 750gp). So that's 1d8+1 healing (for 8 total).

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 FAIL

Ivy steps up and knocks one guard out of commission temporarily. Khakil plays dead and Cott helps him out a bit. Jenny runs in, talon at the ready, but can't get purchase.

Alarmed by the presence of a dinosaur, the two un-dazed Aspis team up to take Jenny down. One does a diving barrel roll over his crate to get behind Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 SUCCESS while the other runs up to occupy the first's former position. Both drop their bows and draw rapiers.

Rapier: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7 MISS
Rapier: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24 HIT DMG: 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + (1) = 8 DMG 8

Round I
Ivy: daze
Khakil: plays dead, readies shield
Cott: Jenny misses, Cott heals the bard for 8
Baddies: flank Jenny, score one hit
Trifle: CURRENT

Trifle to finish Round I!

Trifle hops over Khakil's body (the question of why, precisely, the bard is on the floor briefly registers before she refocuses on the two Aspises flanking the odd little raptor) and darts forward into the room.

"Sorry, friend!" she shouts, before a burst of brilliant color flies from her outstretched hand toward the Aspis scum and the raptor.

Sorry for taking forever to post.

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 SUCCESS
Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 FAIL

The southern flanker passes out, unable to process the riotous colors from Trifle's hand.

Jenny also needs to make a Will save. DC is 15, I believe.

Round I Summary
Ivy: daze
Khakil: plays dead, readies shield
Cott: Jenny misses, Cott heals the bard for 8
Baddies: flank Jenny, score one hit
Trifle: color spray

Round II
Ivy: CURRENT
Khakil:
Cott:
Baddies:
Trifle:

Ivy is up!