Graxer Firebeard |
Graxer attacks twice again.. This time he activates his bane ability..
Attack 1: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (11) + 23 = 34
Attack 2: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Confirm 2: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29
Damage 1: 4d6 + 23 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 2) + 23 = 36
Damage 2: 4d6 + 23 ⇒ (3, 3, 6, 1) + 23 = 36
Crit Damage: 2d6 + 23 ⇒ (3, 1) + 23 = 27
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe is not one to let a weapon go unused... Letting his shield hang on its strap he hefts the Silver Nodachi that has been prepared with the oil of bless weapon, then with a silent act of will calls upon the power of the INHERITOR'S GAUNTLET {use activated} and a golden light of divine magic emits from the blade as Ashe charges up {poetic.. not an actual charge} the stairs behind Graxer moving to his side to 'STAB' the foul outsider...!!!
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
No Action: Activate use-activated item - Inheritor's Gauntlet: Magic Weapon {CL: 5th} 5min, any held sword
Move Action: 30'ft Up to Graxer's side to engage the Rakshasa
Standard Action - Power Attack w/Silver Nodachi {Bless Weapon - oil}: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 31 AUTO CRITICAL!
Silver Nodachi, Power Attack-CRITCICAL HIT! Damage: 2d10 + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 8) + 6 + 6 + 6 + 6 = 37
Ashe yells, "FOR THE HEART! FOR VICTORY!"
...and if Ashe was still invisible, he is certainly not anymore!
Megan Robertson |
Round 2
The raksasha goes for Graxer again in a flurry of blows.
Raksasha's attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31, damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
And again: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30, damage 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Then Graxer swings his greatsword once more... cutting chunks out of the beast, who's clearly staggered...
Then Ashe winks into existence, with a classic overhand blow with the glowing nodachi... the raksasha barely has time to pale before his head is removed from his shoulders!
Combat over!
Well done. Several doors bang down the hall.
You 2 are upstairs, here's the map to remind you.
What are those downstairs doing?
Graxer Firebeard |
Graxer pulls his wand of Cure Serious and gives himself a tap..
Heal: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) + 5 = 17
He'll then move up and prepare for the next enemy.. "Perhaps we should have tried diplomacy lol.."
Ebon Wings |
Ebon Wings hears the commotion and realises he has not been following Ashe.
Mentally cursing invisibility spells he runs for the stairs.
init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
working on assumption this is a move action
As he flies up the stairs he casts one of his most powerful spell, and at the top two crackling balls of lighting appear.
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe grins in reply to the Inquisitor of GORUM, "But it would not have been as satisfying! They are aware of our presence.. let the slaughter continue! NONE of these Evil shape-changing corruption mongers must escape!"
Ashe scans around his detect evil still running and heads down the hallway to kicks in the door to {D14}... ready to let Graxer pass to enter the room.
Move Action: 30'ft - move to door
Move-Eq Action: Open door for Graxer to enter
... At the sight of Ebon Wing Ashe explains, "Room by room.. kill ALL the Evil Shape-changers!"
Mentally, {Majenko.. these creatures are powerful spellcasters... take cover up int he rafters and watch out backs from approaching invisible foes!}
To which the excitable tiny dragon takes flight ..and goes into hiding.. well away from the party who might be targeted by powerful area effect spells...
Majenko's Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23
Graxer Firebeard |
If I'm not mistake the stairs come up into D14, so we either go to D12 or D13 right?
Varrel |
Varrel smiles.
I am not going to stand in front of you two with outsiders to your front. Proceed Gentleman, nothing more effective than a Paladin and Inquisitor against these kinds of foes.
Varrel follows up right behind Graxer and Ashe and uses his Quickdraw sheath to pull his wand for a SHIELD spell. His defences raised, he follows along ready to Hex a foe, if needed.
Asherick Whiteplume |
Seeing Varrel come to back them up, "Varrel.. look to see if that last Rakshasa had anything magical upon him and secure it."
Megan Robertson |
Graxer, you are correct.
Now you have dealt with the rakshasa, you can take a look around D14.
The floor of this barracks is thickly carpeted and strewn with numerous throw pillows and furs. The walls are carved with erotic depictions of men and women engaged in all manner of sexual acts. The only real furnishings in the room are the four beds against the western wall. There isn't anyone (apart from you lot) in here at the moment.
You have 2 doors to choose from, one out onto the landing or one south, just by the top of the stairs by which you came up.
Asherick Whiteplume |
Oh! I thought Graxer had gone back to the stairs from {D1}... not the stairs in {D8}, as we had never entered this room before until just before the last battle. No matter.
Ashe turns and opens the door to the adjacent room {D13}, still panning his detect evil cone around searching for sources of evil.. hefting the two-handed silver Nodachi still glowing with its magic and blessed oil...
Ashe is not waiting he moves through the room if there is no foe there.. and keeps moving heading for room {D15}.
He is deadly serious about moving room to room killing ALL that are evil in this house...
TODAY.. House Arkona FALLS!
Graxer Firebeard |
Graxer follows Ashe into D13 and then D15..
Varrel |
Varrel casts detect magic and focuses on any magical items the creature may have on him.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Scream if you need any help I'll be along soon
Megan Robertson |
Varrel - the corpse carries a +1 Kukri but little else of value.
D13: A large mirror hangs on the western wall of this washroom and latrine. The air smells remarkably fresh, and the water-filled seat of ease to the east seems unnecessarily comfortable-looking... but it is unoccupied at present. There's a faint tingle of magic here.
Out onto the upper balcony, which overlooks the garden on the ground floor 25 feet below, and as such this area is generally warmer than the rest of the building as heated air rises up from the chamber below. The gentle babble of the fountain trickle up as well. Big windows to your right show the main approach to the house from the south. Clouds are scudding over, but the moons are coming out... at least it's not raining at the moment.
You reach the door to D15, and as you push it open a gust of warm humid air accompanies a voice.
"Ah, Cousin Nudhaali, you have found our visitors. Come in and make yourselves welcome."
The air in this chamber is incredibly warm and humid, filled with steam rising from the bubbling oval bath set in the floor to the southeast. The walls, ceiling, and floor are set with polished marble tiles of alternating blues and greens, giving the entire chamber a pervasive aquatic feel. Three lacquered wooden benches sit just north of the bath itself. There's definitely some minor magics at work here.
A handsome middle-aged man is lounging in the bath, stark naked (of course). Ashe, you recognise Glorio Arkona, the Head of House Arkona, even though he usually receives guests with his clothes on. He smiles.
"Ah, Sir Asherick... what an unexpected pleasure. How are all at House Whiteplume? Well, I trust, in these difficult times. Take a seat my good fellow, and your friends as well. I have heard of the services you have already rendered to my house in removing that scum, the self-styled Emperor of Old Korvosa... please, allow me to present you with a small reward."
He gestures towards an ornate ring, gold with a large green stone, that sits on a nearby shelf.
"But I am sure that you have some purpose in coming here, it is a shade late for a social call, what? Is there something that I might do for you?"
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe detects for the presence of evil but is almost certain he does not need to.
His eyes glance at Glorio's "gift".. with nothing but disdain...
Kno - History: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Kno - Nobility: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
"How long? How long has House Arkona been overrun with Rakshasa? Who really returned from Vudra so many years ago? I very much doubt it was 'Lord' Garath Arkona... who if history serves me right returned a changed man.. not only in wealth and 'seeming' good fortune but appetites and cruelty as well!"
"Thank you but no.. I'll pass on any 'gift' from Rakshasas, I'd rather not cuddle to my bosom another 'Raktavarna'... like your sister Vimanda gave her... 'play-thing' 'Sergeant' Verik Vancaskerkin! I expect SHE is also a Rakshasa.. you are a voracious breed of fiends! Tell me, are there ANY mortal men and women of flesh and blood that still actually have poor Lord Garath's and his brother Jenkson's blood in their veins? Or did you beasts sully that as well... mingling your evil seed with the unwitting rape of his entire bloodline, that is, before you dined on their screams and then their flesh?"
"What are your plans.. Glorio.. whatever your REAL name is.. to set yourself up as the Maharajah of Korvosa? To spread your foul fiendish seed throughout the city? I expect you realize the rapaciousness and unsatisfiable hungers of your evil ilk.. no. You don't want competition for the flesh of Korvosa. But I know you eventually will not be satisfied with the innocent of Korvosa... and it may not be today or years to come.. but eventually you would want to spread like a disease and all of Korvosa would become a feast for your black evil hearts!"
"Well I'm here to tell you NO! Your plans DIE here and now! I'm pulling Arkona out BY ITS EVIL ROOTS TODAY! There will be no bargaining.. you are liars, the height of corruption and deception! Pray to that foul god statue you have on display downstairs fiend.. cause today.. you are going to meet them!"
{ I so love the drama! :) }
Graxer Firebeard |
Perhaps we should have bargained for the painter and Vencarlo before slaying him in his own tub
Asherick Whiteplume |
That's the problem with being lawful good.. Ashe can't make a bargain he has no intention of keeping.. its binding.. whether to saint or a demonlord of the Abyss! If Ashe gives his word he must keep it... to the spirit and letter of the bargain as it was accepted. He has NO intention of letting ANY of these fiends live! Here is that dogmatic drive to destroy evil that paladins are infamous for. Ashe will not bargain to let this creature live and continue spreading its evil. No way!
Megan Robertson |
Not yet... but Ashe's speech is as pretty a declaration of war as any!
Glorio Arkona smiles, strangely unconcerned.
"My, you do seem agitated Whiteplume. What do you have against rakshasas? And is there truly nothing that you want that I could provide? Do you not see the greater evil threatening Korvosa, centred around our very own Queen? Consider this: together we could rid Korvosa of this evil once and for all, and then if you wish, House Arkona could move out and seek its fortunes elsewhere... leave Korvosa to you and your cohorts."
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ding!
"So you don't even try to deny it? I understand suspending hostilities with wicked hearted mortals to deal with an even greater evil - they have choice... but not with Rakshasas. Your nature is evil, you have no choice but to follow your nature... the one greatest power we mortals possess is that of choice. You are outsiders, creatures of nature.. you have no choice.. you may be diabolically intelligent but your nature is corruption and wickedness. Rakshasas..are the worse for unlike other outsiders.. you are native to our world.. you can't be banished back to your fiendish realms. No, your kind fester like a decaying wound in our society.. your magical power and near invulnerability to harm are only exceeded by your capacity for a rapacious insatiable EVIL... and you can hide among us without us mortals even knowing your there! How could anyone possibly trust your word you would really leave? You are unrepentantly Evil and wish to spread your evil! I met a Vampire Nosferatu lord, centuries if not millennia old, and HE was more repentant for his wicked existence then YOU could or would ever be!!"
"Regardless.. I'd not foster your evil appetites off on some other unsuspecting nation.. no this ends now.. the only way it could possibly end! I'll not let evil spread merely to convenience myself and city!"
"NO, No bargains! Stand an defend yourself 'Glorio'.. or I'll Gladly END you - where you recline!"
Ashe is through talking with this Fiend...
Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Ebon Wings |
Ebon Wings drops the lightning ball with him into the bath and follows it up with a ball of freezing cold in attempt to pin the monster in front of them.
not sure if Ice Spears was possible if not on the ground floor, so using snowball
move: command lightning ball - one into the tub, another one to here. Not sure how many rounds left if we've left combat but I thought we were moving pretty fast. Reflex negates. DC 19, -4 to save if metal armour and I'm hoping immersed in a (possibly metal?) tub of water counts.
lightning ball: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 2) = 10
swift: domain power for +3 attack
Standard: snowball using pearl of power
touch attack while invisible: 1d20 + 3 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 9 = 20
damage: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 4, 2) = 17 Fort DC 16 or staggered.
"Please" says a suddenly extant Ebon Wings "A spirit that hides among its prey content to let that prey live when it knows their secret? How gullible do you think we are?"
edit: damnit, ninja'd by Ashe! I stand by it. If init is needed init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Asherick Whiteplume |
YES.. Ice Spear is possible in this situation.. and VERY Effective! You will also likely need to make a caster check to breach his SR.. Rakshasas are VERY Hard to affect with magical spells!
Graxer Firebeard |
"It seems our talking time is over.."
Init: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Graxer Firebeard |
I do believe in ur hastiness to destroy the househole you might have made a bobo Ashe lol
Asherick Whiteplume |
Or, the very aware Rakshasa is not stupid.. he sees Ashe is wielding a piecing weapon made of silver glowing with magic.. he knows Ashe is a paladin. He also sees we have quite the array of powerful death in our party opposing him and he's trying to stall for time hoping Ashe will not kill a 'seemingly' unconscious foe {correct}.. but Glorio is being a tad short-sighted.
Ashe does a move action Detect Evil to get a 3rd instant scan on Glorio.
"Well..! Now, REALLY Glorio...?!? THIS is your play???"
"Ebon... scan this ...creature with your senses.. what can you determine?"
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
- Is Glorio bluffing or has Ashe made a mistake?
* Honestly considering what Ashe knows of Rakshasas, reading past the savy Native Outsider's lies and deceptions is something probably well beyond Ashe's wisdom and skill... but Ashe is making the attempt. Ashe has thus far only made some very provocative insults that may indeed anger the powerful House of Underworld criminals - THAT fact is a known quantity! Ashe doesn't believe himself wrong.. and Glorio had the chance to deny his nature and did not! Ashe is not so easily stymied... but Ashe is not a murderous person either.. which the savy and well-informed Rakshasa knows and IS likely counting on. Given the situation Ashe will pause and try to confirm his assertions. But I, as a player, am curious what the mastermind villainous fiend's play is too... surely he must realize this 'sandbagging' is only going to buy him a precious few seconds? I'll have to wait to see the results of Ashe's detect evil to know for certain.
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe frowns... not in anger more frustration but says, "Yes, this creatures is Very evil... but I'm perplexed at the ease of his 'seeming' defeat. Something is amis here. Ebon.. what exactly does your 'lightning ball' spell do?"
Spelcraft: {Take 10!} 10 + 5 = 15
- Just read the misdirection spell.. sheesh how silly of me to miss this spell!
"I'm tempted to just behead the foul fiend right now... and worry about the answers latter.. but there are many ways to fool a detect evil spell... Ebon what do your many senses tell you? A misdirection spell could hide or for that matter redirect a detection on someone else~... someone ...else~! OF COURSE!"
"Why didn't I think of that earlier?!?! Just like the Plaguebringer's Masks hide the physician's foul evil allegiances to the Pallid Princess... Queen Ileosa.. she is keeping Sabina Merrin nearby to hide her foul alignment with evil.. well her possessed evil alliance! That's why I detect nothing amis when I was near her and sensing for any trace of evil as her actions would demand! I always felt Sabina was a noble-hearted if misguided confidant of the Queen.. now I understand why the Queen keeps her so close all the time..especially since the assassination attempt she obviously needs no bodyguard!"
"The Queen is a Bard and misdirection is a spell I or any other Bard could cast - given enough training..."
"Regardless, Ebon we must be certain this is the Rakshasa.. and not someone covered in an illusion, a misdirection spell confusing detects and dominated to say whatever seems likely to provoke us to not question this easy kill!"
Turning to Graxer, "Graxer, you have the keenest of our eyes here.. look to see around the bath if there are any peep-hole that one could observe this room without being spotted.. such deceptive magic one must be able to somehow perceive the target to make them believable and not obvious deceptions. Believe me.. Rakshasa are perverted enough that I'm sure they exist in some fashion."
"Varrel, we MUST be certain this is not someone disguised as a Rakshasa.. to fool us into thinking we have won an easy victory... use what ever arcane information gathering senses you have to make certain.. I trust your spell lore better than mine!"
Ashe steps over to the slumped body with his blade ready to coup-de-gras should it be advisable.. but he stays his hand until his friends have exhausted all their means to determine if what is being seen is what is really the true situation.
Asherick Whiteplume |
"MY heart is biased! My heart WANTS to kill this fiend to make sure it does not harm any other innocents EVER again! But my reason is cautious and wary... Rakshasa are Mighty foes.. this seems Waay too easy.. so I suspect a deception! Rakshasa's are the masters of deception. Consider if this is actually someone we are here to rescue? I want to be sure this is the fiend it appears to be..what do the spirits tell you Ebon? Graxer? Inquisitors have a multitude of divinely provided senses to find the heretical and subversive among the faithful.. can you tell if this is truly a Rakshasa?
Graxer Firebeard |
Graxer looks hard at the man to see if he's faking it.. He moves over to the man and touches him to make sure there are no illusions afoot..
Will if there's an Illusion: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (2) + 26 = 28
He then takes a good look around the room..
Perc: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43 He gets a free check if he comes w/in 10' of a secret door.. Well as long as it's associated with stone..
Graxer Firebeard |
"Eh.. He's out man.. Perhaps he only has dealings with Rakchasa's and the whole cousin thing was just talk.. Regradless we should bind him and continue searching.." The Dwarf pulls a pair of mwk manacles from his pack and drags the man out of the water to cuff him..
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe nods slowly,"...acceptable, for now. Let's move on... watch him closely... Ebon stay no-where within reach of him. Graxer... blindfold, gag and bind his fingers him...! That way he can do no spellcasting and target no supernatural abilities... if he IS a Rakshasa!"
By the way Megan.. Ashe looks at the "man's" hands.. are they backwards.. like a Rakshasa's should be?
Ashe leaves the bath.. and goes to the next connecting hallway.. and enter room {D17}. Again scanning with his running detects for evil and magic...
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Megan Robertson |
Yes, they are.
Graxer is able to bind him, no problems.
Ashe goes on to D17. This austere chamber is apparently the sleeping chamber of someone quite orderly. The bed is made, sheets drawn tight against the mattress and pillows arranged perfectly at the head, and a dressing table and chair at the bed's side are both dust-free and polished to a shine.
There's nobody here... but there's a kind of evil air to the place.
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe looks at the room... and then at the bound, gagged and blindfolded ... beast-man with its backward hands and he scowls darkly...
"Varrel.. if that THING, so much as twitches.. even the thinnest excuse to be a threat.. I'll not be even the slightest put off if you should indulge the General of Vengeance.. and End Him messily! I'll try not to smile in gratitude... I'd kill IT myself if IT were conscious...!"
Ashe turns and tries the door to D16... his expression one of frustration.. CLEARLY he wants to kill that Rakshasa... BADLY!
Graxer Firebeard |
"Let finish looking elsewhere before we mess with that.." pointing at the door..
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe nods, "Indeed."
Turning he heads for the exit door to this hallway and turns right heading for room {D18}... he does not wait merely opening the door and scanning for magic and evil again...
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Varrel |
With little time, Varrel pockets the +1 Kukri and comes into the room, calmly sweeping the area with his DETECT MAGIC and focusing particularly on the 'man' unconscious in the tub, currently being bound by Graxer.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20
He draws his non magical kkukri and attempted to make a small cut on the man's finger.
If he WAS a rakshasa, then the blade could nnot harm him.
Megan Robertson |
The blade cannot puncture the skin, but the 'man' begins to stir.
As for D18... The crowning glory of this dazzling chamber is, without a doubt, the four-poster canopied bed that takes up a full quarter of the room. Silk sheets, gossamer curtains, ebony bedposts depicting tigers and cobras chasing monkeys in an endless circle, and a half-dozen huge pillows combine to create a resting place fit for a king. Strange and ferocious animal heads are mounted on the walls, their eyes looking almost alive. A towering redwood cabinet stands against the eastern wall, while to the west sits a massive desk covered with books and scrolls and a large green paperweight the size of an apple. An exotic-looking five-foot long stringed instrument sits on display on a bronze stand near the desk, and a spherical birdcage containing several brightly colored songbirds hangs from the center of the ceiling above.
Graxer Firebeard |
"Well it seems he is indeed a Rakshasa, but apparently is the weakest one known to man.. Looks like he's waking up perhaps we can get some more info out of him instead of just lopping his head off?"
Asherick Whiteplume |
Ashe scowls at no one in particular, "He will lie... its their nature to lie. I will stand outside the room as I have no intention of giving any impression I intend to let him live! Talk all you want... when your done.. I'm taking his head!"
Ashe leaves the room to stand vigilant outside the room... just out of earshot.
Graxer Firebeard |
"Thats fine.. Let him lie, I will catch him in the act.. He will talk truthfully or die.."
Varrel |
Varrel bashes the Rakshasa about the head again with his cesti to keep him unconscious, then holds a hand to his head as casts BESTOW CURSE (unconscious, so no will save allowed)
Check to beat SR, caster level+racial bonus: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
If successful the effect is -6 decrease to an ability score (minimum 1). Affecting CHA. No spellcasting for you!
When he steps back, his voice is cold. He speaks to Graxer and then gives the dwarf a clear path.
He needs to be destroyed Graxer, and even my spellcasting is unlikely to affect him. Use whatever methods you need to find out where our quarry is.
Graxer Firebeard |
"Well I can't interrogate him if yall keep bashing him unconscious.."
Graxer Firebeard |
Well its been a week i figured id check in..