Monsters save the world (Inactive)

Game Master caster4life

Tina, now visible for the first time to the adventurers, knocks back a drink as she lazily flies into the room. He offers her tiny mug to the wizard, while keeping a wary eye on the cleric. "Say, I knew a guy once, called him Teensy, ooh did that annoy him. Anyway, his whole thing was that he could make a little magic disk out of force, that would just sort of... float around and follow him around, I guess? We made fun of him a lot for it, but it seems like it might actually be useful here. Do you have one of those?"

The tiefling taps her chin. "I don't but that does sound like a good idea. Anyone floating on that would have a much easier time being quiet as they could remain completely still. Perhaps we should head to Trogdale? We may be able to purchase scrolls there."

So silence grants +15 (houserule), sleeping gives Cinder -10, blindsense gives Cinder +5 (houserule), Cinder's perception is +18, and I'll say that holding completely still while on a floating disk grants +8, because you don't have to talk around or move, but not more than that because you could still bump something slightly or what have you..

With that decided, you head to Trogsdale together with the adventurers with whom you have formed an uneasy alliance. The two groups keep separate for the most part but once you are there in Trogsdale, you look around for the needed scrolls.

You need to roll a 51+ for each scroll on a d100. Let's get one diplomacy (gather information) roll from whoever is best at it and can manage to talk to villagers without freaking them out. If that alone requires some sort of arrangement, let's hear it. People who can also talk to villagers should roll aid another checks and do whatever else they can to make this easier. Whoever makes the primary check should roll the d100s.

As you walk along, the adventurers differ in their attitudes toward you.

The orc speaks to Gorthug in orcish "Kin, why do you live in such a cave with such strange beasts? Why do you not pass on to the halls of battle?"

The goblin stays silent and doesn't initiate conversation.

The cleric is fascinated by how he saw Goldslip healing Ripper and asks "How did you mend those wounds? Is there a limit to your ability to do so?"

The wizard, meanwhile, seems fascinated by absolutely each and every one of you and will happily converse with anyone.

Orcish”I did not die in honorable combat, that much I know. The wizard who ruled this lair granted that to my warband. But me? She had me drowned like an elf, and cursed me to this unlife. Even now I do not remember...much of anything. Not even the name of my own tribe. If not for her.” He motioned to Goldslip. ”And her powers, I would still be lost in the darkness of my mind. I cannot leave her side until whatever recuperative powers fix the rest of my mind.” After a moment’s reflection he said Orcish”Heed my warning. Do not anger wizards. If you must kill one, do so in silence and with efficiency. Do not give them a reason to do this to you.”

——

When the time presents itself, Gorthug will also ask: (1) The name of the orc (2) His tribe (3) What brought him into such company. Both out of curiosity, and the hope that it might jog his memory.

Bob talks the mind off of the wizard.

...So then Bob was not an Uncle, and Bob was sad, so Bob saw a hat in town and decided to wear a hat and become Hat Bob, but Bob's acid ruined the hat and then Bob was sad again but decided to become Not Hat Bob. But wait, Bob isn't done. Because soon Bob learned how to throw things with Bob's mind, and Bob became Launch Bob. Isn't that amazing? Launch Bob defeated the evil door and now the door is his b#~@$.

Bob talks the mind off of the wizard.

...and now the door is his b*$+*.

Epic

Goldslip giggles as the undine cleric addresses her. "I have a connection to divine energies, particularly those concerned with life and healing," she responds. "I am able to link my life force to another's and take their wounds into my own body. I have not found a limit, no."

The orc listens intently to Gorthug's words and shudders somewhat when the draugr mentions drowning. Orcish: "Thank you for telling me. I will not take any half measures with one of arcane might."

The wizard listens to Bob, intrigued. "How do you throw things with your mind? This is most fascinating!" She looks particularly puzzled at the mention of an evil door.

The undine shakes his head slowly in admiration as Goldslip explains here ability to heal all day long. "That would be extremely useful. But what divine energies are you connected to?"

People should start rolling diplomacy to gather info if they can in town or scheming ways to walk into town without creating a panic.

As the group makes it way closer to the town, Xeria realizes they've lost their beard. She feels sad for a second at the loss of the wizard's son. But then she looks around at the adventurers and perks up a bit, "Do any of you know wizards who sell scrolls in this town?"

lost their beard? the wizard's son? I feel like I missed something in the narrative. going back don't see anything... can you clue me in Xeria?

Bob will be no help in picking out scrolls. But he does answer the wizards question. "Launch Bob sends mind out into the air about us and finds bits and pieces of aether in air, pulls at their strings and connects them to this and that. Do you not see aether? Is all around. Launch Bob always saw aether but did not learn how to connect until recently." He lifts a rock off the ground and hovers it in front of the wizard's eyes.

Gather information takes d4 hours, doesn't it? xD

Snowball discovers and pounces on a squirrel on the way to town. Munching on it, she takes to the air again and flies just a few feet overhead while chewing loudly.
"Mmmmmm, meeaat."

Should Snowball try to be diplomatic with the alley cats again?

Do we still have gothug's cloak? I could Master/Blaster Gorthug, if we keep the hood up

... So I said, if you're a paladin, I'm a lich! Turns out she was a paladin, and promptly tried to kill me. Anyway, she's the one who taught me how to make my drinks. Hell, it was her that I took the first few flasks of holy water from." Tina tells nobody in particular, although surprisingly loudly, as she keeps an eye out for eagles from above while they are traveling though the forest.

The wizard nods happily in response to Xeria. "I know several possible suppliers and will certainly investigate their wares." She listens very intently to Bob's discourse on aether and shakes her head thoughtfully. "No I cannot see it but that makes a great deal of sense. What does it... look like?"

The wizard likes you guys now and will help gather info. Also, I wouldn't worry about the d4 hour duration. It will happen at the speed of plot and I won't require any illusions used to talk to villagers to last 1d4 hours unless the planned interaction is necessarily lengthy.

The goblin hasn't said much but raises an eyebrow at Tina's tale, her poor opinion of the fine lich only reinforced.

The goblin doesn't like you so much...

"Ummmmmmm... wizard... put Launch Bob in pouch? Launch Bob promises to no acid slime everything and then when you walk around Launch Bob will listen to people's mind and tell you what they think."

I realized I can detect thoughts at will with my mutant ability so Bob's method of gather information will be to hide in the pouch and read minds of everyone we go by. Should I roll something? (or maybe the humans need to roll against it).

Ooh interesting. Yeah I'll roll one save against it to represent the average villager. What's the DC?

I guess I have it as a SLA at level 1. So... 11 minus a spellcasting attribute? So the DC will suck, like 6 or something, but it is at will so I can do it to everyone.

lost their beard? the wizard's son? I feel like I missed something in the narrative. going back don't see anything... can you clue me in Xeria?

A beard in the gay community is a friend that you have around that makes you "pass". So, a female friend of a gay man that causes people to think he's straight is a beard. Lucian's son was the person that made our little group "pass" amongst non-monsters. But now we've lost our beard.

whooooosh! goes the reference over my head.

The undine shakes his head slowly in admiration as Goldslip explains her ability to heal all day long. "That would be extremely useful. But what divine energies are you connected to?"

"It is still something of a mystery to me," the nixie replies. "But I find I am able to bless my allies in battle, as well as heal their wounds. However, this power came at the cost of much of my sight. Everything beyond a short distance is hidden from me as if by great dark clouds."

whooooosh! goes the reference over my head.

Probably because you aren't gay :D

I forget you straight people exist sometimes. :D

Ok since it is at will, I will just count you as an auto-aid on gather info.

Very appropriate reference, Xeria.

The cleric considers Goldslips words and nods thoughtfully. "That is most interesting. I shall pray on this for more insight."

The cleric likes you too, now. So the barbarian, wizard, and cleric will all attempt aid checks. Bob has an auto-aid. No one else has declared they are making the primary roll or aiding somehow except maybe Snowball so I'm going to start making rolls. You can, and should, still decide who is making the primary roll and how people will aid.

Wizard aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11
Barbarian aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (13) - 3 = 10
Cleric aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Wow! Ok so we have +8 from aid rolls.

Need 51+ for silence scroll: 1d100 ⇒ 75
Need 51+ for floating disk scroll: 1d100 ⇒ 28 This needs +23 total and already has +8 from aid rolls. Better pile on.

You reach town and the wizard, barbarian, and cleric all split up, asking about who in town may or may not have scrolls. Bob rides along with the wizard, detecting the thoughts of many, many villagers, who wrinkle their foreheads in confusion as they feel something happening to their minds. The rogue is sulky and waits outside of town while the rest of you decide what to do.

Gorthug stood as still and as silent as a statue. His cloak covered him, hiding (for the most part) his nature. He had been looking at the sulking Rogue, but had lost interest and track of time. In almost a meditative state he just...stared.

I think Goldslip should be our primary roller on diplomacy. She is nice, and not as monster-ish so common people may actually not be scared.

I'll also encourage not-Tina for interacting with not-monsters

Gorthug would be a good choice, right?

Wasn't Xeria our one teammate that could look something human-ish?
Also my question was rhetorical and mostly a joke about eating cats and scaring villagers being "diplomacy" :3

As the group arrives at town, Snowball moves closer to Cindy and starts trying to play with her, not wanting to draw attention like last time.
"Snowball can be horse, Cindy ride?"

I had worried before about how Goldslip would appear to townsfolk, but I think in the presence of the undine cleric she really should be okay. She has a lot of similarities to him.

Goldslip sticks close to the undine cleric as they enter town. She greets everyone meekly and is all pleasantries as they ask around about these magic scrolls. "Hello, sir." "Good day to you, ma'am." Whenever they have a moment that is private enough, the nixie calls on her powers to aid her speaking skills. Going to include a +1 on my roll from Guidance.

My modifier is 10, +1 from Guidance, + whatever our final total from aids. Can/should I take 10, or do I need to roll?

You may take 10.

The townfolk look at Goldslip in some confusion, not sure what she is, but her presence with the Undine and polite manner reassures them.

So that is a 21 diplomacy to gather info so you find the scrolls.

Asking around, Goldslip and the Undine find an elderly woman who possess the described scrolls.

The woman looks up as Goldslip enters her small shop, the Rusty Quill. "Eh? And what are you?"

The scrolls cost 175 gp at minimum caster level. The adventurers will split the cost with you. Do you have 87.5 gp in ready funds?

Wasn't Xeria our one teammate that could look something human-ish?

Yes, a 2' tall young humanoid :D

The shopkeeper is curious what Goldslip calls herself.

Cindy, still bitter from the goblin's implication that she could not be stealthy, has been quietly following the party in complete silence. Although it started out as pouting, the trip to town allowed her to push her senses out into the forest and silently examine all of the flora and fauna that they passed, still searching for signs of bears.

In her quasi-meditative state she began to feel that the forest was almost reaching back towards her, and she began to sense a patient, cold, female presence probing her mind. Perhaps she has found a new mother?

Suddenly, Snowball bumps up against her with a question, and she snaps out of her trance. "Um, sure! While they are in town I'd love to ride."

Oddly enough, my absence as a player allowed me to start to RP my transition towards her first class level as a druid of The Green Mother, who will hopefully gift her an ursine animal companion :P

Snowball gets close to the ground, squeezes her head between Cindy's legs, and then bounds forward, catching the living doll on her back.
"Snowball is best horsie!"
Snowball proceeds to be the worst horsie, her flexible back bone moving up and down by large amounts.

Cindy hangs on for dear life, wishing that she hadn't opted to play but not wanting to hurt Snowball's feelings. She throws out a half-hearted "Whee" every once in a while, internally begging for the ride to end.

The woman looks up as Goldslip enters her small shop, the Rusty Quill. "Eh? And what are you?"

The scrolls cost 175 gp at minimum caster level. The adventurers will split the cost with you. Do you have 87.5 gp in ready funds?

"Hello, ma'am. My name is Goldslip, and I am a nixie. I am pleased to meet you. What is your name?"

That would be a significant portion of Snowball's horde, I think, although made less so since the addition of the 50gp bandit reward. We're going to need to use some of Snowball's gold.

The woman nods with a curious half-smile toward Goldslip. "My name is Arken. A nixie, eh? Not my usually clientele. But you seem to be polite and in polite company" she nods to the Undine "so there's no reason we can't do business."

I'm going to really push us forward here because I think we're getting bogged down unnecessarily, which is my responsibility to fix. I'm going to do something called "stepping" here which some of you know about. I'm going to basically narrate you through a significant chunk of time but provide a couple of steps at which you can RP or take other actions. Just post which steps you are giving actions/descriptions for. It let's us make multiple decisions and scenes simultaneously.

Step 1:

Arken offers Goldslip the scrolls for a standard price. The undine takes out his portion of the coin and sets it on the counter then turns to Goldslip, waiting for her to pay.

We can assume the party handed you coins before heading into the shop. Are you guys paying? I ask because it is within the bounds of this campaign for you to steal and burn the shop down instead... Not that I'm recommending that!

Step 2:

The scrolls acquired (one way or another), the party decides if there is anything else they want while in town.

Step 3:

Once done in town, the monsters and adventurers head back toward the dungeon of Last Hill. It's a long walk and gives them a chance to converse or think about the gravity of what they are planning.

Feel free to describe what your character is thinking/doing on the walk back. A lot of you are undergoing interesting developments and re-discovering your character's identity.

Step 4:

Once back at Last Hill, you prepare to put your plan into action. Tina very stealthily checks and finds that Cinder is asleep. When she returns to the group, the wizard asks "What is the final plan? Do I cast silence now on the draugr's axe?"

That should definitely provide hooks for everyone to post at least one thing and maybe even earn some juicy RP XP.

While Goldslip deals with the scroll, Tina heads over the alehouse, not invisible, but keeping out of sight. When the coast is clear, she opens up a portal in the middle of the air, and a mist of water sprays out, before a haggard looking man in a long wet raincoat steps through. The salt of the sea clings to his beard, and evidence of a long, hard life shows in his deep wrinkles and scars. "Tinaaaaa! It's been a whale's age. How're ya now? he calls out as he spreads his arms wide, and offers his shoulder for her to perch on.
Garrrrryyyyy! she bellows in reply, "Been worse, could use a pint. She gestures with her tiny arms at the building behind her, before turning invisible.
The fisherman tilts his head and smiles as he walks inside. "Now you're on to something." He steps inside the door, and all heads inside turn towards him, as the overpowering smell of fish assaults them. "Two big'uns, and a tiny, in a rush, if you please. he says to the barkeep, holding up the same number of fingers.
The barkeep is surprised, but this isn't the first time this has happened to him. He nods, fills up a mug with ale, and hands it to Gary, who promptly finishes it by the time the barkeep has the second ready.
The bartender pulls a shot glass from a shelf and also fills it with ale, setting it on the counter next to the now-empty mugs, before collecting the coins which have mysteriously appeared on the shelf behind him.
Tina, it's been good as always. Shame it's not for longer, but that's life, eh? Keep in touch, yeh?[b] Gary says as the portal begins to open behind him.
As he steps through, Tina replies [b]"Oh, for sure. Next week? Send love to Agamar for me."

After finishing her little ale, she dashes over to the farm where the party stole Gorthug's cloak, and leaves 2 pieces of gold there, with a note:
Hi, sorry for the inconvenience of taking your cloak earlier, hope this covers the cost of a new one --The High Empress of Trogdale

On the way back to Last Hill, Tina will chat with the wizard: "So that cleric, who do they worship? Oh? Have you ever encountered any undead? What did your cleric do there? Did anybody throw around words like 'Moral imperative', or 'abomination against the natural order'? You know, there's a long tradition of people who practice the arcane arts learning to become undead themselves. Consider how much time you could devote to study if you're no longer bound by mortal concerns like sleep, or a finite lifespan. I suppose I could be convinced to take on an apprentice.

Gorthug approached the angry little goblin. He stared the entire way, the flickering red lights in his eye sockets glowing menacingly the entire time. When he reached the sulking rogue, he opened his mouth. Stale air came out, and with it, he wheezed

Goblin”I orc. You...goblin. Why goblin...here?”

He spoke as if in a haze, not quite understanding the words he was saying. But seeing the goblin had sparked some of his tattered memory, and it was coming back to him.

Gorthug has Int12. He should know 3 languages, which are Orc, Common, Goblin. I’ve decided that in life he also could speak Giant, but never quite got the hang of Draconic. I had planned on waiting until he could get a PC level to get his memory back, but it is more fun to have him slowly begin communicating again

step 1:
I assume that between "borrowing without asking" from Snowball's stash, and other money like the bandit reward, we can totally pay for it...

Snowball eventually tires and lets Cindy down in the shade of an oak tree, curling up into a tiny ball of napping lizard next to her.

Step 2 and/or 3:

After her nap, Snowball hunts a few more squirrels. On the way back, she occasionally says in a sing-song voice "Bad Cinder freeeeze, good Snowball wiiiin." repeatedly, for a few minutes at a time.

Step 4:

Snowball, being almost entirely unable to contribute to strategic (or even tactical) plans, sits on her haunches and tilts her head at the question, like a confused dog.

Cindy eventually figured out that she could use her ability to fly to make the ride much less chaotic, trying hard to make it seem like she was still riding while hovering just above Snowball's back. When Snowball finally tires, she breathes a sigh of relief and resumes standing quietly, absorbing what is going on around her. Now that the overbearing presence of "Mommy" no longer is controlling her life, she starts to examine what relationships she has.

Poor Snowball...she wants to play so badly and none of the others will play with her. I do like them all, they are family, but I'm not sure how nice they really are, except Goldslip who might be tooooo nice. I should find some new brothers and sisters to add to our family who will listen to me, and who will play with Snowball. Maybe even some kids!

Once Goldslip returns with the scrolls and they head back towards the cave, she starts to reach out into the forest to try and find the presence that she felt there earlier, but this time it doesn't seem to be there, or maybe she's just too mentally tired after trying to maintain her seat on Snowball.

When the planning is mentioned

Cindy realizes that she didn't help out at all with the initial plan, so she waits calmly to hear what the others will say, feeling it would be rude to interject new ideas once they are so close to completing their task.

Bob goes along with the group, constantly sending messages to the brains around him, though the content of his blathering is of the same variety they have all heard before.

He finally grows quiet as they approach back home, his pea sized brain, suspended in a goo of cytoplasm, becomes slightly aware of how dangerous killing a dragon is, and wishes again that they just could have learned how to be happy with a new master. After all, masters are great...they tell you what to do and what to think. Without a master.... what will Bob think?

200 xp to the party for Tina's awesome post at the bar and another 200 for Snowball and Cindy's magical playtime.

Step 3:

The wizard raises an eyebrow at Tina and replies "Erastu is not bound to a particular deity but reveres several as well as their core ideals. We have encountered undead before and we destroyed them efficiently as they were a threat to innocents. I'm unsure how he feels about undead who don't seem to be threatening any innocents as you and your large friend are the first such we have encountered." The wizard laughs lightly at Tina's suggestion. "I am not going to apprentice myself to someone who casts less powerful spells than myself, though I suppose I appreciate the offer."

To Gorthug, the goblin slowly turns and speaks in her tongue "With this group, I can earn money for my family while doing some good. Things are much better than they were in my tribe, where we killed, stole, and died all to often."

Step 4:

The wizard looks around in confusion as nobody answers her question. "Have you given up on the plan? Should we just leave?"

You guys seem very stalled on this plan. If nobody says anything by tomorrow morning, I'll just bot stealth checks for Gorthug and Tina with silence and disk bonuses.

Step 1:
We are paying, yeah. I'm using the 50gp bandit reward, plus taking 37gp and 5sp from Snowball's pile (on the Loot sheet I saw 137gp, 15sp, 50 cp; changing that now to 100gp, 10sp, 5sp).
"Wonderful, thank you!" Goldslip says cheerfully as she begins counting out the gold and silver pieces required. "And...there! It was a pleasure doing business with you, Arken. I hope to do so again!

Step 2:
I don't have any more plans to get stuff in town.
"So," Goldslip says to the undine cleric as they leave the shop, "tell me about your magic. Where does it come from?"

Step 3:
Now that the friendly social interactions with the townsfolk are done and they are making their way back to Last Hill, Goldslip's worries grow under the weight of the task they are undertaking. Ohhh, I hope this works, Goldslip thinks without hiding her thoughts from Launch-Bob. I don't want to be stuck under the threat of Cinder's fire breath for the rest of my life, but if this doesn't work that may happen anyway...

Step 4:

the wizard asks "What is the final plan? Do I cast silence now on the draugr's axe?"

Goldslip re-kindles her life link on Gorthug and places a hand gently on his arm. "Are you ready, Gorthug? We are placing such a burden on you."

Satisfied with the goblin, Gorthug fell back into his statue like state. There he waited, until Goldslip came. As her connection was linked to him, he involuntarily gasped, even though his lungs had long ago ceased to function. It was almost like he could *feel* when she did that. The sudden influx of emotions, now that his mind was coming back, was startling. It was like having one’s head come up from under water. He never wanted it to end, though he knew it would.

Orcish”It doesn’t matter. Better to be consumed by flame than to rot away into nothing but sentient dust.” He replied, giving voice to his fear. ”No true orc fears dying in battle.” He finished, feeling the need to cover his weakness with bravado.

Tina looks around, in the hallway outside Cinder's room. "Well, I guess this is it. Tina finishes a flask, and opens up a new one before she opens the scroll and summons the disk of force. She looks to the wizard, "You get that silence up, I'll bring my friend into play, and we'll be on our way."

Tina hovers to the side, and opens another portal, this time, a tall, athletic catfolk stepping out. Tina puts her tiny bony finger to her lips and shushes the newcomer. "We're assassinating a dragon," she whispers. "Hop on the disk, and follow the big guy's lead". Tina points at the disk, where the Gorthug is already waiting. The catfolk silently jumps on behind him, and pulls an odd looking chunk of metal from her hip.

Tina breathes deeply, entirely out of habit, rather than an actual need for air, and pushes the disk gently, positioning it carefully to the side of cinder's head. She holds a hand at Gorthug, encouraging him to wait while she flies around to the other side of the dragon.

Tina counts down on her fingers, Three. Two. One.
Tina strikes the dragon, and a loud crack erupts from the catfolk's metal object.

Reporting stealth rolls without modifiers
Tina Stealth: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (15) + 35 = 50
Catfolk Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Tina Damage: 2d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 2 + (4) = 15
Catfolk Damage: 4d8 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 2, 1) + (5) = 19
Also, Cinder needs to make a DC 18 Fort save

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 20 = 36
No armor worn. If this doesn’t work +3 AC won’t matter...at all

Damage with scythe: 8d4 + 40 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 3, 3, 1) + 40 = 58
DC58 save

Holding off on writeup, to see how that stealth goes first

actually DC68 save because it is 10+damage on a coup de grace. basically it will take a natural 20 to survive... but it might wake up first!

The wizard nods and casts the silence spell. The catfolk and Gorthug wait on the floating disk as Tina hovers it into position.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 - 10 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 10 + 5 = 23

Through all of this, Cinder sleeps fitfully, twitching once, but not waking. Then a slashing noise, a bang of an explosion, and Tina's stab all happen at once.

Fort against Gorthug: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

The deep slash in his neck, combined with the other injuries, is too much for the dragon to withstand and his lifeblood spills out on the floor of Lucian's old study. For the moment, none of the adventurers are brave enough to come in to check what happened. Gathered into a small pile Cinder slept on are the remaining valuables of Lucian's study.

914 xp.

Step 2:

The cleric smiles at Goldslip and explains "My connection to the holy is rather... broad. There are many virtues that I meditate upon and revere. Many gods reflect them differently with different emphases. Given time, I came to find some power when serving the great truth."

Gorthug raised the scythe. He felt no fear. He knew that he *should* feel fear, but he didn’t. And that was scary. At any second he could be reduced to naught but ash, and he couldn’t bring himself to care. He almost welcomed it. Almost.

The scythe came down. It descended surely and swiftly, with all of the strength of the orc savage he once was. It came down with the certainty of death. The dragon died. He watched without passion as it died. And then...he remembered. He remembered the tale of a Vampiric Knight who overcame his curse by drinking the blood of a dragon. Almost certainly false, but what did he have to lose? The dragon was bleeding out, it’s blood gushing into the floor. He knelt down and began to drink directly from the wound. He tasted nothing. He felt nothing. And yet he drank nonetheless.