Yousef olan Ahmad |
Ah, I've never wanted to fail a Will save so much as now. It would only be better if Yousef and Bahram were going after each other ;P
At this point, completely naked, the half-orc struts his muscular frame over to Nyx and lays next to her. He runs his fingertips along her side and over her breasts then starts to nuzzle her neck...it is obvious he is ready.
Lavender Leaf |
Join them? That actually sounds pretty good, but, you just said I would see a vision. How could I join a vision? Is this why the ill-prepared are overcome with confusion? Because you start contradicting yourself? I have no need to go with what is not here. Even if it was real, something seems wrong here. You know, too good to be true kind of wrong. What does Nethys have to do with flying boats and stuff anyway? He's the god of magic right? Wasn't he, like, ripped apart and put back together again by magic? That doesn't sound very fun. In fact, it sounds downright painful. Even if you say my friends will be here when I return, that could mean anything. What if it, uhh, takes a long time, and they die. And I come back and they are still here but they are dead. Also, not to be rude, but I have no reason to believe that your not tricking me, so your word doesn't mean that much to me. Not that I am saying your lying or anything, but, you know. Where is the boat even going anyway? I've never been on a boat before, especially one that sails, err fly, or whatever through the sky. I wonder if I get sea sick, or would it be sky sick in this case... Anyway, I forgot what the point I was trying to make was, but I think I'm, going to pass. I'm pretty happy with where I'm at right now, physically, mentally, and magically."
Not quite sure but Rashid might be able to read this spoiler too.
Rashid al-Gahiji |
"Very well. Lavender? We should probably be going..."
He then tries to gently direct back the way that the two of them came....
ProfPotts |
'You see contradiction where there is none, seeker. The boat is the sacred barge of Nethys - its journeys one of mystical discovery, not mundane distance. You say you have no reason to trust me... but why would you have any reason not to?'
Her glowing eyes turn towards the fantastic barge for a moment, and the beautiful people crewing it appear to sigh, shaking their heads, as they turn and move back, away from the sides, out of sight...
'No one will force you, seeker. It is understood that the great power of magic is frightening to some... even some of those who utilise it. Go then. Leave with your friends. Think on what you have seen, and what you have been told. Know that I... and enlightenment... will be here when... if... you deem yourself ready...'
For a moment it seems like the sacred barge, and the four-armed woman, are sailing off into the distance... then, slowly, you realise that Rashid has gently taken your arm and is leading you back the way you came...
Turning a corner in the corridor, you find Yousef, naked... there appears to be an attractive glow about him, and he certainly seems more handsome than you recall... he appears to be calling to you to come into his arms...
The four-armed woman watches as you take your leave, your hand on Lavender's arm, gently guiding her with you.
'The doors to enlightenment are always open to those who can find the way,' the woman's voice echoes through your mind, 'return to me when you seek power... power freely offered, for those with mastery of the art...'
Heading back the way you came, you see the basalt plaque slowly closing, and beyond it Keldar slapping Bahram across the face! Even stranger, in the corridor, Yousef if stripped naked, his gear scattered on the rocky floor, as the half-orc himself fondles one of the statues...
Lavender Leaf |
I'm not frightened about anything! If enlightenment means leaving my friends to hop on a boat on some magical mystery tour or whatever, then I'd rather be unenlightened!
Ohh, Rashid, there you are, lets get out of here, this four armed lady and her magical boat are nuts!"
After turning the corner, Lavender nearly falls in surprise. "Y-Yousef, why are you naked? P-put some clothes on!" Realizing that he is calling her into his arms, she stops stiff, and her face turns scarlet. "W-what is this?! A-aren't you and ms. Nyx... I-I mean... I'm not gonna just run into your... arms when you're in a relationship someone else... I-I'm not some floozy wench whore that is g-going to... to... jump into your arms at your beck and call..." Lavender says, turning her scarlet face away from Yousef, but unable to stop herself from sneaking a peak at Yousef's now uncovered regions.
Rashid al-Gahiji |
"We need to get going; the portal we came through is closing, and I would rather not get trapped in here; the mist seems to be having a hallucinogenic effect, not unlike Pesh..."
He then tries to hurry her forward, pausing only to shout at Yousef:
"Yousef! If you can hear me, gather your wits! You are fondling a statue in a hall filled with halluncinogenic mist!"
ProfPotts |
... But Rashid keeps his hand on your arm, moving you quickly past the amorous half-orc and back into the room full of shredded papyrus...
Where Bahram snarls...
"Efreeti devil!"
... at Keldar, backing away from the dwarf as he casts his mage armour spell...
... At first you don't understand, but then you see what Bahram is talking about, as Keldar slowly transforms - blackened horns sprouting from his forehead, his skin turning a dark crimson, and wisps of flame rising from his form...
Where Bahram snarls...
"Efreeti devil!"
... at Keldar, backing away from your fellow dwarf as he casts his mage armour spell...
You cast your mage armour spell... and just in time, it seems, as two more efreet emerge from a nearby spout of flame - one a heavily muscled male, then other a female temptress...
"Efreeti devil!"
... and casting his mage armour spell.
Bahram Zarishu |
Will save last round- 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 Fail...
again- 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 sigh...
Seeing more efeet emerge Bahram knows he has no chance of surviving a direct fight, "Who are you? What do you whant?" he half-snarls at them, growing angry with fright. Hoping to confuse them and buy himself more time he fires of a spell of glitterdust DC 18 in their midst and, while they cough and shield their eyes he steps back a ways. 'Distance, I need distance. I can't let them approach!'
Lavender Leaf |
Lavender stares in shock as Keldar changes. "K-Keldar? I though you only changed into animals? Am I still having visions?! Did I even truly leave the room with the crazy four armed cruise guide...? Whats going on!? Are you truly still with me Rashid, or is it all an illusion?" Lavender asks, Shaking what she hopes in Rashid's arm.
ProfPotts |
A shower of glittering golden particles erupts, covering the southern end of the room... and all of you too... Lavender clutches at her eyes as the mystical display blinds her...
I rolled a DC 18 Will save to avoid blindness for you both... and you both passed (rolled a 20 and a 17, before modifiers)! Didn't roll so well for Lavender I'm afraid...
Rushing forwards, Keldar grabs Bahram, trying to restrain him... He doesn't get an AoO without a weapon ready, so you've got him grappled.
"Bahram! Try to get a grip! You are ill - that is not an efreet - it is Keldar!"
... shouts Rashid... but Bahram doesn't seem to hear him...
You can roll a DC 15 Will save each round to try to get some control over what you're witnessing.
Nyx isn't gone, however - far from it! As nude as you are, she stands behind you, runing her hands across your muscular form as she nuzzles kisses along your neck,
'Stay with me,' she encourages, gently pulling you, trying to lead you further down the corridor, and away from your friends, 'there's bound to be a bed in here somewhere...'
You realise that something doesn't seem quite real about Nyx...
Rashid al-Gahiji |
I really did not expect the followers of Nethys to be fond of hallucinogenics; still, this is a temple to destructive magic, and the effects of this poison are certainly chaotic...
Hoping that with Lavender blind, she will be less prone to suffering from the effects of the gas, he calmly says:
"Lavender, Bahram just cast a spell at you. He is sick. Focus, so you are not affected too... Please, heed my words."
Lavender Leaf |
"Ok, this is nuts, Time out..."" Lavender sits down and concentrates, trying to pull her mind out of these strange visions. She doesn't believe for a second that all of her friends are closet efreeti.
Will 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 }+2 vs enchantment
ProfPotts |
"Lavender, Bahram just cast a spell at you. He is sick. Focus, so you are not affected too... Please, heed my words."
... but his words seem to have little effect (if she's even hearing them) as Lavender appears to ignore them, instead sitting down on the floor as she peers around, blinking...
Meanwhile, Bahram yells...
"Lemme go, lemme go lemme GO!"
... As, with some measure of desperation, the sorcerer kicks, squirms, and wriggles free of Keldar's grip...
Moments later, Yousef stride back into the room - buck naked and brandishing Tempest as he demands...
"What the hell is going on?"
Nyx follows you, doing her best to keep her hands on your nude body as she tries to entice you back to more... pleasurable... pursuits...
... Suddenly a gout of flame brings forth yet another efreeti! This one most definitely a male (as he's nude and it's hard not to notice such things...) and brandishing a great flaming two-handed scimitar!
Everyone except Lavender can try a Perception check at this point...
Rashid al-Gahiji |
I hope that this wears off soon. What where the ancient priests of Nethys thinking?
"Everyone, please, try to calm down and focus!"
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30.
Bahram Zarishu |
Perception 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11 Why, oh why could't the rolls have been the other way around?
"Stay back! What do you want with me? Where are my friends? What have you done with them? I warn you, stay away!" Bahram postures as best he can, calling forth a shocking grasp spell, charging his hands with electricity he hopes to make the monsters hesitate. 'Need to think.. Gaah! What's going on!?'
Bluff 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
ProfPotts |
... yells Bahram as he keeps backing away from Keldar whilst, at the same time, incanting a spell which causes his hand to start crackling with deadly-looking lightning! He seems quite determined to fry anyone who gets near him...
"Everyone, please, try to calm down and focus!"
... suggests Rashid... but still his pleas seem to fall upon deaf ears...
'Everyone, get ready, we shall take the fool together!'
Bahram Zarishu |
Will 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Finally!
Blinking the sweat from his brow Bahram continues to back away from the efreete, looking around he desperately seeks his companions and friend. "Zaina?" he calls out weakly, looking for a friendly face.
Perception, look for anything off or signs of friends.. 1d20 ⇒ 19
Rashid al-Gahiji |
Rashid then rushes the man, attempting to position himself between Bahram and the hostile...
MW Consecrated Scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19, for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Slashing damage.
Initiative (since I assume this will provoke combat): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17.
ProfPotts |
"Bahram, look out! There is a threat in this room, but it is not Keldar - there is a man sneaking up behind you, with a katar!", yells Rashid, as he starts to charge towards you, drawing his scimitar as he comes!
Glancing behind you, you see a regal looking young man, dressed in gold-trimmed silks of blue and white, his black beard neatly trimmed and oiled into a stylish point, and a white silk turban on his head. Beneath his silk shirt you can just make out a shirt of fine mail links, and in the man's hand is a marvelous katar which looks to be a real work of art. The katar is some fifteen inches long, with an embossed image of a ferocious Katapeshi leopard adorning the hilt, and strange shadowy patterns writhing across the damascened blade.
As you turn towards him, the man smiles, an Osirian hint to his accent as he speaks,
'Greatings, fellow seeker! You seem to have sampled the Breath of Nethys, eh? It's a little tricky at first but...'
... he's cut off, as Rashid charges up, the dwarf's scimitar opening a vicious wound across the man's face...
Glancing behind Bahram, you see a regal looking young man, dressed in gold-trimmed silks of blue and white, his black beard neatly trimmed and oiled into a stylish point, and a white silk turban on his head. Beneath his silk shirt you can just make out a shirt of fine mail links, and in the man's hand is a marvelous katar which looks to be a real work of art.
As Bahram turns towards him, the man smiles, and seems to be engaging in polite conversation...
... but he's cut off, as Rashid charges up, the dwarf's scimitar opening a vicious wound across the man's face...
'Ignore them,' suggests Nyx, her hands seeking to excite your ardor as her warm breath teases the back of your neck, 'I'm much more interesting to play with...'
Behind Bahram, you see the vagabond from earlier, dressed in once-fine but now ripped and filthy silks of blue and white, his black beard and hair overgrown and tattered, and a dirty white silk turban partially unravelled on his head. Beneath his shirt you can just make out a shirt of fine mail links, and in the man's hand is a marvelous katar which looks to be a real work of art.
Bahram turns towards the man, but doesn't seem to realise the danger as the vagabond pulls back the punching dagger, ready to strike...
... but Rashid charges up before he gets the chance, the dwarf's scimitar opening a vicious wound across the man's face...
I made that a charge for Rashid, otherwise he couldn't have gotten there in time... plus, the bonus made the difference between a hit and a miss...
Madness-filled eyes snapping towards Rashid, the man snarls, taking a step backwards... and his form begins to undulate and expand...
Within moments the vagabond is covered in leopard-patterned fur, his face is cat-like, his fingers clawed, his legs twisted into animal form (although he still stands upright)... and he's grown to a hulking eleven or twelve feet in height! As he shifted shapes, the man's clothes ripped even more, to hang in silken tatters, but both his chain shirt, and the katar still gripped in his hand, appear to have shifted with him...
Rashid gets to act next (first full round of combat), but be aware that the leopard-man just took a 5ft step back and now has reach. Keldar needs to roll initiative and declare his actions too.
Rashid al-Gahiji |
By the Dawnflower! I was not expecting that!
However, with a supreme act of will, he steels himself, shuffles forward, and takes another swing at the Beast.
MW Consecrated Scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25.
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21, for 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1) + 10 = 13 Slashing damage.
"Bahram? Yousef? Please tell me you can see that..."
ProfPotts |
As Keldar charges in to join his fellow dwarf, the leopard-man uses his susperior reach to lash out with the katar. The fine blade scores a deep hit in the dwarven druid's shoulder... but that's not the half of it, as additional wounds - like the rake marks of a great cat's claws - rip Keldar's flesh in parallel to the wound inflicted by the katar, appearing as if from nowhere... Keldar takes 16 Hit Points of damage.
Keldar's own blow, as he reaches the leopard-man's side, strikes the great beast... but appears to have little effect... In any case, he doesn't appear to take much notice of Keldar's words in either language...
Keeping up his assault on Keldar, the leopard-man lashes out with the katar - once more producing the strange additional rake-marks across the dwarf's flesh as the katar hits - and clamps his powerful feline jaws down hard on the druid's already wounded shoulder, ripping trerrible bloody wounds with his fangs... Keldar takes an additional 25 Hit Points of damage, for a grand total of 41 points of damage this round! Ouch!
Yousef quickly rushes (naked) in to join the fight, but seems to mistep - his swing with Tempest falling short, as if he were misjudging the leopard-man's exact location...
Meanwhile...
"Rashid!" Bahram cries out in shock and confusion, "What's the meaning of this?"
"Hold your horses lady. Or help, but I gotta protect the pretty-boy."
'Oh... you know you're pretty enough for me,' teases Nyx as you charge off (naked) to do battle!
You see Rashid step forward, pressing his seemingly unprovoked assault on the regal-looking man, opening a clean cut across the man's thigh...
As Keldar charges in to join his fellow dwarf, the man lunges with the katar. The fine blade scores a deep hit in the dwarven druid's shoulder... but that's not the half of it, as dark, smokey, ghost-like leopard claws rip Keldar's flesh in parallel to the wound inflicted by the katar, appearing as if from the katar's blade...
Keldar's own blow misses, as the regal looking man deftly dodges to one side...
Keeping up his assault on Keldar, the man lashes out with the katar - phantom claws once more producing the additional rake-marks across the dwarf's flesh as the katar hits - and adds insult to injury by driving his other fist into Keldar's wounded shoulder with a skillful punch.
You quickly rush (naked) in to join the fight, but your swing with Tempest misses as the regal man lithly dodges with a quick backstep...
Meanwhile...
"Rashid!" Bahram cries out in shock and anger, "Cease this battle at once, or I shall kill you all where you stand!"
Are these spoilers still nececery?
Yes... but rest assured, they're much more of a pain in the bottom for me to deal with than for you... ;)
You see Rashid step forward, pressing his seemingly unprovoked assault on the regal-looking man, opening a clean cut across the man's thigh...
As Keldar charges in to join his fellow dwarf, the man lunges with the katar. The fine blade scores a deep hit in the dwarven druid's shoulder... but that's not the half of it, as dark, smokey, ghost-like leopard claws rip Keldar's flesh in parallel to the wound inflicted by the katar, appearing as if from the katar's blade...
Keldar's own blow misses, as the regal looking man deftly dodges to one side...
Keeping up his assault on Keldar, the man lashes out with the katar - phantom claws once more producing the additional rake-marks across the dwarf's flesh as the katar hits - and adds insult to injury by driving his other fist into Keldar's wounded shoulder with a skillful punch.
Yousef quickly rushes (naked) in to join the fight, but his swing with Tempest misses as the regal man lithly dodges with a quick backstep...
Bahram Zarishu |
"Stop it!" he shouts throwing his hand and pointing at the katar wielder, unleashing a blast of lightning.
Lightning arc; 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23, 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Rashid al-Gahiji |
"Can you not see it? The 'man' has turned into a half-leopard thing which is at least 11 feet tall!"
He then attempts to slash the creature!
MW Consecrated Scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16, for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Slashing damage.
Lavender Leaf |
Will 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 }+2 vs enchantment
Lavender continues to concentrate...
How long has it been Prof? Lavender is not the most patient person, and I don't see her sitting around concentrating for more than ten minutes or so.
ProfPotts |
Yeah, sorry - I've been a bit under the weather (I'm still off work today in fact)... plus I finally check in and the in-game forums have been all 'improved' and stuff... Took a while to even find them! I'm a pretty slow learner when it comes to computers I'm afraid... ;)
The leopard-man's eyes dart between Rashid and Yousef, then narrow as they settle on the former,
'You see the monster, not the Falcon Emir, don't you dwarf...' growls the oversized brute as he lashes out with both punching dagger and bite at Rashid, blade, fangs, and strange claw-marks all ripping across the priest's flesh... Rashid takes 28 Hit Points of damage in total.
"By all thats good!" yells Bahram, "Stop it!"
Throwing his hand forwards, the young sorcerer unleashes a blast of lightning which passes between Rashid and the leopard-man, throwing up stone chippings and fragments of scorched papyrus as it chars the floor... It's hard to tell whether Bahram meant to aim there, or if it was simply his usual aiming skills doing their thing...
'[cough]Watch out for that sword [cough]', mutters Keldar as he backs off, 'it must be worth a fortune [cough]; don't damage it! [cough]'
Things don't look good as the dwarven cleric's scimitar misses the nobleman by a whisker - and Keldar is forced to drag his broken body away from immediate danger... at least for the moment.
The nobleman's eyes dart between Rashid and you, then narrow as they settle on the former,
'You're seeing things, aren't you dwarf...' says the man as he lashes out with the punching dagger at Rashid, blade and strange phantom claws both ripping across the priest's flesh...
"That's enough, Rashid!" yells Bahram, "Stop it!"
Throwing his hand forwards, the young sorcerer unleashes a blast of lightning which passes between Rashid and the leopard-man, throwing up stone chippings and fragments of scorched papyrus as it chars the floor... It's hard to tell whether Bahram meant to aim there, or if it was simply his usual aiming skills doing their thing...
'[cough]Watch out for that sword [cough]', mutters Keldar as he backs off, 'it must be worth a fortune [cough]; don't damage it! [cough]'
Things don't look good as the dwarven cleric's scimitar misses the nobleman by a whisker - and Keldar is forced to drag his broken body away from immediate danger... at least for the moment.
The nobleman's eyes dart between Rashid and Yousef, then narrow as they settle on the former,
'You're seeing things, aren't you dwarf...' says the man as he lashes out with the punching dagger at Rashid, blade and strange phantom claws both ripping across the priest's flesh...
You unleash a blast of lightning which passes between Rashid and the leopard-man, throwing up stone chippings and fragments of scorched papyrus as it chars the floor...
Finally blinking away your blindness, you take a moment to see what's happening...
Rashid, Keldar and (a naked) Yousef, seem to be engaged in deadly combat with a regal looking young man, dressed in gold-trimmed silks of blue and white, his black beard neatly trimmed and oiled into a stylish point, and a white silk turban on his head. Beneath his silk shirt you can just make out a shirt of fine mail links, and in the man's hand is a marvelous katar which looks to be a real work of art. Translucent, almost smoke-like, leopard claws seem to flow from the punching dagger to strike where the nobleman swings the weapon.
"Can you not see it?", yells Rashid, "We must slay this man and take his riches for ourselves!"
'[cough]Watch out for that sword [cough]', mutters Keldar as he backs off, hideous wounds across his chest and shoulder, 'it must be worth a fortune [cough]; don't damage it! [cough]'
Things don't look good as the dwarven cleric's scimitar misses the nobleman by a whisker - and Keldar is forced to drag his broken body away from immediate danger... at least for the moment.
The nobleman's eyes dart between Rashid and Yousef, then narrow as they settle on the former,
'You're seeing things, aren't you dwarf...' says the man as he lashes out with the punching dagger at Rashid, blade and strange phantom claws both ripping across the priest's flesh...
"That's enough, Rashid!" yells Bahram, "Stop it!"
Throwing his hand forwards, the young sorcerer unleashes a blast of lightning which passes between Rashid and the leopard-man, throwing up stone chippings and fragments of scorched papyrus as it chars the floor... It's hard to tell whether Bahram meant to aim there, or if it was simply his usual aiming skills doing their thing...
The efreet, and the heat, both seem to have vanished...
You recall some of what the strange four-armed woman was telling you in the chamber with the 'barge of Nethys' - about the dangers of the mists for those not prepared for them, but hinting that they also grant increased powers and open the mind... It seems likely that you're still under their influence, even though you've managed to get the visions a little more under control, and that some of what you're perceiving is little more than simple hallucination... whilst other components may be deeper truths usually hidden. Seperating the facts from the fiction, on the other hand, would seem to be the tricky part...
Rashid al-Gahiji |
Well, we are glad to have you back... Although our characters may not be ;-)
MW Consecrated Scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27, for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Slashing damage.
The sad thing is, I do not see that Rashid has much choice; he cannot compete with healing against the damage this thing can deal, so he might as well go for broke, and try to take it down...
Lavender Leaf |
Will to disbelieve? 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 }+2 vs enchantment
Not sure is saving to disbelieve takes any actions or not. If not Lavender will do the following...
Seeing Keldar so hurt, Lavender tries to relieve the nobleman from his weapon (hopefully there is someone actually there...}
"Grease!" (DC 16)
Yousef olan Ahmad |
Okay, I know I posted an action after Keldar's post. It must have gotten eaten without my notice. Oh well.
Yousef snaps his attention toward Bahram. Kid must have had his mind taken over like Kardswann. "Rashid, take that guy out! He then dives out of the way and charges towards Bahram. When he gets close, he launches into a front kick, aiming to knock the sorcerer out.
Acrobatics to avoid AoO 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Charging Unarmed kick 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Non-lethal damage 1d3 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 2 + (5, 6) = 16