CG Halfling Male Bard (Argent Voice) 8 | Conditions: heroism, good hope, haste | Bardic Performance 16/22 | Spells/Day 1-5/5; 2-2/4; 3-0/3 | Speed 30 ft. | ♫Freedom!♫ HP 59/59 | AC 23/ 15 T/ 20 FF | CMD 20 | Fort +9 (+1 vs drugs or poisons), Reflex +12, Will +9 (+1 vs mind-affecting effects); +2 vs fear; +4 vs bard performance, language-dependent, & sonic | Init +8 | Perception +15, Sense Motive +21
Folks, I'm taking a few days off from gaming to consider whether or not to continue to support this company and its platform.
Paizo has poisoned the well with empty political virtue-signalling, and I'm deeply disappointed.
All lives matter, including black ones. To me that's not a banal slogan or a conviction that ought to be the sole purview of any one political ideology.
Folks, I'm taking a few days off from gaming to consider whether or not to continue to support this company and its platform.
Paizo has poisoned the well with empty political virtue-signalling, and I'm deeply disappointed.
All lives matter, including black ones. To me that's not a banal slogan or a conviction that ought to be the sole purview of any one political ideology.
Viggo tries to crack the code Gaedren Lamm used to make his encrypted entries in the ledger, but he's unable to do so.
Meanwhile, Dragas discovers the garishly made up decapitated head of your client. The barbarian realizes she's been dead for weeks, meaning she was already dead when you met her!
With a harrow-born cartomancer's expertise and skill, Sora studies Zellara’s harrow deck. Hand-painted images decorate this harrow deck, and the cards frames are gilded in silver so that they sparkle and flash under ighting. Despite the worn condition of the card backs, the images on the faces are so vibrant they seem to move when viewed out of the corner of the eye. The deck handles with surprising ease, almost shuffling itself. A bent, torn, or lost card always seems to mend itself or reappear when no one is looking.
Sora:
These features are subtle manifestations of the spirit that haunts the cards. In life, Zellara lived by this deck, and in death, she has become the deck. Although this magical harrow deck wasn’t created using the standard method for creating magic items, it should nonetheless be treated as an intelligent magic item. Zellara can sense the world around the deck via sight and sound, and she can communicate with anyone who holds the deck via empathy. She can create a major image once per day, often doing so to generate an image of herself manipulating the cards—in this manner, she can carry on conversations with other creatures in Common or Varisian. She can also cast identify for anyone who holds one of the cards of the deck to his forehead (a move action) up to three times per day.
ZELLARA’S HARROW DECK
PRICE: — SLOT: none CL: 10th WEIGHT: 1 lb.
AURA: moderate divination Alignment: Chaotic Good
Senses 60ft. Int 10 Wis 13 Cha 13 Ego 8 Language: empathy
Zellara’s harrow deck has a special purpose as well: to defend and protect the city of Korvosa, her home in life and in death. In order to attain this purpose, she can periodically perform powerful harrow readings for those she has chosen as Korvosa’s defenders—the PCs. These harrowings grant those who benefit from them a number of Harrow Points that can be used to manipulate fate and chance.
Zellara can suppress the deck’s powers at will and doesn’t hesitate to do so if anyone attempts to sell the deck or otherwise displeases her. At best, a foolish character could possibly sell the cards as a standard harrow deck for about 50 gp—thus, no pricing information for the deck is needed.
Zellara's spirit emerges from her harrow deck. "Well done, friends. Our hated foe is dead." She looks around. "What did you do with his remains?" she asks.
CG Human Male Shaman-6 (Spirit: Heaven; Wandering Spirit: Lore) | HP 47+11 | AC 20 / 10 T / 20 FF | CMD 14 | Fort +6, Reflex +4, Will +11 | Init +6 | Perception +16; Familiar Bonus: +3 sight-based Perception checks in shadows/darkness | Hexes: Slumber (Will DC18), Heaven's Leap, Evil Eye (Will DC18); Wandering Hex: Arcane Enlightenment | Stardust 6/6 | Monstrous Insight 6/6 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: Barkskin, BlessFalse Life, Heightened Awareness
Relieved that the quahs have agreed to let the mission proceed, Skye sits down on a comfortable stone next to the crackling fire. Perched on a nearby ledge of the cave, Sova keeps a wary eye trained on Memory Tender's vulture.
The shaman digs around in his handy haversack and the pockets of his robes, drawing out his waterskin, pipe, and pouch of Shoanti Special Blend No. 7. Pulling a branch from the fire, he uses the burning ember to light the pipe and takes a long pull with a pleasant gurgling noise. Closing his eyes for a few seconds, he releases his breath in a blue-gray smoke ring.
Holding forth his pipe, Skye smiles at his companions and the gathered representatives of the quahs. "Smoke?"
Aid Token Type: Allied Offensive
Generated By: Rufeo, on behalf of Wynnreyell Moonsilver
Heroic? Yes
Effect: Effect: The Aid Character strikes a creature at the same time as the PC, increasing the damage dealt on one attack by 2d8 points in Subtier 5–6, 3d8 points in Subtier 7–8, 4d8 points in Subtiers 10–11 and 12–13, or 5d8 points in Subtier 15–16.
Heroic Aid: This token grants an additional +2d8 damage to the attack. In addition, after the attack, characters attacking the target are considered to be flanking it until the beginning of the attacker’s next turn.
Passing From: GM Lorenzo
Passing To: GM Cwethan
Aid Token Type: Burst of Healing
Generated By: Traveling Max, on behalf of Julian
Heroic? no
Effect: The Aid Character restores 4d6 hit points to each PC. In Subtiers 10–11 and 12–13, the amount restored increases to 6d6 hit points. In Subtier 15–16, the amount restored increases to 8d6 hit points.
CG Human Male Shaman-6 (Spirit: Heaven; Wandering Spirit: Lore) | HP 47+11 | AC 20 / 10 T / 20 FF | CMD 14 | Fort +6, Reflex +4, Will +11 | Init +6 | Perception +16; Familiar Bonus: +3 sight-based Perception checks in shadows/darkness | Hexes: Slumber (Will DC18), Heaven's Leap, Evil Eye (Will DC18); Wandering Hex: Arcane Enlightenment | Stardust 6/6 | Monstrous Insight 6/6 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: Barkskin, BlessFalse Life, Heightened Awareness
"Feels like we're runnin' outa time, guys." He considers what to do. "Maybe we should focus on one of 'em at a time."
"Frankie, you've got the gift of gab. Maybe you could bullsh - er, bluff (+16) - Memory Tender with one of your tall tales or fabulous fibs. Wanna give it a try?"
"Quang Chi, your excellent survival skills (+11) might convince Togimal-in-Shadow. Maybe Meredith can aid you (+8)."
"Or you could try to use your knowledge of history (+6) to help Frankie with Memory Tender."
"Seems a show of muscle and teamwork (+2 to Aid Another Attempts) stand the best chance of swaying Payah-against-the-Wind."
"Caller and Serge are pretty brawny, (+4), and they chance to succeed." Skye flexes his scrawny biceps. "I'll attempt to help, since I've already done what I could with Togimal-in-Shadow and Memory Tender. Perhaps one or more of you guys could aid us as well?"
NG Kellid-Tian Male Pathfinder-5 | HP 39/43 | AC 19 / 12 T / 17 FF | CMD 20 (22 vs Awesome Blow)| Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
Back in Ol' Pak's shop, Mishka reaches up and rubs the small tattoo of the Night Monarch below his right eye. "No thank you, I plan to keep the tattoo. And the earring."
He thumbs through his notes, organizing them for the report he'll be writing for submission to the Chronicles.
He checks out Dale's volcanic tramp stamp. "Dale, em, have you actually seen that tattoo? I'm afraid your moon's below the volcanic eruption."
CG Human Male Shaman-6 (Spirit: Heaven; Wandering Spirit: Lore) | HP 47+11 | AC 20 / 10 T / 20 FF | CMD 14 | Fort +6, Reflex +4, Will +11 | Init +6 | Perception +16; Familiar Bonus: +3 sight-based Perception checks in shadows/darkness | Hexes: Slumber (Will DC18), Heaven's Leap, Evil Eye (Will DC18); Wandering Hex: Arcane Enlightenment | Stardust 6/6 | Monstrous Insight 6/6 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: Barkskin, BlessFalse Life, Heightened Awareness
*EDIT* Casting Heightened Awareness before making Knowledge checks, please.
Having already shared with the team the various ways to influence Togimal-in-Shadow, Skye considers what his companions have to say about the other Shoanti elders.
"I'll go talk to Memory Tender."
He approaches the stout, tattooed woman. "Greetings, Memory Tender," Skye says with respect. "I am Skye, a shaman of the Lyrune-Quah." Perched on his shoulder, a snowy owl flaps her wings, exposing the downy feathers of her breast, accurately reflecting the stars that would be visible in the night sky. "This is Sova, my companion and spirit animal."
"Your vulture companion and your tribal markings are powerful totems of the Skoan-Quah," he observes.
"I was born in the borderlands between Irrisen and the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, the son of an exiled jadwiga White Witch and her Kellid lover from the Night Hunt following." He shows Memory Tender his stone fetish. "A saber-tooth tiger, my spirit animal guardian."
"As an adolescent, I was taken prisoner from a trade caravan out of Irrisen by a Shoanti raiding party. Later, my captors, the Lyrune-Quah, adopted me."
He indicates the sacred relics the team returned to the Shoanti and shows her the egg-shaped rock that emits a warm, red glow. "We hope to repair the damage to the Muschkal Sepulcher with the help of this Scavenger’s Stone."
CG Human Male Shaman-6 (Spirit: Heaven; Wandering Spirit: Lore) | HP 47+11 | AC 20 / 10 T / 20 FF | CMD 14 | Fort +6, Reflex +4, Will +11 | Init +6 | Perception +16; Familiar Bonus: +3 sight-based Perception checks in shadows/darkness | Hexes: Slumber (Will DC18), Heaven's Leap, Evil Eye (Will DC18); Wandering Hex: Arcane Enlightenment | Stardust 6/6 | Monstrous Insight 6/6 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: Barkskin, BlessFalse Life, Heightened Awareness
After a prayer to Mother Moon for guidance, Skye approaches Togimal-in-Shadow, who reminds him of Ally Sheedy in Breakfast Club.
"Greetings Togimal-in-Shadow. I am Skye, a shaman of the Lyrune-Quah." He introduces himself to the Shoanti leader with respect and appropriate humility and deference. "The Pathfinder regrets the actions of its agent Lumketul Simset and his deceit. We wish to make amends and right this wrong and restore the sacred Shoanti burial site known as the Muschkal Sepulcher."
"Lumketul cut ties with the Pathfinder Society over a year ago. We seek Lumketul and will hold him accountable for his thoughtless actions and accept no excuses."
Skye empties the sack with reverence for the objects it contains, four carved wooden weapons mounted on simple bases: a bolas, a bow, an earth breaker, and a klar as well as a small stone statue of a wolf cub and a ring stylized as a scarab beetle. "Lumketul took these from the Shoanti. And we return them to the Shoanti as a gesture of goodwill and our first step towards atonement."
"Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin also gave us this." He shows her, er, him, er, the person-who-prefers-third-person-plural pronouns the egg-shaped rock that emits a warm, red glow. "it’s a Scavenger’s Stone - if you touch it to a broken object, it will gradually repair it. It won’t last forever, but it should have enough magic left in it to restore the damage done."
Guidance, Sense Motive for Discovery (Influence):1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20
Going to the mattresses, Julian calls in a favor, and Lady Carmela Soprano appears, and bending over, bestows her blessing on the man's bow with a kiss. "That's amore, Giuliano!"
Bristor exercises his better judgment, flicking his inquisitor's selector lever from full destruction to a more discriminating, good sight alignment.
On dragon's wings warded from death, Archaemenon flies up and over the lip of the canyon some 50ft above the floor of the Black Cavern. She readies a spell, planning to rock the gargantuan skeletal tzitzimitl to the bone, if it tries to cast another spell.
Summoning another squad of celestial reinforcements, Peter issues a series of detailed Fragos to each. His summoned centurions salute and march into battle.
Three of the cassisians put daylight-shines on the wielded weapons of Bristor, Julian, and Sir Hendric. The last brave and winged helmet carries its daylight past the forward edge of the battle space and into the deeper darkness, exposing the tzitzimitl in all his gargantuan glory.
Archaememnon is shocked to see that the crown of the tzitzimitl's bony skull reaches the lip of the chasm!
The vulpinal agathions, sly, bright-eyed, anthropomorphic foxes dressed in simple minstrel's clothes and each carrying a musical instrument in one hand, yip once in acknowledgment of their orders, cast their spells, and fly toward the nemhains, heedless of the personal danger. Reaching their targets, the Mötley Crüe smash their guitars over the nemhains' incorporeal heads and banishing their malignant bound spirits to the mosh pit of hell.
Sir Hendric, itching to charge a worthy foe, especially now that he beholds the bellicose behemoth, instead exercises some good judgment of his own, withdrawing back to Bristor and requesting the half-orc apply some of that protective death ward lotion on his horse.
Map & Images Hazard: The river of blood is infused with powerful negative energy.
Deeper Darkness - 60ft-radius centered on the tzitzimitl. (Any creature that takes cold damage from the Eclipse effect becomes staggered as long as it remains in the area of darkness and for 1d4 rounds after it leaves that area. The save DC is Charisma-based.)
Round 3
Bold may act.
Peter (-15)
Sir Hendric (-30, Staggered 1 round; Sentry -15)
---
Green Nemhain(-133) Yellow Nemhain(-11)
---
Wynnreyell (-30, Staggered for 1 round)
---
Red Tzitzimitl (-21)
---
Julian (-30)
Bristor (-30, Staggered for 1 round.)
Archaememnon (-30; Readied Action: Boneshatter, Trigger - Tzitzimitl tries to cast a spell)
Peter rummages around in his mystic theurge kitbag and comes up with a sythesized trio of sound tactics.
While smearing some Banana Boat SPF50 death block on the sensitive, tender skin of his gaunt face and scrawny arms and legs, the tiefling dials up a lean and mean, winged Victoria's Secret model wielding a flaming greatsword.
While Peter xeroxes himself, Gisele Bündchen scrunches up her perfectly-chiseled cheekbones and glutes and expels a brilliant burst of ambrosia-scented divine radiance surrounding our intrepid heroes, gracing them with her supermodel holy aura. *Schwing!*
The deva looses a war cry, "For Brady and Tampa Bay!" and then dives toward the tzitzimitl. As she approaches with 20ft of the gargantuan skeleton, the undead monstrosity opens its jaws, sinking its teeth into the monavic morsel of haute cuisine, and the awesome blow knocks her back 10ft, flinging her toward his yellow minion.
Awesome Blow Bite; Damage + 3d6 electricity and energy drain:1d20 + 26 ⇒ (9) + 26 = 352d8 + 14 + 3d6 ⇒ (4, 8) + 14 + (4, 5, 1) = 36
The electricity doesn't even faze the angel, and she's immune to the spittle's draining effects. And the tzitzimitl discovers the piece of angel food cake tastes a little tart to its razor-sharp sweet tooth, and it's unable to bite down as hard as it had wished. But one taste was all it took for its world to go dark. It claps its massive massive hands to its eyes, confirming the old adage that putting your mouth on a pure deva uninvited can indeed make you go blind.
Leaving the deva to its mate, the nemhain with the vomit-green aura flies forward and sends its bound spirits at the hellspawned caster that summoned the angel, the spirits' spectral hands seething with eerie dark fire. Then it cocks one arm back, ready to attack anyone who gets close.
Incorporeal Ranged Touch (Slay Living) vs Peter; Damage:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 2212d6 + 15 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 4, 2, 6, 1, 6) + 15 = 55 (Fortitude DC22 reduces damage to 3d6 + 15 ⇒ (3, 1, 6) + 15 = 25)
Fickle Fate favors the mystic theurge, and the bounds spirits grasp nothing but the putrid air, sultry and heavy above the smooth flowing river of blood deep in the Black Cavern.
On the other side of the river, the glowing yellow nemhain reaches out an incorporeal claw to attack the monavic deva, while its bound spirits do the same.
Incorporeal Touch; Damage plus 1d6 Con drain:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 383d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) = 10 CON drain:1d6 ⇒ 6 Bound Spirits Incorporeal Ranged Touch; Damage plus 1d6 Con drain:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 243d8 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) = 10 CON drain:1d6 ⇒ 6
Map & Images Hazard: The river of blood is infused with powerful negative energy. Round 1
Bold may act.
Peter (Deva -31; -12 CON)
---
Green Nemhain (Readied Attack)
Yellow Nemhain
---
Wynnreyell
---
Red Tzitzimitl (Blind)
---
Julian
Bristor
Sir Hendric
Archaememnon
Wynnreyell, you're up!
Just checking in, folks. I'm still here. We'll give Donkere till this evening to post. If necessary, I'll place him in Delayed status and move things along.
The summoned ice mephit belches a cloud of frosty breath. *Burp!* Its icy breath barely fogs the gold golem's gleaming metal chest, but the construct shudders in the wake of the halitosis, its joints tightening like an old man getting up from his rocker to grab another beer.
Archaememnon delays, pondering her options, looking for the best course of action.
Blind, slowed, and grappled by the smilodon, the gold golem's swings one creaking arm, its metal frame protesting the movement. Unable to see, its fist misses Bristor.
Blind, Grappled, Slowed Slam; Damage:1d20 + 34 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 34 - 2 - 1 = 394d8 + 12 ⇒ (6, 1, 7, 7) + 12 = 33 Miss Chance ≤50%:1d100 ⇒ 34
NG Kellid-Tian Male Pathfinder-5 | HP 39/43 | AC 19 / 12 T / 17 FF | CMD 20 (22 vs Awesome Blow)| Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
"Eynemb, I am not so high up a mountain that I cannot see through your mockery and insults," Krieger says in a menacing voice from behind Nobali Hohachi’s mask, black as a starless midnight. "Your words betray your own weakness and your need for my help."
Channeling the brash spirit of the tengu priest of Hei Feng, Krieger stands up straight, 6'4" and over 14 stone, and looming larger. Taking up as much space as he can whether he's sitting, standing, or walking, he cuts quite the imposing figure.
"Know that Nobali Hohachi's destiny is to bring the holy word of the Duke of Thunder down upon the Minatan isles! I will deal with this threat, though not simply because you beg me to," a supremely confident Krieger roars like a bolt of lightning.
He pounds a fist against his mithral breastplate. "I will do it, because it is my destiny!"
The bold barbarian, in a gentlemanly gesture of deference to his dithering companions, steps nimbly out of the way, so they, too, might admire for themselves this foul diminutive vermin, sitting silent and menacing amidst its silken webs.
The mottled-brown, rat-sized spider remains where it is, ready to attack anyone who dares enter its lair.
The ominous sounds of the creaking and groaning planks of the deck and the boardwalk, straining under the weight of our intrepid heroes, provide a dissonant accompaniment, adding to the tension...
NG Kellid-Tian Male Pathfinder-5 | HP 39/43 | AC 19 / 12 T / 17 FF | CMD 20 (22 vs Awesome Blow)| Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
A Judge Judy-like gavel, perhaps, for emphasizing an argument or rendering a verdict?
CG Ifrit Male Barbarian (Urban Barbarian) 2/Bard (Dawnflower Dervish) 2 | hp 37/37 | AC 17 / 13 T / 14 FF (uncanny dodge) | CMD 16 | Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +4 | Efreeti Magic (1/day) 1/1 | Hypnotic (1/day) 1/1 | Light (At will) | Bardic Performance (standard) / Battle Dance (move) 10/12 | Rage 9/11 | Init +7 | Perception +7, Darkvision 60ft, Sense Motive +4 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
Disappointed at the half-orc's reticence, Santiago heads over to the band and joins them on-stage.
When the trio finally takes a short break between sets, he asks them, "So what's up with that sourpuss half-orc, Dulm? I got the impression he doesn't like you or your music."
NG Kellid-Tian Male Pathfinder-5 | HP 39/43 | AC 19 / 12 T / 17 FF | CMD 20 (22 vs Awesome Blow)| Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
Thanks, GM, for all the work on this. Much appreciated. Everything below is the result of my own clumsy and confused attempt at due diligence.
Krieger has no spells available or items equipped that enhance his CHA; however, he has the Persuasive and Tribal Scars (Bearpelt) feats. The former provides a +2 bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks, and the latter provides a +2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
The Vigilante social talent Social Grace grants Krieger a +4 circumstance bonus on Diplomacy and Intimidate checks.
The Vigilante social talent Ancestral Enlightenment grants Krieger a +4 untyped bonus on any knowledge check in which he has at least 1 rank. It doesn't make it a class skill, but would it provide some Edge for such Knowledge skills?
When calculating Edge, do we round up or down? It looks like Krieger has 6/3 Diplomacy for Edge 2 and 8/3 Intimidate for Edge 2.67.
Krieger also has a 'Morale Pool' of 1 from his Vigilante talent Companion of the Lonely, which can be spent as an immediate action to roll a CHA-based skill check again after rolling the die but before learning the consequences; he must take the second result, even if it's lower.
I'm not sure if it's applicable, but were our opponents to use Intimidate against Krieger, his Vigilante special ability Unshakable grants +5 (Ex) to the DC of foes attempting Intimidate checks against him.
For the purposes of the debate's verbal duel, every check is CHA-based. Krieger's CHA mod is only +1. With just one rank in Bluff, Intimidate, and Sense Motive, his bonus for each is the same, +5. (You calculated his Intimidate mod as +7.) Does Edge break a tie between 2 or more skills? Does wearing the mask of Nobali Hohachi confer any benefit/penalty to any of the checks?
Regarding the team effort, should we try to make sure at least one of us covers each of the tactics to avoid 'forfeiting' a win to our opponents? Kreiger can switch to other tactics to help cover some the team hasn't chosen, even if they're not necessarily his in-character preferred choices.
Some of Krieger's options look worse, when I followed the rules you laid out on the worksheet:
When assigning skills to tactics, you must choose the associated skill with the highest bonus.
Your bonus in a skill is equal to: skill ranks + class skill bonus (3) + Charisma modifier.
Allegory: Knowledge (religion) +2 (Edge 0) The worksheet says Edge 1? Is that due to the +4 bonus from Ancestral Enlightenment? Baiting: Sense Motive +5 On the worksheet, Intimidate has the highest bonus, but it must be used for the ringed 'Presence' tactic Emotional Appeal: Bluff +5 (Edge 0)
Flattery: Diplomacy +6 (Edge 2)
Logic: Knowledge (local) +6 (Edge 0) Should Edge be 1, due to the +4 bonus from Ancestral Enlightenment? Mockery: NA On the worksheet, Intimidate has the highest bonus, but it must be used for the ringed Presence tactic. Of the other options, Bluff has already been assigned to 'Emotional Appeal' and Perform (comedy) is not the highest option for the tactic. Presence: Intimidate +5 (Edge 2 or 3?) The ringed tactic. The worksheet says +7? Red Herring: NA Bluff is the highest, but it's already assigned to 'Emotional Appeal.' Rhetoric: NA Diplomacy is the highest, but it's already assigned to 'Flattery.' Wit: Linguistics +2 (Edge 0)
NG Kellid-Tian Male Pathfinder-5 | HP 39/43 | AC 19 / 12 T / 17 FF | CMD 20 (22 vs Awesome Blow)| Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
"Bleaching?" Mishka asks no one in particular. "Normally something performed for brides preparing for their wedding, is it not?"
I'm enjoying a few drams of single-malt whisky and my wife's Renegade Guacamole (based on the recipe of Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top, one of my heroes. Wish I had the facial hair to grow a beard like that).
Just offering some pathetic excuses for my sloppy posting.
NE male goblin Alchemist-3 | hp 23/23 | AC 20, touch 17, flat-footed 15 (+2 armor, +1 deflection+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 shield, +1 size) | Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +0 (+2 vs poison) Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5 | Conditions: None
Trusting his good buddy Chuffy to deal with the giant frog, Mogmurch belches up some fiery breath at the witch in the crow's nest. *BURP!* Fire Damage; Reflex DC13 for half, Vorka +2 cover bonus?:4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 1) = 11 (Elixir of Fire Breath; 2 Burps remaining)
CG Human Male Shaman-6 (Spirit: Heaven; Wandering Spirit: Lore) | HP 47+11 | AC 20 / 10 T / 20 FF | CMD 14 | Fort +6, Reflex +4, Will +11 | Init +6 | Perception +16; Familiar Bonus: +3 sight-based Perception checks in shadows/darkness | Hexes: Slumber (Will DC18), Heaven's Leap, Evil Eye (Will DC18); Wandering Hex: Arcane Enlightenment | Stardust 6/6 | Monstrous Insight 6/6 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: Barkskin, BlessFalse Life, Heightened Awareness
"Are you one of them inquisitor types, dude?" Skye asks the little guy. "Don't judge me, bro."
"My weed makes you mellow, man." He shrugs, indifferent to the criticisms of the ignorant. "Opens your mind up to all kindsa possibilities."
"And it kinda makes you hungry, too," he says, rummaging around in his pockets and pulling out some dry rations. "Where'd I put that Chelaxian salsa-guacamole, the one Zarta made me?"
Sora and Korinne regret the passing of the vicious cur, agreeing to burn or bury it, if and when the opportunity presents itself.
Gerry expresses the group's consensus that Lamm must be on the lower level of the old fishery, closer to the water.
Dragas and Kradel head outside to where the kids are mulling about, waiting to learn their fate. Kradel tries to mollify the survivors, and his healing of their cuts and bruises helps more than his sour attempt at honeyed words.
"None of us has ever been to the Playground, Uncle Kradel." Sophie sniffs. "We're the lucky ones."
"Seen a tiny door down there, facin' the boat," one of Lamm's Lambs says, stifling a sob and pointing down toward the southeast corner of the fishery. "Before, when Yargin put me on beggar detail in town."
"Gobblegut's Lamm's pet monster," Kester answers the dwarf's question. "Giggles called it an Alley-Somethin'-Ate-Her."
Meanwhile back inside the old fishery, Viggo and Sora take a look around, the former hasty and the latter more deliberate. The bard's inquisitive eye realizes there's much to learn here - when the team has the luxury of time to investigate. Even taking her time, Sora nearly misses it, but she manages to spot something interesting.
One of the floorboards behind the chair in the northeast corner of Yargin's office (A6) is in fact a cunningly hidden trap door. It doesn't appear to be trapped, but the door is wedged shut and barred from below. It would have to be smashed open from above.
CG Kellid-Tian Male Vigilante Avenger-5 | hp 39/43 | AC 19 (21) / 12 T / 17 (19) FF Shield of Blades | CMD 20 (22) [22 (24) vs Awesome Blow] | Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Companion of the Lonely Morale Pool 1/1 | Conditions: Bless, Life Link, Bull's Strength
"A compulsion?" the Foreigner rasps. "Who is dominating them?"
He pursues the dark blue wayang and swings his wooden greatsword, pulling back on the force of blow, not intending to kill it.
He raises his arms to the crowd and beseeches the officials. "Some evil menace has beguiled these honorable wayang warriors, forcing them to fight to kill against their will!" the Foreigner thunders. "He or she desecrates this sacred ritual!"
The Foreigner shakes his head to clear it. This must be the spirit of Nobali Hohachi speaking. It is unwise to voice this concern before learning who is behind the compulsion.
Skye was born in the borderlands between Irrisen and the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, the son of an exiled jadwiga White Witch and her Kellid lover from the Night Hunt following. He carries a stone fetish resembling a saber-tooth tiger, representing his spirit animal guardian. As an adolescent, Skye was taken prisoner from a trade caravan out of Irrisen by a Shoanti raiding party. He was later adopted by his captors, the Lyrune-Quah, the Moon Clan of the Storval Plateau in Varisia.
His midnight blue eyes sparkle like starlight, and he exudes an aura of otherworldliness. When he calls upon the Spirit of the Heavens, his eyes turn pitch black and the colors around him drain for a moment. Skye’s familiar, a snowy owl he calls Sova, might not be often seen, but she is never far from him. Sova is half-blind during the day and a bit clumsy as a result, but she’s at her primal best at twilight. She can also be a bit absent-minded, but Skye loves her all the more for it.
---
Having heard he'll be joining a mission heading north into Shoanti lands, Skye recalls what he heard while serving as a shaman among the Shoanti of the Lyrune-Quah.
When he meets the rest of the team in Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin's office, he shares a few pertinent tidbits.
"Some of you probably know that the fierce Shoanti are spread throughout the Storval Plateau in northern Varisia, where they eke out a living in harsh, inhospitable conditions."
He pulls a pouch of tobacco from his belt, digs around in his robes, pulling out a cylindrical pipe, and grabs his waterskin from his handy haversack. He fill the pipe with water and packs in a fair amount of tobacco, then fires it up, taking a long, gurgling pull. He holds it a few moments, before releasing his breath in a large, blue-gray smoke ring.
"But you might not know that the Shoanti formerly inhabited much of southern Varisia, until they were forced northward into the Storval Plateau after bloody conflicts with Chelaxian colonists. This violent history has led to many Shoanti being mistrustful of outsiders."
"Shoanti Special Blend No. 7." The shaman offers to pass the pipe around. "I grow it in the flowerbeds of the Dark Archive."
"Despite seeming xenophobic, Shoanti are not completely closed off. Many outsiders have been known to join their ranks, but only after a history of demonstrating loyalty to their clan and dedication to its principles."
"Oh, I'm Skye," he adds, having forgotten his manners. "'Ssup?"
NE male goblin Alchemist-3 | hp 23/23 | AC 20, touch 17, flat-footed 15 (+2 armor, +1 deflection+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +1 shield, +1 size) | Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +0 (+2 vs poison) Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +5 | Conditions: None
Standing behind the cover of the cabin's wall, from where he'd tossed his bomb, and channeling an inner Die Hard-vibe, Mogmurch hurls his last grenade up at the witch. "Yippee-ki-yay, m**%!+*$@@&*!" Bomb; Fire Damage:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Then the goblin, back against the wall, reaches in his bulging pants for his pair of Desnan candles, clutching one in each hand. "Nine million witches in the world, and I gotta kill one with smaller feet than my sister," Mogmurch mutters to himself.
Thanks, Dennis. I appreciate your sticking to the calendar. My table's doing a good job of posting frequently, but they're not a party of massive damage-dealing meat sticks.
NG Kellid-Tian Male Pathfinder-5 | HP 39/43 | AC 19 / 12 T / 17 FF | CMD 20 (22 vs Awesome Blow)| Fort +6, Reflex +7, Will +6 | Init +5 | Perception +9, Sense Motive +5 | Speed 30 ft. | Conditions: None
Mishka accompanies the young wayang lady Xiha to her favorite tattooist. He leafs through the portfolio of the artist's work. He pauses on one image, pointing to an intricate, stylized moth-like creature. "Fascinating. I believe this The Night Monarch, Desna's herald."
Its wings are brightly colored, and while the exact color and pattern changes with every glance, they always exude sparkling stardust. Its head looks more like a brightly colored moth than a butterfly, and its tail ends in what look like three peacock feathers.
"I am aware that many wayang revere Lao Shu Po as their patron, but I had no idea Mother Moon, too, had devotees among your people."
He smiles at Xiha and approaches the artist. "After the Abbinthurtaa rituals and festivities are complete, I'd like to return and discuss your work. Could you render this as a runeward tattoo, specifically for necromancy?"
He thanks the artist for his time and patience and bids farewell to Xiha. "Thank you for your compassion, Xiha," he says, "But now I must return to my friends and prepare for the rituals."
---
After an hour or so, Mishka returns, satisfied and relaxed, to the team's lodgings at Unelda's boarding house, where he meets up with Dale.
"Dale, it's a long story, but if you've the time, I will tell it... "
Krieger's Tale:
"I am the son of a Tian concubine and the Mighty Kuldor, the strongest man in the whole of the Realm of the Mammoth Lords and leader of the Bearpelt following. To escape the palace intrigues of my father's other offspring, their mothers, and his many courtiers, I left home to prove myself an epic hero through acts of great courage and strength, cunning and guile. For a time, I served as a soldier in the army of Po La the Bureaucrat, the Tian leader of Icestair, the largest settlement in the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, wedged against the wall of ice that marks the edge of the Crown of the World."
"I have the stature of my Kellid father and his legendary giant ancestors and a typical Kellid’s light brown skin, long, dark brown hair and dark green eyes. But I inherited my physical grace and fine features from my Tian mother from Minkai."
"I wears this zoic fetish, a small charm made out of bundles of twine hair and stone, crafted for me by my Tian mother, Hwei Yofang, who may have enchanted it with powerful druidic magic."
"Now, let's find the others, compare our notes of what we learned, and get ready for the rituals."
Our inquisitor of Cayden Cailean just suffered a critical hit, powerful charge gore from a barometz for a potential 20d10+30 damage and 2d6 bleeding critical.
Like a good GM should, though, I rolled like crap, so Bristor is still alive.
Thanks for the Burst of Healing Aid Token, GM AndrewW. Impeccable and fortuitous timing!
Viggo searches the corpse of Hookshanks Gruller and recovers the gnome's small-sized studded leather armor and masterwork kukri, a disguise kit, 7gp, and a key. The bard looks at the key and regards the tall cabinet in the southwest corner of the room.
With some help from Kradel, Korinne manages to calm the frightened children enough to ask them some questions. Lamm’s lambs are tough, made rough as leather by Gaedren’s quick hand and life on the street.
Kester shares what he knows. ”Lamm owns more’n a couple dozen of us kids. Only nine of us workin’ here in the daytime. Rest got street duty, beggin’ and cuttin’ purses. They lock up all of us in fishery floor at night.”
"Through there,” Kester points at the door in the south wall of the upper workroom, ”is the front room. Yargin’s dog Bloo spends the day sleepin’ under the desk.” Gerry's standing there listening, but he doesn't hear anything.
Still pointing south, he continues. ”Past the front room is the barracks and Yargin’s office. Yargin’s a sour-faced, mean man. He’s in charge when Lamm’s not around. He mixes the acid for the vats and uses it to punish us, sometimes.”
Lamm spends most of his time in the 'playground.' Don't know what's down there. Kids who get sent to the 'playground' never come back."[/b]
The three smaller children start to cry again.
When Kradel asks about Sophie, Kester scratches his nappy hair. "There's a little dwarf girl here.” He shakes his head. ”But I ain’t never heard a no one called Sophie."
”I know her.” Choking back a sob, the littlest boy looks up at Kradel and says, "Lamm and his goons call her Soapy when they beat her. On account of she's the dirtiest, ugliest kid here. They been kickin' her round lots more, since she been so sick, she cain't work no more."
When Kester realizes who he's talking about, his eyes light up. "Prolly right, must be her."
He points to the door next to the vat in the northeast corner of the upper workroom, the one next to Kradel. ”Giggles has her down on the fishery floor.”
