Aardvark's "Bring Out Your Dead's Valuables" MM Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Troy Malovich

Brennan and Surubi investigate the general safety of the room, while both Chephren and Gabriel look for an auras that warrant further investigation. There are neither signs of magic, besides what is among the group's equipment, nor is there any sign of evil. Given the results, Gabriel too tries to discern the nature of death for the body.

Despite seeing large clumps of hair on the floor beneath the body's headless shoulders, Surubi has little to no clue how the man lost his head. Gabriel, however, offers his own discovery "The head looks like it has been pulled off, rather than cleanly decapitated." Beyond that, there is nothing of interest in the room or on the body except for a simple gold band worn on the dead man's ringfinger

Brennan Perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Gabriel uses Detect Evil, and like Surubi will also Perception and Heal check the body.
Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Heal 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"Pulled off? Perhaps. Regardless, it now flits about this house with hungry fangs and evil intent." Omen then points to the ring, "That may help identify this man." Though as soon as he finishes his thought he glances back, behind the group, expecting to see the leering visage of the winged head just past the door.

I feel like this would be in line with Brennan's response, but if not, he can correct me when he returns.

"Who gives a rat's ass about his identity? He's dead now, a fat lot of good knowing his name will do us." Brennan grumbles to the group.

Omen turns his masked gaze to Brennan for a long moment before clarifying, "If coin is your aim, then family might part with more of it for the closure that ring would provide than some peddlar in the markets."

"Well then, this one shall check his ring. Either way, let us not argue over a stranger's death." Surubi finishes sneaking up to the body and looks at his ring.

Stealth 24 rolled in this post (link) but rolling again in case GM wants a new one.
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

The ring slips too easily of the remains of the man's finger, covered with small stains left behind from the rotting that went on around it. Inside the band, in Osiriani, reads the words "To Akar from Panhet, Love Eternal."

Surubi reads the inscription aloud, albeit quietly. "Anyone recognize any names there?" She then searches the body and alcove for anything else of value.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 +1 more if this upstairs room open to outside is Desert terrain in addition to indoors.

"I am sorry, but those names are not familiar to me. We can ask around once we leave the Necropolis."

Brennan, a little confused by your post, as you rolled perceptions but reacted as if you had bombed a stealth roll.

Ever tried to listen in on a conversation across the room while you are hacking and sneezing?

"There, see? Ay-khar, and Pan-net. Asking questions is all well and good, but sometimes you just need to act, and the answers come. And coin, don't forget the coin."

Surubi announces her findings regarding the alcove and pockets the ring. "We can ask around about Akar and Panhet at the inn when we return there. For the moment, we should look into the last few rooms and fully check the sheds and well outside on our way out." Surubi leaves the room and quietly moves to the door nearest to the stairs, then looks it over. "Do you see anything here Mister Darkblade?"
I'm assuming the alcove is empty, if not she says what she finds there. Once she leaves the room with the body she will return to stealthing and approach the door at J-3, then search it and listen at it.
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 +1 more if this upstairs room open to outside is Desert terrain in addition to indoors.

Brennan watched as Surubi pocketed the ring, then followed her to the next room. He watched as the shrouded figure examined the door, then looked himself. It wasn't as if she didn't ask him to, and he still didn't like trusting anyone's skills but his own. of course, it was hard to examine the door around someone else.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Omen waits patiently, watching Surubi and Brennan work, his hands clasped imperiously behind his back as he observes the pair.

Gabriel moves over beside Omen as the two of them watch the inspection of the next door takes place. Despite their attention to the door, neither Surubi nor Brennan finds anything of note.

"Okay, time to open it up." Surubi whispers. She slowly opens the door, being extremely quiet. She looks to Brennan and motions with her eyes to take a peek inside.
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

This spacious room beyond the newly opened door has another entrance to the east, which lines up with the corresponding doors along the balcony. The aged remains of dressers, a large bed, and a divan lie in ruins. The husk of large hornet’s nest, gray, papery, and devoid of life, occupies one corner of the ceiling. The spaces in the northeast and northwest corners appear to be closets. Their wooden doors have all but fallen off their hinges, and heaps of disintegrated fabric mingle on the floor. Between the closets stands a single lacquered dresser covered in dust.

Surubi carefully moves into the room, looking around as she does.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14; +1 more if this upstairs room is Desert terrain in addition to indoors.
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Brennan watches from the door as Surubi takes the exploratory steps into the room. If nothing happens, he will move in and help her search.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Omen surveys the room with a heavy nod. "Hmmm. The ages have not been kind to this place. Time has withered much since last anyone came here."

"Unless the dead man in the other room got in here some short time ago." Surubi replies as she looks around the various alcoves in the room.

Gabriel Detect Evil, and active search. Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

As Brennan and Surubi have a look at the room, Gabriel resorts to his usual casting, before he calls out a warning, "Guys, there is evil in the room, I can sense it. From what or I where I will not know until I've had time to see more." As he scans the space, he adds, "Also, that dresser to the north looks to bear a false front, with handles but they are not actual drawers."

At Gabriel's warning, Omen makes ready to blanket any revealed threat in void stuff.
readying a use of black motes

Brennan glanced sharply at Gabriel, more than a little miffed that the chump had seen something that Brennan had missed. And while a certain amount of caution was healthy, no one ever struck it rich by playing it safe. He moved forward, scrutinizing the drawer handles, looking for signs of a trap, before yanking the false front open.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Nat 20 for +10

I'm going to avoid being my usual stickler, and celebrate the Nat 20.

Brennan follows up on the information given by Gabriel, and investigates the false dresser. There appear to be neither signs of danger, nor even any real seams where the thing opens. Yanking the face of the dresser, he soon learns why. The whole dresser is a fake; nothing more than an empty box, open in the back.

Brennan yanked at the front so hard, that the heavy bronze chest hidden within the empty space didn't move with it. Instead, it fell to the floor with a loud thunk, and tipped over onto its back. Thanks to this, Brennan actually noticed there was a second keyhole on the bottom of the chest. There are often used to arm triggers inside a closed chest, set to go off when opened.

As he does all this, Gabriel offers an update, "There is only a single aura, it is of moderate evil. That's not good. A little more and I can pinpoint where it originates."

"It seems you barely know your own strength, Brennan. Well done." Omen's voice and approval boom through the room as he turns his gaze slowly from left to right, waiting for Gabriel to indicate the evil presence of which he speaks.

Keeping my black motes action readied!

Brennan knelt and examined the keyhole on the bottom of the trunk. If it was used to arm a trap, then it should be able to disarm one as well. Pulling out his tools, he inserted two into the arming keyhole, feeling for the mechanism that would disarm whatever trap lay in store.

Brennan sets into working on the exposed lock on the underside of the newfound chest. Based on how difficult it is, he knows the task could take some time.

As he pulls out his tools to begin the work, Gabriel calls out, "It's there! A tiny thing floating roughly in the space between Brennan, Surubi, and the old hornet's nest! By the wall of the west closet." Whatever it is, it doesn't seem to respond to the fact that Gabriel called out where it was hidden.

Omen, I'm leaving the ready up to you whether it meets your conditions. No "threat" has been "revealed" visually, but there has been a non-visual "threat revealed". If you choose not to take it, we will go into init normally (and taking it or not actually would not change your position in init in this case).

Gabriel whispers to Omen and Chephren, "I can keep calling out its location as long as I can concentrate. Keep it from getting to me, please."

Gabriel, Standard to maintain concentration.

-----------To go this round-------------
Round 1:
Brennan -
Chephren -
Omen -
Floating thing -
Surubi -

------Went this round------
Gabriel - Concentrates on spell

I have enough black motes I feel I can waste one if this proves to be ineffective.

His head snapping to the left as he focuses on the spot Gabriel calls out, Omen calls down a column of voidstuff even though he can't see the source of his ally's misgivings.

Black Motes: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Ref save DC 17 negates
Caster Level check if needed: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Which square? Gabriel can pinpoint it with his detect evil, but defining its exact location to others is harder to do.

"Invisible enemies? Great. Let the magic throwers deal with it. Now, let's try and find that last pin...

Brennan ignored Gabriel and Omenhotep, trying to concentrate on opening the chest.

F3!

Surubi is still too intent on keeping quiet and listening for the 'thing' Gabriel is talking about.
Not her turn yet.

Chephren waits at the back of the group until the threat has been revealed.

delay for the moment

There's a slight gasp of either pain or surprise as a cold shower of icy blackness descends in a column into the space indicated previously by Gabriel.

Despite Omen's preemptive strike, no thing appears in the space or any other. Brennan decides that something he can't even see may not really be something he's able to deal with. Instead, the man continues to fiddle with the lock on the underside of the bronze lockbox.

-----------To go this round-------------
Round 1:
(D) Chephren - Delaying
Omen -
Floating thing - 3 damage
Surubi -

------Went this round------
Gabriel - Concentrates on spell
Brennan - 1st round of disabling the trap

Did that readied action count as my turn for this round? Turn tracker makes me think it didn't, but everything else makes me think it did =)

No, it went off before anything else. It initiated the combat. Then Init was rolled. So, now it is your turn in round 1.

Oh snap!

Omen calls down another column of void-stuff and himself thunders, "Reveal yourself, creature!"

Black Motes: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Ref save DC 17 negates
Caster Level Check (if needed): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Same square as before: F3!

Omen lets out another burst of cold blackness into the same space, knowing that there was something there last time. Once again there is a growl of pain, and then something is called out in a harsh language.

Gabriel calls out a warning, "It's coming right at me... I lost it!"

Just then, something appears right over Omen's head, biting the man that just hit it with spells. Omen has seen it before. It is the floating head he had mentioned seeing the day before. The thing is nothing more than a tiny, flying, disembodied, and bestial head covered in lashing hair and curling horns.

Floating Thing 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18, damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 plus roll a DC 13 Fort save or take 1d2 ⇒ 2 Wis damage.
The thing is tiny, and therefore sharing the same space as Omen.

It is Knowledge Planes to ID the creature.

As the thing appears and bites Omen, there soon follows odd screeching from elsewhere in the house. It sounds like more company may be expected.

-----------To go this round-------------
Round 1:
(D) Chephren - Delaying
Surubi -

------Went this round------
Gabriel - Concentrates on spell
Brennan - 1st round of disabling the trap
Omen - 4 damage, Hit it with Black Motes
Floating thing/J3 - 7 damage, appeared in J3, bit Omen

Attention: the spaces K3-K5 are just open space to the floor below. They are not valid squares to move in or through in w/o flight.

Seeing the creature now, Chephren steps into the room and reaches out with his bleeding touch.

Bleeding Touch, vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Surubi spins around when she hears the odd screeching and sees the creature biting Omen. "Ewww! That's disgusting!" she shouts. She whips out her bow and takes a shot at the head that is not Omen's.

Draw bow, 5" step to G-3, attack
MW Longbow, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 + 0 = 13; Dmg if hit, Point Blank Shot: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Spell-like abilities are affected by SR. Rolling for Chephren's bleeding touch to keep momentum. 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Chephren moves into the room and reaches out to the floating head just above Omen. He is able to touch the creature and cause a weeping sore opened by Omen's motes to bleed some more.

Surubi, firing an arrow, misses the small floating thing as it flies nimbly away from the incoming arrow. The creature proves hard to hit.

With the thing visible, Gabriel ignores his detection spell and instead draws on his morningstar to battle it. He swings at the thing, and connects with a strong, solid hit to the thing. The creature looks barely even to have been hit at all, snarling wickedly back at the man.

Gabriel, draw morningstar
Attack floating thing 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25, damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

-----------To go this round-------------
Round 2:
Brennan - 1st round of disabling the trap
Omen - 4 damage, Hit it with Black Motes
Floating thing/J3 - 9 damage, Bleeding (3), appeared in J3, bit Omen
Chephren - Moved to I4, Hit floating thing with bleeding touch
Surubi - 5' to G3, missed the floating thing

------Went this round------
Gabriel - Hit floating thing

"I'm a little busy here. Can you guys keep it down? This isn't as easy as it may look. It's not like I can just shove a knife into it and say 'It's open!',now is it?"

Brennan bent back to the task of trying to disarm the trap.

Chephren waits to see the creature bleed from his effect be before can decide on his next action.

Delay until after the floating creature, need to see if healing or another bleeding touch is needed.

Fort Save (DC 13): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Omen slips away from the flying head, shaking his own. "You fled last time you fought me, creature. You think to claim victory now?" Standing tall despite the wound on his neck, Omenhotep stretches out his hand again and calls forth a shimmering black orb to leap from his hand and slam into their foe.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Brennan disregards the small thing as mostly insignificant as he continues his focus on disarming the trap on the chest. Omen steps just out of reach of the tiny creature and hits it with a blast of darkness turned solid.

Omen, I'm assuming you stepped to the west, as north would put you in Surubi's way, and all other valid spots within 5' are taken.

The creature's wounds bleed only for a little bit, as Chephren's ability has just a short duration, but between that and Gabriel and Omen's attacks, it appears to look distressed. It tries to focus its attention for a bit on something, and during the distraction there is an opportunity to strike.

Everyone within melee distance gets an AoO if they had a weapon ready (Chephren, did you need an empty hand to deliver the bleeding touch?). Also, Omen, you need to make a second Fort save of DC 13 or take 1d2 ⇒ 1 Wis damage.

-----------To go this round-------------
Round 2:
Floating thing/J3 - 14 damage, activating an ability
Chephren - Moved to I4, Hit floating thing with bleeding touch
Surubi - 5' to G3, missed the floating thing

------Went this round------
Gabriel - Hit floating thing
Brennan - 2nd round of disabling the trap
Omen - 4 damage, Hit it with Magic Missle

Chephren, you were already set to go after the enemy this round due to delaying last round.

That is correct. One hand is currently empty and the other has the light shield and light flail, so no AoO for Chephren atm.

With bleed damage occuring on the creature's turn, yes Chephren has to wait until after the creature before he can attempt to place another bleed effect on it.

The creature just went--it activated an ability and provoked AoOs, so most likely a spell-like ability (Sp). It's Chephren's turn and then Surubi's (though I am posting her action now regardless since Chephren probably will not step into her line of fire.

Surubi nocks and shoots two more arrows at the floating head.
MW Longbow, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot 1: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 0 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 + 0 - 2 = 21; Dmg if hit, Point Blank: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
MW Longbow, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot 2: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 0 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 + 0 - 2 = 7; Dmg if hit, Point Blank: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

{spoiler=Combat Status]
{ooc]HP 15/15
AC 17 (T14/F13)
{b]Arrows to search for after this combat: 2 +1?[/b]
{b]Effects:[/b]
None
{b]Ranger Spells Prepared[/b]
None
[/ooc][/spoiler]

Surubi, just waiting to see the results of the AoOs and creatures action(s) before I post.

That's fine for movement, Aard, thanks! I appreciate the help not being able to access the maps easily =)

Fort Save (DC 13): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Yes, I paused in the middle of the act because it will greatly affect the results.

Gabriel tries to take advantage of the pause that the creature gives to whack the thing out of the air, but unfortunately even distracted the thing dances easily away.

Gabriel's AoO 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

After the momentary pause, the thing vanishes from sight. All Gabriel can say is, "Oh... s*$#."

Chephren, your bleeding touch did affect it on its turn.

-----------To go this round-------------
Round 2:
Chephren - Moved to I4, Hit floating thing with bleeding touch
Surubi - 5' to G3, missed the floating thing

------Went this round------
Gabriel - Hit floating thing
Brennan - 2nd round of disabling the trap
Omen - 4 damage, Hit it with Magic Missle
Floating thing/?? - 14 damage, vanished

"Are you guys done with that thing yet? This lock's being more than a little uncooperative."

Still going.