Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

”Kal, heal Maka! Chest Thumper, kill Headless!” a still invisible Fin yells out as he keeps his eyes and bow trained on Rasputin’s body, hoping it’s over…

Kalchine continues his march toward the center of the conflict, sending out his most powerful remaining healing magic toward Maka.

Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 14 ⇒ (1, 1, 2) + 14 = 18

He is cautiously optimistic about Rasputin's fall, though is suspicious about the tricks the Crazy Clergyman might have up his sleeves.

Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Only Chest Thumper's connection to Kalchine keeps the frost ape standing as electrical burns rise on both of them.

Smoking from the onslaught, Chest Thumper vents his pain and rage on the horseman.

Bite: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29
Physical: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Still down unfortunately. Dice gods, why do I even make blood sacrifices to you?

Chest Thumper manages to strike the bad headless man, who crumples at last.

Everyone give me one round worth of actions, for... okay you're not fooled at all, you know the story we're dealing with.

Kalchine continues to move toward the center of the now totally, not going to start back up, finished battle as quickly as he can.

He also sends out another burst of healing magic toward their fallen fire monk.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 6) + 10 = 22

Chest Thumper gives a roar of victory then demonstrates how he got his name as he brings down the strange creature with no head.

He pounds the corpse a few times for good measure before looking around for any other opponents.

Fin will cast Gravity Bow upon his longbow…

Seeing Bull is stunned, he calls out to Kalchine. ”Kal, can you request Chest Thumper drag Rasputin’s body out of that outta that bubble…or whatever it is?”

Fin keeps a steady eye on the bodies of both Headless and Rasputin…but he particularly studies Rasputin, keeping him as a studied target, hoping for the best but fearing the worst…

healing bead: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 4, 4) + 5 = 20

Maka awoke with a wet cough, pain and the taste of blood filling her senses. She whispered a prayer to activate the strand and of beads wrapped around her wrist.

"Did we win?" She asked as she got up.

Quasit moves to peek around the corner toward the battle as things grow quiet for a few seconds and she can hear her companions voices echoing around the cavernous sanctuary. As she does, she pulls out another healing potion and drinks it, gesturing for Sakitu to move up closer to her. Then she puts her back to the cover afforded by the wall.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 6) + 3 = 13

Stealth: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Winter stays hidden for a few moments, not wanting to risk mistaking a small lull in battle for the end.

"I can try," Kalchine says, making some hooting noises toward Chest Thumper and pointing and pulling gestures.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Rasputin's body is inside the anti-life sphere, Chest Thumper wouldn't be able to reach through it to grab it.

Kalchine, I've been wondering why you're moving so slowly. Sakitu cast a Haste spell on you 3 rounds ago. Shouldn't you have been able to reach the bubble by now?

Wouldn’t he be able to make chest thumper an object to pass through the bubble, then awaken him again? Also, rope and maybe a hook, or a spear.

Kalchine, I've been wondering why you're moving so slowly. Sakitu cast a Haste spell on you 3 rounds ago. Shouldn't you have been able to reach the bubble by now?

The simplest answer is often the correctest - I forgot. Position adjusted.

"Did we win?" She asked as she got up.

Bulvi blinked, perhaps the sound of Maka's voice breaking him free from the magic that held him... or maybe just a coincidence. He slowly began turning his attention back towards the fight.

"Maybe... how do we know he's not some kind of a strange liche that is going to get back up?" Bulvi sheathed his sword and unholstered his pistol leveling it at Rasputin. "Just going to poke him a few times to see if he is faking." The first bullet aimed towards his neck.

Nagant M1895 Pistols: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 18 + 1 = 39
Da,age: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Nagant M1895 Pistols: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 1 = 21
Da,age: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Nagant M1895 Pistols: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 = 25
Da,age: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Nagant M1895 Pistols Haste: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 1 = 31
Da,age: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
First Attack Confirmation Roll: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 18 + 1 = 26
Da,age: 7 + 3d8 + 6 ⇒ 7 + (3, 1, 5) + 6 = 22

Way in the back, Sakitu has a hard time seeing what it going on. It looks like Maka was knocked out, then revived, then knocked out again. It also looks like Rasputin and his evil companions have all be killed. Sakitu notices Quasit waving her forward.

She takes a deep breath then races forward, fully expecting to get injured by the trap in the room.

Is the trap still there? If so, what do I roll?

She stops next to Quasit.

"What's happening now? Is Rasputin dead?"

”I think so. But he’s a child of Baba Yaga— he may still have a trick or two up his sleeve.”

She peeks again around the corner. ”I’m more worried about that machine that was behind him. I thought I’d turned it off, but it looks pretty active to me.”

”I wonder where Selena buggered off to? I wouldn’t mind hearing her patronizing assessment of the magic powering that thing.” She lowers her chin and sniffs at her front, then blows out a disgusted breath. ”I smell like overcooked mutton.”

Quasit, Maka, Fin, and Sakitu can act again

Quasit pulls out the last of her healing potions and bolts it down.

Potion of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"I think I've been carrying that one around with me since Irrisen." she says as she tosses away the empty flask, the thin glass tinkling as it breaks against the stone wall of the church. "It seems like things are settling down up there. I think he must be dead. I'm glad I was just being paranoid." She ventures a relieved smile.

After Bulvi was done shooting Rasputin's corpse, Maka slung the body over her shoulder and attempted to leave whatever effect was blocking the others.

"Should I burn the body or do we want to put it in one of the magic bags in case we still need it?" Maka asked Quasit.

She peeks again around the corner. ”I’m more worried about that machine that was behind him. I thought I’d turned it off, but it looks pretty active to me.”

Oh yeah, that machine *is* still running. Part of it is accessible here, but much of it is stuck behind the anti-life sphere.

The others hear Fin’s voice from the south say, ”Burn it…burn it to Hell, Mistress of Fire. Only then will I believe, he’s dead…”

He then retrieves a potion from his bandolier and drinks it…

Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (6, 8, 4) + 5 = 23

While Bulvi knew she was more than capable he also knew Maka was hurt and once she reached the edge of the shield he put away his pistol, gently touched her neck and moved to take the burden that was the dead villain to carry it the rest of the way. "Outside?"

He looked around "Selena can you do anything about that spell so Quasit can have another look." After a few moments without a response he looked towards the pile of cloth where he had last seen her. "She cast something like mislead.., right?" Now there was no immediate threat his grim optimism regarding her fate was giving way to a sinking feeling.

Quasit hears people talking about what to do with Rasputin's body and finally steps out into the open.

"We're definitely not keeping that body. Heavens forbid Anastasia should see it. Burning it seems like as good an idea as any. If it was me, I'd string him up and let the crows have him."

After another quick look around, she frowns in annoyance. "Where the hell is Selena anyway?"

After things have clearly settled, Winter sits on Selena’s clothes, but she stares intently at the machine.

While Bulvi knew she was more than capable he also knew Maka was hurt and once she reached the edge of the shield he put away his pistol, gently touched her neck and moved to take the burden that was the dead villain to carry it the rest of the way. "Outside?"

Maka leaned into the touch, just for a moment, before slinging the body into Bulvi's arms.

“Yeah, it’s usually better to burn bodies outside,” Her toothy grin flashed, bloodied but bright.

After another quick look around, she frowns in annoyance. "Where the hell is Selena anyway?"

“I think one of Rasputin’s spells might’ve killed her.” She shrugged, then added nonchalantly, “So she’ll probably meet us back at Cluckers, right? I hope she isn’t as cranky in her new body.”

Suddenly the corpse in Bulvi's grasp glows with unholy light, its wounds closing.

"DIE!" Rasputin shrieks, all signs of his former calm gone as he tries to slap the warrior with a hand surrounded with a dark nimbus.

Casting Slay Living, Touch attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 Damage: 12d6 + 18 ⇒ (2, 6, 6, 2, 4, 4, 2, 1, 1, 6, 3, 1) + 18 = 56, DC 23 Fortitude save to instead take 3d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 4, 3) + 18 = 31. I figure this is surprising enough you're flat-footed but if anyone would be nearby and could take an AoO while surprised you can.

Quasit starts back in shock, her eyes growing wide.

"Look out!!" she shrieks in alarm as she begins to fumble for her swords...

Oh yeah, everyone has a round now.

Unsurprised, Fin lets loose his readied arrows at Rasputin and follows up with several more, then mutters under his breath, ”That rat bastard…”

To Hit Mods: BAB+DEX, Magic, Weapon Focus, Studied Target, PBP, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Point Blank Master, Elven Confirmation Bonus
Damage Mods:Longbow Arrow w/ Gravity Bow, Magic, Strength, PBP, Studied Target, Holy, Clustered Shots

Magic Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 29
Perfect Strike: 1d20 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 39
Magic/Cold Iron/Good/Piercing Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + (4, 1) = 19
Magic/Cold Iron/Good/Piercing Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + (4, 1) = 18

Magic Longbow (Iterative Shot): 1d20 + 14 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 36
Magic/Cold Iron/Good/Piercing Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + (3, 4) = 17

Magic Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 32
Magic/Cold Iron/Good/Piercing Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 + (4, 6) = 24

Magic Longbow (Haste): 1d20 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 42
Confirmation: 1d20 + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 19 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 + 3 = 40
Magic/Cold Iron/Good/Piercing/Crit Damage: 6d6 + 9 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 1, 1, 5) + 9 + 6 + 3 + 3 + (2, 3) = 44

Clustered Damage (assuming all hit/confirm): 122
Perfect Strike: 1/6

Quasit drops her bow and runs toward Rasputin, balanced over one of Bulvi's shoulders, and drawing her swords on the way.

Arriving at her target she jumps up a little and plunges down with both blades...

From the description it sounds like Bulvi is still carrying Rasputin, at least for the moment. Either that, or Bulvi is going to drop him so he can attack Rasputin. In either case, either he's denied his dodge bonus by being essentially grappled, or Quasit can move into a flank position, so I'm going to include Sneak Damage. In addition, Quasit has the Gang Up feat, which gives her sneak damage any time she and two other people threaten the target, regardless of positioning. Disregard if you feel it shouldn't apply.

Melee Attack: 1d20 + 19 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 19 + 1 = 21Damage+Sneak: 1d6 + 7 + 7d6 ⇒ (5) + 7 + (5, 5, 1, 1, 4, 2, 3) = 33
Melee (offhand): 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 1 = 21Damage+Sneak: 1d6 + 6 + 7d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + (4, 4, 4, 5, 2, 1, 5) = 33

If the Sneak Damage hits, give Rasputin a Debilitating injury -2 to AC/-6 to AC vs Quasit

lol, pfft, never mind

"Oh come on! I just healed her!" Kalchine exclaims as Rasputing reanimates and immediately tries to kill Maka (again.)

He reaches out to heal her again.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 = 19

"Oh come on! I just healed her!" Kalchine exclaims as Rasputing reanimates and immediately tries to kill Maka (again.)

Actually I think he's trying to kill Bulvi this time, but Maka can use another heal anyway. :D

I think Quasit realized that if she plunged swords through Rasputin while he is being carried by Bulvi, then the blades would go through and into Bulvi as well, and thus had a last second abort on those attacks. :)

Fort Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Bulvi's teeth ground in pain, half stumbling forward but he kept his footing. He dropped the wizard but as he caught his breath drew his sword and began thrusting his blade at the gaunt figure.

Power Attack +1 Holy Longsword: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 20 + 1 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 17 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + 17 + (2, 2) = 29
Bonus Damage if Undead: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 = 8
Power Attack +1 Holy Longsword: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d8 + 17 + 2d6 ⇒ (7) + 17 + (1, 5) = 30
Bonus Damage if Undead: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 2 = 13
Power Attack +1 Holy Longsword: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 17 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 17 + (5, 3) = 30
Bonus Damage if Undead: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 = 9
Power Attack +1 Holy Longsword: 1d20 + 20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 20 + 1 = 37
Damage: 1d8 + 17 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 17 + (6, 6) = 35
Bonus Damage if Undead: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

Nearly all my damage spells are area effects. Not going to be super useful when everyone is so bunched up. I've tried the will-based debuff against Rasputin and he saves every time. Not surprised. I think that's all I've got left though so I'll give it another shot. He _might_ roll a 1...

Sakitu shrieks. "No. He's supposed to be dead". She gestures with her hands and casts a spell at him. It's the same that she tried before and he resisted but maybe he's weaker now.

Feeblemind. DC 24 Will save. Also SR applies.

Spell resistance, greater spell penetration: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 4 = 27

“No, you!" she roared, launching into motion with a speed born of fury and pain. Fire erupted from her fists as she lunged lunched at Rasputin.

Flame Blade vs Touch AC; EO: 1d20 + 19 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 19 + 3 = 25
Fire: 7d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6, 3, 4, 6, 5, 6) + 3 = 39

Flame Blade vs Touch AC; EO: 1d20 + 14 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 3 = 22
Fire: 7d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 3, 3, 4, 5) + 3 = 31

Flame Blade vs Touch AC; EO: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 3 = 27
Fire: 7d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 6, 4, 6, 4) + 3 = 28

Rasputin... promptly dies again.

This is about what I thought would happen. XD You see why he required such extensive preparations to be a threat...

Quasit digs into her pack. ”Flip him over!” she commands peremptorily. She pulls out some masterwork manacles, then swiftly kneels on Rasputin’s back, pulls his arm behind him, then slaps the cuffs over his wrists.

”Desna’s t~#!!” she says, digging around for a rag to gag Rasputin’s mouth with. ”Why won’t this guy stay dead? We beat him, burned him, shot him… do we need to poison him and drown him too?”

Fin wants to believe the bastard’s dead for real this time…but he keeps his bow up, nonetheless…

The Elf’s murmuring voice comes lightly from his location due south of his friends. ”Don’t think I’ll believe he’s really dead until he’s burnt to ashes…”

I assume he’s still invisible for a few more rounds…

“Then let's turn him to ash.” Maka growled. With a smooth flick of her wrist, formed a blade of fire that carved through Rasputin’s neck like butter.

With a quick snap of her foot, she kicked the severed head into the air and caught it cleanly between both palms. Then, without a word, she pressed both palms together.

Blue fire surged between her fingers. Flesh charred, bone blackened, and then the entire thing disintegrated to ash, sifting through her glowing hands and scattering across the floor.

”Oh. Or, yeah, we could just do that.” says Quasit a little sheepishly, obviously embarrassed that she’d wasted time gagging and shackling a corpse when cremation was an option. And now she’d lost a perfectly good rag and her manacles would too hot to touch for a while.

She picks up her swords and sheathes them, then pensively watches the corpse burn.

”We probably should have searched his body first.” she observes with a small shrug.

I only burnt the head but Maka will keep burning the body unless someone stops her.

“Too late now.” Maka dusted the ash from her hands as she barked a laugh; short, hoarse, and just a little feral. Adrenaline, blood loss, and pain were finally starting to catch up to her. Her legs wobbled slightly as she reached out and braced herself with a hand on Bulvi’s shoulder.

“Probably just a bunch of stupid witch tricks anyway!”

Kalchine, a being of fire himself, at the moment holds up a flaming palm to quench the monk's heated revenge.

"Yes, we should search the body. And keep it as it is for the moment. Perhaps he has put in a failsafe that will make it harder to deactivate the machine without him and we can fool it with his hand or a bit of flesh."

He does set Chest Thumper to watch the body however, while he heals a bit more of Maka's wounds.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Given the second time Rasputin tries to come back from the dead it's only equivalent to raise dead rather than resurrection... yeah, burning his head is enough to keep him from coming back.

Quasit nods at Kalchine's words. "Yeah, I don't think it was a coincidence he was standing back here right in front of that machine, and blocking the way past it with that magic shield. Hopefully now that he's truly dead, the shield will dissipate and we can see about fully shutting off the darned thing."

"So, while we wait for that, a few things we should do:

"If all the baddies are actually dead, then maybe we should camp here and get a rest in, and replenish our magic. Maka and Bulvi especially got pretty beat up. And I smell like overcooked mutton."