BPChocobo's PbP Gamethread for Cool and Attractive PCs

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

"Yes yes, your magic will shake the stars. Where is the sunless grove, where is the portal?"

"Let the formless monster have him, perhaps it will appease the thing and it will go back where it came from..."

"If you've gotten the Manuscripts, then you already have been there, you sodden oaf!", Crove answering Mahasi.

That's what I thought, just double checking

Looking over at Mahasi, Shilyn asks wrinkling her nose in disgust, "Does that mean we need to go back to that creepy place?"

"Perhaps. Let us find the third architect of misfortune first, Keeper Hyve."

Mahasi looks Crove over. I don't suppose this one needs his brains any more; perhaps I could put them to better use then him.... He suddenly grows quite hungry.

Shilyn taps her forehead with the flat of her rapier's blade. "Ok, so we need to go back to the creepy place and rid this town of the demon.. after we deal with Hyve." Pausing a moment, she continues thinking aloud, "Maybe Hyve has more information on how to banish this thing?"

With a shrug of her shoulder, she spins quickly and drives the tip of her rapier toward Crove's heart..

Crove is instantly slain, a single murmur escaping his lips before blood pools out from the lethal wound.

Ploog smiles at Crove's demise. "Alright, where to next?", Ploog wanting to follow his saviors.

You know that Hyve is at an old chapel of Aroden

Sorry for the delay, big update for the new area coming tomorrow morning!

Le sigh. Between work and last minute prep for a con I'm organizing for this weekend and tomorrow morning turns into two tomorrows! But here we go :)

As the returns topside, the storm has yet to relent from its downpour. Neither has the panic and fear in the city. Roads are jammed with wagons filled with now-soaked goods and heirlooms of those wanting to flee the destruction. Words of terror are saying that another business was struck, the Rupman's Middenstone Vats, and the entire place was caved in by the beast.

The Crows are doing the best they can to bring in control, but signs of looting and bloodshed for emergency supplies are showing the futility of the overburdened constabulary.

The party makes their way to the Elm Way Church, a building of old Taldan design in reverence to Aroden. Shilyn gives the building a once over, not noticing any traps or locks on either of the front doors. The drenched party enters the church.

The interior is cold and damp. Two man-sized statues stand to each side of the main room, draped with gray sheets. Dozens of sagging bookshelves stand along the walls and a stone altar has been converted to a table. There are three visible doors inside the chamber.

Map is updated and renamed Elm Way Church map

Stepping into the room, Shilyn reaches back to undo her hair and attempts to squeeze most of the water out of it. "Ugh, bad enough wandering through a nut house after some deranged wizard, but to get soaked.. again.. after really stinks, ya know?"

Walking over to one of the statues, she pulls off the sheet and begins to use it to dry off.

Varian shakes the water out of his eyes and hair and looks around the room, taking note of the other doors and such... just to be prepared, he creates a lucerne hammer and casts lead blades on it...

Although Shilyn is less damp, she is more dusty.

Any preference on doors?

Just a quick clarification.. those two grey dots.. are those the statues with the sheets?

Against the west and east wall? That is correct!

Casually flipping the sheet back onto the statue, Shilyn turns to her right and looks at the door. "Hrm, let's try this one first even though I don't like the thought of the doors in the entry way behind us," she says with a shrug. "Why backtrack? I'm already here.." With a grin, she turns her eye to examining the door prior to opening.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

Shilyn can tell that the door is locked from the inside.

"Ok, this way is temporarily blocked.. from the other side," she mutters. "We'll have to go around the long way." Letting out a soft sigh, she wanders back to one of the doors she passed to dry off and gives that a look.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Shilyn inspects the next door; finding it untrapped and unlocked, she opens it.

This abandoned room is leaking water along the western wall from the room. It puddles a bit, but disappears below along a crack in the foundation.

There is nothing of interest in the room.

Muttering under her breath, she retreats across the hall and tries the last door.

Mahasi calms his mind and tunes into his magical senses. He focuses especially on the church altar.

Detect magic plus perception, take 20 for 25.

@Mahasi: No magic around the area.

@Shilyn: You see a very simple bedroom that contains a cot and a reading lamp. There's another door. Checking that one out, it is a storage room that contains food, water, oil, ink, paper, and other similar supplies.

Map updated

I was also looking specifically at the altar (its what the take 20 was for). Anything of note there?

@Mahasi: Several books are open on the altar. They are history books and a quick glance reveals they are about Ustalavian history.

Going back to the locked door, while straining to keep from letting go a string of expletives while in a chapel, Shilyn spends a moment examining the door to determine if it would be possible to unlock from her side..

perception take 20: 20 + 14 = 34

@Shilyn: Yes you can using some expert skills and thin, sturdy wire. High Disable Device check.

Reaching into her pouch and pulling out a leather wrapped bundle, Shi lays out her tools of the trade. "Hrm, let's see.." she ponders quietly as she carefully selects one of the thin metal tools. "Hopefully this will work," she mutters, selecting one that is composed of a handle and a long thin piece of quality steel. Carefully, she begins to work..

If possible, she'll take 20.. (20 + 13 + 1 = 34 (master crafted tools) ) If not..

disable device / master crafted thieves tools: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 1 = 18

Varian looks over Shi's shoulder as she works... "Try wiggling it this way a little, then a sharp twist to the right..."

aid another, disable, dc 10: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

You got it Shilyn with the T20, will update tomorrow morning.

"Why books on ustalav? Was this a student of necromancy?" Mahasi sets the tomes down and heads towards the door.

With a "hmph" of satisfaction, Shilyn grins as the last tumbler clicks into place. "Ok, now to see what's be hind door number three," she says as she stows her tools back into their leather pouch.

Standing, she stretches a moment to get the kinks out of her legs from kneeling down so long. With her right hand, she draws her rapier while opening the door with her left..

This otherwise unassuming broom closet is filled with several crates. However, sticking out like a sore thumb, is a trapdoor, newer than the rest of the flooring. Shilyn, inspecting it, finds no traps and it doesn't appear to be locked.

Map updated, trapdoor location is marked with the T

"Ok, strange place for a trap door in the maid's closet, but hey, who am I to judge?" Shooting a quick grin at Varian, Shilyn takes a couple moments to examine the crates for anything other than cleaning supplies.. like something shiney or antiquities that need relocating to a less dusty environment.

Hearing Mahasi's query, she turns her head and replies, "From what we've seen so far, that wouldn't surprise me.. demons in one closet, why not skeletons in another?"

Nothing if value, blankets, goods, that kinda stuff.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Closing the lid on the last crate, she turns her attention to the trap door. With a tug, she pulls it open and peers below.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

"Be careful, elf-child. This Keeper is undoubtedly another wizard, perhaps another necromancer. Be on your guard for magical tricks."

Shilyn gives Mahasi a quick smile and replies, "I will, thanks. Careful is my middle name." Turning to drop down through the trap door, she continues, "Of course.. I never use my middle name."

Shilyn opens the trapdoor, revealing a ladder that descends 20 feet. A stone floor is visible at the bottom.

The large, low-ceilinged chamber may once have been part of an extensive basement or subcellar, but the worked stone walls have long sincedcrumbled to reveal uneven stone beyond. A sunken area in the center of the room contains a small pond of stagnant water taht reaches around a single pillar of rock supporting the ceiling. A slick-looking cicular tunnel extends south. To the southeast and northwest, several tables cluttered with what appears to be alchemical equipment stands around two more stone pillars.

Map updated!

Carefully drawing her rapier and dagger, Shilyn moves forward a bit so that she can scan the whole room before her before moving on. She tries to keep her footsteps light, paying close attention to where she's placing her feet as she moves toward the side of the pond.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

As the party moves up, Shilyn BARELY hears the sound of a crossbow being loaded. However, her reflexes are faster as she can figure out someone lurks behind the central stone pillar!

Init Order (surprise round, bold = up)
Varian
Deaglan
Shilyn (surprise round, 1 standard action)
Mahasi
???
Owai

Ears picking up the slight click of a crossbow string slipping into place and seeing a shadow move behind the pillar to her front, Shilyn thinks quickly.

She hastily throws her masterworked dagger at the movement, hoping to at least cause a distraction, while shouting, "Contact!"

attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

The figure steps out from the shadows and fires a crossbow bolt at her. The man mumbles something unintelligible through the cloth binding his mouth.

Crossbow @ Shilyn: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Damage on hit: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Shilyn equally dodges the bolt aimed at her.

Init Order - Round 1 (bold = up)
Varian
Deaglan
Shilyn (surprise round, 1 standard action)
Mahasi
???
Owai

Varian moves up by Shi's side and creates a lucerne hammer, and endows it with lead blades.

Shilyn moves south to circle the pond in effort to get closer and introduce the attacker to her rapier.. point first.

"We have no time for this."

Mahasi steps forward and unleashes a enormous ball of fire, which fills the air and stops just short of Shilyn, no doubt singing her hairs.

fireball, DC 18 halves: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 3, 1, 4) = 23

Botting Deaglan/Owai

??? Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

The man nimbly ducks down towards the water, providing enough of a shield that he comes out from the fiery blast unscathed.

Deaglan withdraws his long hammer as he moves up to approach the muffled man.

The muffled man pulls out a vial filled with a purple liquid and hurls it in between Deaglan and Varian.

Thrown weapon @ square: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 2 = 14
Scatter on miss: 1d8 ⇒ 6
Deaglan Fort on hit vs DC 13: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
Varian Fort on hit vs DC 13: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Str damage on failure: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Con damage on failure: 1d2 ⇒ 1

While Varian resists the strange gas, Deaglan immediately feels weaker in his arms and his health.

Owai immediately moves up, slashing at the man.

Owai scimitar @ ???: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 2 = 26
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The aasimar cuts him, causing a panicked look on the unknown assailant.

Init Order - Round 2 (bold = up)
Varian
Deaglan (poisoned, 2 Str damage, 1 Con damage)
Shilyn
Mahasi
??? (8 damage)
Owai

knowledge local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Shilyn grins as she advances toward her foe. "So, you've had some training I see," she mutters quietly, "Let's see you you can dodge this.." Her eyes grow very dark as she utters an arcane phrase. A dark gray bolt shoots from her fingertips..

arcane failure / unarmored: 1d100 ⇒ 16
ranged touch / magic missle (shadow based): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Not sure if the ranged touch roll is needed for this particular spell.. but rolled just in case.

Varian moves up and strikes at the foe with his hammer.

to hit: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
dmg if hits: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3, 3) + 3 = 12

@Shilyn: Magic Missile requires no attack roll, just point and instant damage (in almost all cases).

Shilyn's bolt of force slams into the man's shoulder, a muffled yelp followed after.

Varian swings at the man, but misses horribly.

Init Order - Round 2 (bold = up)
Varian
Deaglan (poisoned, 2 Str damage, 1 Con damage)
Shilyn
Mahasi
??? (8 damage)
Owai

Botting Mahasi and Deaglan

Deaglan repositions himself while Mahasi copies Shilyn's effort, launching an arcane bolt at the man.

Deaglan Fort save: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23
Mahasi arcane bolt damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The man steps out of Deaglan and Owai's reach before lobbing another vial at Owai's feat.

Vial ranged touch @ AC 5: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Owai Fort save vs DC 13 on hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Varian Fort save vs DC 13 on hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Str Damage on failure: 1d2 ⇒ 1
Con damage on failure: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Luckily, both assimar resist the poison's ill effects.

Owai steps up to the nimble rogue and slashes at him again.

Owai scimitar @ ???: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 2 = 18
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Once again the rogue avoids the strike.

Init Order - Round 3 (bold = up)
Varian
Deaglan (2 Str damage, 1 Con damage)
Shilyn
Mahasi
??? (12 damage)
Owai