Blood Under Absalom -- A Multitable PbP special (GM Hmm's table) (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

Now that you are up there... Remember when I told you guys to roll perceptions as you moved forward?

Yorad's Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Tiffany's Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Sheela's Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Before he attacks and misses, Yorad notices that he has his back to a trap door. Tiffany realizes that she is actually on top of one as, but is fairly confident that it will take her light weight without going off.

(Sheela, knowing now that the trapdoor was there, would you have made it to him from your previous position? I can't remember where you were, so I'll just roll the saves.)

Will Save vs Daze, Enchantment and with Hypnotic Stare: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 17
Will Save vs Laughing Touch, Enchantment and with Hypnotic Stare: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 - 2 = 16

The Black Blade shakes off both the Daze and the Laughing Touch.

However, Corona and Tiffany's attacks strike true! "Well struck, though both of you could use more focus," the Black Blade comments.

Would someone like to bot Mort?

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Mort strides towards the lone tengu combatant. "You spend too much time focusing upon the wrong opponents. Focus upon ME!" He bellows in a lethal tone while weaving his sword in an intricate pattern.

Move to position on map.
Intimidate: Demoralize: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Time to break out the Big Jaws here :D

Mort notices that his back is to yet another trap door, but he successfully intimidates the Black Blade, who stares at the leering snow white man with the long hair!

"By the Master of Masters, what are YOU?"

Normally, a creature of calm and reason, the Tengu is deeply disturbed by this experience. He five foot steps to attack the cause of his fear.

Flurry of Blows, Stunning Fist, Shaken: 1d20 + 6 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 2 - 2 = 4
Flurry of Blows, Stunning Fist, Shaken: 1d20 + 6 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 2 - 2 = 6
Flurry of Blows, Stunning Fist, Shaken: 1d20 + 6 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 2 - 2 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Though he was horribly shaken by Mort's intimidating display, his last punch lands, dropping Mort down to a single hit point.

Mort's Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Though Mort feels the shock of the blow land deep in his belly, he is not stunned!

ORDER: Princess, Corona, Black Blade (-10), Sheela, Sophia, Yorad, Mort (-10)

The whole party is up!

The 1st time someone hit him just now in that round, painful stare deals 1 dmg.

Sophia circles along the south of the pillar, ending up a distance south of the tengu.

"Would you be so kind to stand still."
Acid orb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22Dmg if hits, painful stare: 1d3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (5) = 7

Crit?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 81d3 ⇒ 2

"Um, Mort, are you okay? I think there are trapdoors here, guys! Watch out!" Tiffany says as she spots the trap, then strikes at the tengu again.

Mwk quarterstaff, shillelagh: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 171d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Ooohhh...we just keep him around for, you know...laughs!" Yorad quips as he drives his blade towards an unprotected side of the tengu monk.

Attack Tengu Monk.
dagger: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Sneak Attack: 1d8 ⇒ 8

(Sheela, knowing now that the trapdoor was there, would you have made it to him from your previous position? I can't remember where you were, so I'll just roll the saves.)

A few things: Sheela's perception is +0, not +9.
If she did see the trapdoor, she wouldn't have reached the tengu.
Also, laughing touch doesn't have a will save, just a touch attack.

My action is pending on whether I fell into the trapdoor or not.

It's a DC 5 Perception Check, so you still made it, Sheela! No will save on the Laughing touch? I think that means I need to recall the Damage to Mort, yes?

Sophia, good call with the Painful Stare!

___

Sophia hits with another high-octane Acid Splash! Princess hits! Yorad misses!

The Black Blade is staggered and falls to his feet. "I concede your victory!", he says, swaying back and forth precariously.

"Oh..." Corona blinks. "That's weird...I thought New Friend Mort took a nasty blow but I guess I must've dreamed it or something," she says as she lowers her weapon.

"Okay Sir Tengu, what now? Did you need healing too? It looks like Yorad is hurt from before..." she frowns. "Sorry New Friend Yorad, I must have missed that earlier!"

With a flick of her wrist, a healing wand drops neatly into her hand and she steps over to Yorad and gives him a tap.

Cure Light Wounds (Yorad): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Charges remaining (49).

"We win? Alright!"

Mort looks around, checking for any additional combatants headed their way, not to mention the trapdoors hidden around the area. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"You and your bird allies fight well and with great honor. We respect and appreciate that. Is there more to come?" As he wipes the blood from his weapon on the tattered ends of his cloak.

Thanks all for botting me. Glad to see the dice were kinder to you all than they've been to me! Great work on those waves!

Some of the younger Tengu monks carry off the Black Blade before he passes out.

A few of the other monks bow, and say, "It would be our honor to fight suc warriors at least once before time is called." They draw their swords but give you two rounds to activate your healing wands before they attack, because that's the kind of opponents they are.

If you need to heal, incorporate it into your next post.

ORDER: Princess, Sheela, Sophia, Monks, Corona, Yorad, Mort

Princess, Sheela, and Sophia are up!

Let's see if we can get through this combat before Shifty moves us forward again! Mort, I've noted all the trap doors on the map now.

Sophia shakes her head..."Why must they all rush in one after another."

Sophia quickly moves to between Corona and Yorad.
Placing a hand on Corona's shoulder, she whispers into her ear...

"Worry not, i'll give you a little gift to endure."

Using mesmerist trick: Psychosomatic Surge

Corona gets 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 temp HP, the next time a tengu will hit her.

If red tengu comes closer within 30 feet, Sophia shifts her hypnotic stare at him as a swift action.[/ooc]

"The honor is all mine?" Sheela thinks she's gotten the hang of this honor stuff.

With her mace out, Sheela waits patiently for Mr. Red to approach. "Did I say that right? I didn't take too much honor, did I?"

Readying an action to use Laughing Touch on the first tengu to approach Sheela in melee.

Laughing Touch (Melee Touch): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3 And a whiff

Sophia offers a psychosomatic surge to Corona. Sheela readies a laughing touch that will miss.

Red grins. "I am sure that you still left me some honor, miss."

ORDER: Princess, Sheela, Sophia, Monks, Corona, Yorad, Mort

Princess Tiffany is up!

Tiffany exchanges her quarterstaff for a net in preparation for the new opponents. "These honorable guys don't know when to quit. There's honor in admitting defeat, you know," the grippli says as she advances and tosses a net at the blue-beaked tengu.

Net, melee reach: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Princess nets and entangles a blue tengu!

He spends a round furiously trying to escape her net! Feathers fly everywhere as he twists and turns!

Blue Monk, Escape Artist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

At the start of next round, if he's still up, he will be freed from the net!

The red monk charges Sheela, atttempting to pummel her with a stunning fist.

Charge, Stunning Fist: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 2 = 13

He misses!

Green charges Corona!

Charge, Stunning Fist: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Corona's Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Corona feels the blow reverberate through her belly, but the Psychosomatic Surge kicks in! The glow of those temporary hit points warm her to her toes, and help her shake off the stunning blow!

ORDER: Princess, Sheela, Sophia, Blue Monk (escaping), Red + Green Monks, Corona, Yorad, Mort

The whole team is up!

Mort watches as the monk in red robes charges, fist high in the air at the lovely, albeit a bit scattered Sheela, and lets out a sigh of relief as she dodges the wild blow. "Speaking of honor and being a warrior and all that, how about you pick on the men instead of trying to beat up these nice ladies hrmm?" He says as he steps forward, and eyes up his movements before timing his strike accordingly.

Study Target (Move Action)
Greatsword + Study + Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 - 1 = 202d6 + 6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 + 1 + 3 = 12

Ha! Finally a decent roll... for minimum damage...

Mort drops the Red Tengu.

Red Tengu Stabilize: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (3) - 3 = 0

As it bleeds, Green states, "If you help my brother, we can still fight. Can you? Otherwise, may we call for a pause?"

ORDER: Princess, Sheela, Sophia, Blue Monk (escaping), Red (-12), Green Monks, Corona, Yorad, Mort

Everyone but Mort is up!

UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Sheela takes out her wand and helps the Red Tengu. "Heehee! Time to find some more honor."

He gets up, bows, and leaves the Arena floor. "Thank you, milady."

ORDER: Princess, Sheela, Sophia, Blue Monk (escaping), Red (conceded), Green Monk, Corona, Yorad, Mort

Everyone but Mort and Sheela are up!

"OK let's get moving here!" Yorad grins as he moves into melee with the monk pestering Corona.

Move to position on map. Acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Attack the Green Monk. dagger: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Green takes an attack of opportunity...

Sword, Trip: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

...and misses!

Yorad hits and damages him!

ORDER: Princess, Sheela, Sophia, Blue Monk (escaping), Red (conceded), Green Monk (-5), Corona, Yorad, Mort

Princess Tiffany, Corona and Sophia are all up!

Morning ninja incoming!

***OVERSEER ANNOUCEMENT***

Overseer thread

As the once raging battle begins to slow, a strange cloud of translucent smoke appears in the center of the arena, coalescing into the demonic form of Kiang Zhen. The oni raises her hand, and the remaining creatures suddenly fall back and drop to their knees as if to acknowledge defeat.

”Well done, well done!”

”My minions accept your victory, and you have adequately the Emissary. Please, lower your weapons. I congratulate those of you still alive, for you have grown that much closer to qualifying for the Ruby Phoenix Tournament!”

The oni pauses for a minute to study the crowd before continuing, ”Beneath the trapdoors lies a series of subterranean passages. Scattered within the passages I have secured a collection of small, but nearly priceless porcelain vases. Your challenge is to locate one of these vases and return it to me. However, there is a catch – there are fewer vases than competitors. Only those who present me with a vase shall pass on to the next part of the competition.”

Tiffany draws her scimitar and steps up, slicing at the tengu -- nope, no she doesn't. "We did it, guys! Now it's time to chase more priceless artifacts! Oooo, so exciting!!" She jumps around in celebration.

The remaining tengus bow to you. "It was our honor to battle such worthy opponents. Good luck with the challenges ahead."

How do you wish to proceed? The trap doors await.

"Well, I say we pick a trap door and head down. Fortunately I have torches!" Yorad smiles as he awaits the others.

Mort once again wipes his sword off on his tattered cloak tail as he looks around the arena, seeing other warriors doing similar, and some struggling to their feet after defeat at the hands of the birdmen. "I've got some fancy sunrods I won on a bet if we need them too. Bright as all hell!" He sheaths his greatsword then finds the nearest trap door and tries to open it up. Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"No time to waste right? Anyone injured or need anything before we start?"

It is a 20 foot drop unless you guys have some other way down.

Mort looks down "Long way down, I got some rope and stuff, no big deal. Yorad you must be good with ropes ya? Get some climbing knots in this while I put down some pitons." He unslings his pack and hauls out 50' of hemp rope, a couple pitons and then lops the rope in half with his greatsword then stows the remaining 25' in his pack. Taking his warhammer off his belt to pound in the pitons.

"Hike up your skirts ladies, time for some climbing!" Take 10 on climbing for a 17

"Sure thing there Mort!" Yorad ties in several large bowline knots, the kind he sees used upon the docks for anchoring ships. "Watch yer step ladies." Take 10 on Climb, total 16.

"And...good luck to you." Sheela waves the tengu off.

"Oooh, Tien vases. I wonder how beautiful they are?"

Mort and Yorad secure a rope that leads down and exercise caution. Sheela practically slides down the rope, with a "Wheeeeeeeeee!" all the way down.

Taking 10 for a 10 Climb Check.

"Climbing, hah! Easy! Good thinking with that rope." Tiffany gloats as she uses her small size to grab ahold of the rope and eagerly make her way down. "Treasures, treasures, so many treasures... Rubies and vases and.. and.. as long as it's shiny, I don't care what!"

Take 10, total 21

"Ow...I'm kinda glad we're done fighting for a bit; one belly punch is enough!" Corona comments as she also follows down the rope once her turn comes.

Oof...climbing in...armor is kinda hard too..." she gasps on the way down. "Maybe the belly punches...would be...better!"
__________

Taking 10 for a total of 7 after the ACP, woo!

Those of you who have made it down this far note a hole in the floor a few feet off, with a crude rope and pulley system going down. It's pretty old, and the rusty pulley, threaded with a worn rope, connects to a shaky wooden platform. When you pull on the pulley, it does not move. Still, there's nothing much else here. Do you continue down?

Likewise take 10...for a big total of 10.

"No luv, Climbing a rope is preferable to being pounded upon over and over."

So after the 20' climb down there is the pulley/platform system? Or we bypass that with our own rope?

Once he's down the rope, Mort will pull out a small metallic rod and look it over for a second before tapping the end on the floor and filling the area with bright light. Sunrod "There we are, brighter than a torch and conveniently doesn't give off heat."

He takes a look over the rope/pulley system Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 "Umm can't say I've ever used something like this.. but it doesn't look to be in the best shape. Yorad you ever use these down at the docks? I've got another 25' of rope if we've got to use it."

The scenario text is astoundingly unclear here, even on the third read. Since you have sufficient rope for both, let's just say you guys make to the bottom.

[SLIDE FIVE]

Please place yourselves coming in from the top square. I'd also like a standard marching order.

____

You make it past the rickety old structure into a subterranean passage. A slight dampness hangs in the air, as do faint unpleasant odors from garbage and human waste, familiar to anyone who has ever had to travel in or near a sewer system.

Which way do you go at the intersection? What are you examining first?

Is there natural light or should I keep the sunrod out?

Mort takes a position near the front of the group and looks around for any fresh tracks, while doing his best to be relatively quiet. Take 10 on tracking and stealth for a 15 and 10 respectively. "Do try to keep quiet as best you can, and keep your eyes peeled."

'The sewers. Again." Sheela shakes her head. "I can't escape this place."
Sheela elects to be in the middle.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
"You want me to be quiet? Why would I do that? My message spell is still up, we can communicate through whispers. Oh, should I be whispering?"

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Sheela seems more upset by the sewers than anything. She definitely isn't paying attention.

Tiffany isn't bothered much by the odor or environs. It wasn't as if she grew up or spent a lot of time in the sewers, but the damp, muskiness wasn't unlike a swamp she'd trekked through.

"Alright, we're here. Now let's find us some vases, okay guys? I call dibs!" Tiffany looks ahead at the junction. "Maybe we should go this way first?" She looks west.

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

You'll need light. Keep that sunrod out!

Corona has the sense to realize that her heavier armor makes her a bit of a liability on the sneaking front and so opts to bring up the rear of the group, longspear drawn and ready - just in case. She does try to move quietly just the same...

Stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2

*CLANK JINGLE CLANK JINGLE CLANK*

...but it doesn't really work out that way.

"Ooh, do we need more light at the back? I can help with that! Just say the word," she whispers as they cautiously progress down the passage to the first intersection.

"Going west sounds fine by me, New Friend Tiffany," she adds as she looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"I wish I could see in the dark..." she sighs.

"Well, everything turns gray in the dark, so it's not ideal-" The sound of Corona's armor annoys Sheela a bit. "Oh! We're trying to stay quiet. Why is Mort glaring at me?"

"Glaring at you? That wasn't his usual look?"

Take 10 for 16 on stealth.

Yorad shakes his head at the lack of stealth shown by his fellow Pathfinders. "Would you like me to sing a shanty? Would be quieter than all the noise you are making!"

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

An impressive run of nat 1s for stealth people!

"Would you?" Corona brightens. "I bet the acoustics down here would be fantastic for singing!"

Tiffany thinks for a moment, then raises a finger up as if to gain everyone's attention. "Whatever, Yorad! Don't be so serious! Ahem"

"I thought I heard a tengu say,
Heal him, Sheela, heal him.
We fight with honor and not for pay,
And it's time for us to heal him

Heal him, Sheela, heal him,
Oh, heal him, Sheela, heal him,
For the battle is won and the monks are down,
And it's time for us to heal him."

Not the performing type, her tone is awful and she's blown any cover she'd previously gained, but she still looks up at Sheela and Corona with her froggy smile, desperate for validation.

Source ;)

Mort's eyes go wide at the banter and noise being exchanged back and forth between the ladies. Are you serious? Women get away with too much these days!

He moves up to the intersection and peers around the corner and down the halls. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"Didn't you all hear that there were other groups down here looking for these vases? And there were less vases than groups? Lets focus on cashing in on this place instead of singing!" He does his best to whisper yell at the group of clucking hens behind him.