Fondo gives a look that telegraphs, Really?REALLY? to everyone but Laori and Briar.
Then he smiles and winks in gratitude for Charlie's largesse.
Fondo looks at the armor. "You say the wearer can fly? And that it's not too cumbersome? Hrm." He looks over the gleaming exoskeleton. Tis not the sort of thing a Varisian wears. But it should be put to good use.
"No doubt we'll have need for flight all around when dueling with demons. The Rat and I have few enough options for flight. I've little taste for a knights armor, though."
"I've little taste for a knights armor, though."
"No? But it's prettyful! And it goes with your eyes. But if you don't want it, perhaps I could wear it." Dandi tips her head as she looks over the celestial armor, her mouth pursing as she considers. "But I don't think it goes with my eyes at all!"
"Twould also bring out the gleam in brov's dark eyes. O heavenly Rat, soar high!" Fondo tries to seem like he's poking fun, for all that's worth.
"Are we sure it isn't cursed? Although it's not my style if you all can't decide, I'll take it."
"Celestial Armor? And the worshipper of Desna hesitates in donning it?" Barael chuckles. "Let's have it on someone, so we can proceed. Our magics only last so long, don't they? I'm feeling quite readied against these misty things."
From the look of Barael, he's watching Fondo to put the armor on. If he doesn't, Barael turns to Charlie. "It's probably good that you wear it. Can't have the healer in harms way here at all. High ceilings, and you should be able to dodge some of the nastier grounded teethier things."
Briar hands over the armor to Charlie.
"I'm not sure how to put it on, but I'm sure you'll figure it out."
Fondo nods at Charlie. "Tis pretty enough, but we brothers of the road dislike such walls around us. Better to ward our true miracle worker, if it suits you."
Briar looks at Charlie in his new armor.
It wouldn't have looked good on my anyway...and the sacred taint would have been annoying.
"Very well, shall we move on then?" Briar muses, looking at the doors.
Nodding to the Rat, he points at the door in F/G 3,4.
"After you, Rat, let's keep moving," Briar says as he airwalks up to 10'.
Barael confirms that Charlie is secure in his new turtle shell, and proceeds to the open the double doors.
It takes Charlie 4+ minutes to get into his new suit of armor - with help. Plus a little hedging and I'll call it 5 more minutes. That makes it 13-15 minutes since the bridge.
Dim light filters in from the numerous arrow slits along the northern wall look out over the castle courtyard, and a pair of doors look as if they open onto it. The burnt stubs of torches hang in iron brackets between the arrow slits, and small puddles of rain have formed beneath them, staining the stone. Opposite these, metal rings have been driven into the stone wall - some still have short lengths of chain attached to them.
You see five of the minotaur skeletons standing guard, one ‘eye socket' out the arrow slits, one ‘eye socket' toward the door you just opened. Upon seeing you, the closest drop their crossbows, draw their great axes, and attack! Or they will when it's their turn anyway!
First up Barael, then the skeletons.
Barael
Briar
Charlie
Dandilion
Fondo
Laori
Nikolay
Majenko
Good Guys
Round 1, Init 18
AC = 24
HP = 110/111
Weapon Equipped = Black Tooth, Keen, Bane(Undead)
Condition(s) = It's chilly in here
Barael specks the skeletons. "5 Bullheaded skeletons, all with axes now. Heads up!" He rolls into the room, hoping to draw some of the attackers past the doorway.
He swings on S2.
Barael swings mightily, and though he does not crit, he does severely injure one of the skeletons.
The skeletons coordinate their attacks and pile on Barael as much as they can, though one swings at Fondo in the doorway.
They take a chunk out of Bareal hitting four times for solid damage. Even Fondo is hit (I think? flatfooted?) once as they close in and attack.
Majenko beings to dance, inspiring the party to greater glory. Laori steps up and swings on S5.
Laori does poorly, though she swinging hard.
Round 1, Init 14
"When did these minotaurs these lands invade? It matters not. They'll crumble once again."
Fondo dances with the skeleton in front of him , forcing it back and stepping into its space. He feints at another , setting it up for a mighty blow by Nikolay.
Active effects Ablative barrier (40), clarion call, endure elements, life bubble, mage armor
AC 30 (17 touch, 22 flat, 21 incorporeal) (10 +5 dex +6 mithral shirt +2 ring +2 nat armor +2 buckler +3 combat expertise)
CMB = +16 (+20 disarm & reposition), +19 dirty trick, +17 steal)
CMD = 30 (34 reposition, 33 dirty trick & disarm, 31 steal)
HP = 87 + 5nl / 99
Weapon equipped Rapier, Gauntlet
Shield equipped Buckler
Bardic performance used 0 of 11 rounds
Inspired command used 8 of 17 rounds
Spells used 1st: 1 of 4
Challenge READY
Tactician (3/day; 6 rounds) 1 of 3 used
Wand of CLW 1
Glibness from bracers ACTIVE
Round 1, Init 8
Dandi frowns as she tries to see where Barael went. "He keeps disappearing! Too far, too far, to dance with the bones and axes all alone!" In a fit of pique and worry, she draws and tosses a bomb at the back skeleton.
Loari takes her AoO on S3, but she can't get a break as the dice continue to confound her.
Dandilion's bomb goes off precariously close to Barael, but somehow manages to miss him as the blast warms his face.
(11)
(5)
(5)
Round 1, Init 13, Move to F-08
HP=(-2 hp)(-4 nonlethal) (-34 ab.bar.)(-60 stoneskin)/123; AC vs incorporeal touch=15 (dex, deflection, haste); spells=albative armor, effortless armor, stoneskin, shield:
AC 26, touch 14, flat-footed 24 (+10 armor, +2 Dex, +2 natural, +2 deflection)
hp 123
Fort +13, Ref +7, Will +9
--------------------
Magus (Bladebound) Spells Prepared (CL 12):
4 (4/day) [x]Stoneskin, []Invisibility, Greater, []Dimension Door, []Infernal Healing, Greater
3 (5/day) [x]Haste, []Vampiric Touch, []Vampiric Touch, []Fly, []Burst of Speed
2 (6/day) []Frigid Touch, [x]Effortless Armor, []Spider Climb, []Glitterdust (DC 16), []Mirror Image, []Invisibility
1 (6/day) []Shocking Grasp, []Vanish, []True Strike, [x]Shield, []Burning Hands (DC 15), []Chill Touch (DC 15)
0 (at will) Detect Magic, Light, Read Magic, Prestidigitation (DC 14), Disrupt Undead
--------------------
Skills Acrobatics -1 (-5 jump), Climb +5, Escape Artist -1, Fly +14, Intimidate +8, Knowledge (arcana) +18, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +8, Knowledge (local) +20, Knowledge (planes) +19, Linguistics +5, Perception +2, Ride -1, Sense Motive +2, Spellcraft +16, Stealth -1, Swim +5, Use Magic Device +10
Languages Common, Draconic, Osiriani, Varisian
--------------------
Arcane Edge 4 (Su) 1 Arcane Pool: Add 4 Bleed damage to an attack.
Arcane Pool (+3) (10/day) (Su) Infuse own power into a held weapon, granting enhancement bonus or selected item powers.
Black Blade (Ex) You gain an intelligent bonded weapon whose power grows with your own.
Black Blade: Arcane Pool (3/day) (Su) The Black Blade has an Arcane Pool used to fuel its own abilities.
Black Blade: Energy Attunement (Su) Replace weapon dam with fire/cold/elec for 1 point, or sonic/force for 2 points.
Black Blade: Strike +3 (Sp) The Black Blade can grant itself a damage bonus for 1 min.
Black Blade: Telepathy (Su) The magus can telepathically communicate with his black blade if it is worn or held.
Black Blade: Teleport Blade (Sp) Spend 1 point from own or blades pool to teleport it into hand.
Black Blade: Unbreakable (Ex) The Black Blade is immune to the broken condition while the arcane pool is not empty.
Combat Casting +4 to Concentration checks to cast while on the defensive.
Empowered Magic (1/day) (Su) 1/day, cast a spell as if Empowered without altering the casting time or level.
Focused Mind +2 to Concentration checks
Ghost Blade (Su) Add brilliant energy and ghost touch special ability to arcane pool options.
Improved Spell Combat (Ex) Use a weapon with one hand at -2 and cast a spell with the other.
Improved Spell Recall (Su) Spend your Arcane Pool to recall spells you have already cast.
Knowledge Pool (Su) Spend Arcane Pool points to prepare a magus spell that is not in your spellbook for 1 day.
Lunge Can increase reach by 5 ft, but take -2 to AC for 1 rd.
Maximized Magic (1/day) (Su) 1/day, cast a spell as if Maximized without altering the casting time or level.
Power Attack -3/+6 You can subtract from your attack roll to add to your damage.
--------------------
Arcane Pool (+3 per point spent, 10/day) 6/10 remaining
Empowered Magic (1/day) 1/1 remaining
Black blade's arcane pool 3/3 remaining
Wand of Magic missiles 1st level (23 charges remaining)
Pearl of Power (1st) - Not used today
Mithral Plate haste - 8/10 rounds left
"Just skeletons right? Ugly ones, but just skeletons."
Nikolay feels relief at not having his fortitude challenged again.
Nikolay waits for Fondo to get out of the way and then takes a 5' step up. Nikolay decides to conserve his arcane power for now and does not further enhance his sword. He swings at the nearest skeleton (S5).
(BAB +9, STR +4, Black blade +3, Weapon Focus +1, -3 Power Attack) +2 inspire
(+6 STR, +3 Magic, +9 Power Attack, +2 Weapon specialization) +2 inspire
-
Nikolay drops the already wounded S5 where he stands. The bones drop with a clatter in a pile at his feet.
While Charlie is being fitted, Briar scrounges for his ghost arrows.
(high = recovery)
(high = recovery)
(high = recovery)
(high = recovery)
Briar will replenish his stores.
Round 1, Init 10
Briar tries to shoot through the assembled goonage in his way using blunt arrows, starting with S3, then moving to S4.
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
damage;
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
damage;
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
damage;
Pot crit:
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
more damage;
Round 2, Init 18
AC = 24
HP = 57/111
Weapon Equipped = Black Tooth, Keen, Bane(Undead)
Condition(s) = Inspired
Barael struggles to clear himself from the steely boneyard.
Watching two others fall, Barael hopes a retreat will draw the remaining two past the doorway.
Round 2, Init 11 {-->G09}
Charlie will shoot eldritch bolts at S4
edit: Charlie will freak the fook out and shoot wildly at passing trains.
AC 14 mithral shirt w/ ghost touch
CMD 14
Harrow Points: 6
Elemental HP 68/68
Holy Water Vials: 10
potion(s) of lesser restoration:3
[b]diamond dust: 9900gps
If anyone is poisoned or diseased Charlie will attempt a heal check (15)
The spells/day listed will include the casting (if any) that I made this round
Orisons DC:16 (Create Water, Guidance, Mending, Purify Food and Drink, Stabilize, Mage Hand, Read Magic, Ghost Sound)
First Level: DC:17 (7/8 per day) (Bless, Bless Water, Doom, Ray of Enfeeblement, Remove Fear, Cure Light, Protection from Evil)
Second Level: DC:18 (3/8 per day) (Admonishing Ray,Communal Prot. from Evil, Hold Person, Lesser Restoration, Sound Burst, Cure Moderate)
Third Level: DC:19 (5/7 per day) (Create Food and Water, Prayer, Remove Disease, Searing Light, Cure Serious, Dispel Magic)
Fourth Level: DC:20 (5/7 per day)(Minor Globe of Invulnerability, Holy Smite, Neutralize Poison, Restoration, Cure Critical Wounds)
Fifth Level: DC:21 (4/5 per day)(Constricting Coils, Scry) (Mass Cure Light Wounds)
Sixth Level: DC:22 (3/4 per day)(Anti-magic Field, Heal) (Mass Cure Moderate Wounds)
Oracle Revelation: Eldritch Bolt 7/9 times per day. 1d8+6 dam
summon elemental: Twice per day 6/6, 6/6 rounds per day + ring: 6/6 rnds
Sociable Trait6/6 rounds per day
wand CSW 23/37 (+5)
wand CLW 46/50
wand blessings of fervor 33/50
Rod of Reach 2/3 per day
wrist sheath: breath of life scroll (+3 backup)
Weapon equipped = Biting wit (and a MW dagger)
Shield equipped =OMG please don't hurt me
Life Bubble lasts 20 hours. Envelopes you in clean air that protects v. gases, water, etc.
Endure Elements lasts 24 hours
Ablative Barrier, Extended lasts 20 hours. Turns up to 50 HP of damage to nonlethal, 5 HP per attack. Also applies to energy damage, like fireball.
And of course I forgot one of their attacks - a gore attack with their horns. sigh. I just want to start the combat over! hehehhe
Majenko dances to inspire the party. Laori swings twice badly missing. Fondo does a little dance of his own. Nikolay hesitates, then swings hard hitting twice (no cover) and dropping it! Charlie has some bad luck and shoots wildly into the hall. Briar criticals dropping his first target and then wounding his second with a followup hit. Dandilion tosses a bomb in the mix. Barael swings criting one and dropping it.
The skeletons coordinate their attacks taking advantage of a flank helpfully provided by Barael and pile on Fondo as much as they can - seemingly oblivious to the damage raining down upon them from all sides.
Majenko continues his inspiring dance, but he remains out of the direct combat. Laori however relishes the rush of battle, and swings again trying to hit, well, anything but preferably S4.
Fondo slumps to the ground, unconscious and nearly dead.
Active effects Ablative barrier (35), clarion call, endure elements, life bubble, mage armor
AC 27 (17 touch, 22 flat, 21 incorporeal) (10 +5 dex +6 mithral shirt +2 ring +2 nat armor +2 buckler)
CMB = +16 (+20 disarm & reposition), +19 dirty trick, +17 steal)
CMD = 30 (34 reposition, 33 dirty trick & disarm, 31 steal)
HP = 5 + 15nl / 99
Weapon equipped Rapier
Shield equipped Buckler
Bardic performance used 0 of 11 rounds
Inspired command used 8 of 17 rounds
Spells used 1st: 1 of 4
Challenge READY
Tactician (3/day; 6 rounds) 1 of 3 used
Wand of CLW 1
Glibness from bracers ACTIVE
Round 2, Init 10
Briar tries to shoot through the assembled goonage in his way using blunt arrows, starting with S4, then moving to S1.
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
damage;
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
damage;
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
damage;
Pot Crit #1:
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
moar damage;
Pot Crit #2:
to hit (PBS, Bard, Bane, Rapid, Deadly Aim, cover)
moar damage.
Briar blows on his bow lest he and his bow explode into flames...we're so hot.
And with two crits - using blunt arrows - we're out of combat. The remaining two skeletons collapse into heaps of dried bones as their weapons clatter uselessly to the ground.
A quick magic sweep detects no magic.
Looking through the arrow slits onto the courtyard beyond, you see a wide courtyard standing at the heart of Castle Scarwall, giving an inside view of the castle’s looming walls and towers.
A chill breeze whips through the courtyard, carrying a few dry leaves from scraggly scrub bushes that grow fitfully at the yard’s edges. A wide, stone-rimmed well stands at the western end, though the stone lip is crumbling and has collapsed in places.
To the north, stairs rise to a platform fifteen feet above the courtyard. Atop it, a black double door provides entry into the castle donjon. Double doors to the east stand open, creaking on their hinges, as if left open by someone leaving in a hurry. Bent, rusted, and in some cases partially broken spikes protrude from the walls of the courtyard, and here and there, holes in the hard-packed soil hint at long-missing structures or poles that once stood within.
High = good
High = good
"Fondo? You alive, Varisian? C'mon, get up." Briar draws his wand and tend to the man.
healing
healing
healing
healing
healing
This seemed like a quick battle. Not quick enough. We've got a Varisian down!
"Fondo!!!
Charlie clunks to Fondo's side.
Fondo awakens to many pokings and smiles wanly. "Nethys brings miracles aplenty this day. Thanks Brother." He stands, giving Briar a sincere look. "Kako, you're always there to lift me up when skeletal bull men knock me down. My thanks." He looks to the Rat. "I trust you're okay?"
When Fondo seems viable, Charlie will move to Barael.
"I trust you're okay?"
You okay, son? You gonna cry some more?
Standing there in pain, Barael looks at Fondo. An intake of breath proves that the right side has managed several broken ribs. It keeps him from responding immediately.Barael watches Fondo stand, beaten almost to death.
It's all your fault. You could have prevented all this injury. But you had to rush in. Think you could do something... hah. Your father was right about you. I'm ashamed to call you 'son'.
What's wrong with you?! Say something! Tell me what a fool I am, go on! Barael eases from the pain as Charlie heals him of his savage wounds.
"I trust you're okay?"
Yes. When it comes down to it, you do. You trust. Me.
"Yes, Brov. I'm okay. Don't worry about me. Regain your strength, and when you're ready, let's see this through."
Fondo smiles at the rat. "Brov, if there's a day when I'm not ready to fight alongside friends, I've yet to live it."
"How are you all feeling? Still some fight in us, eh? Well, maybe after a few more taps of your wand, Kako."
Briar looks to the double doors and then to the Rat.
What's next? More magic, please.
"Shall we move on?"
Barael moves to the double doors, padding his waist for his tools, when he stops. He looks down at his paws and sees the elf's face looking back up at him. He smacks his forehead with one of them.
Placing both hands on the door, he takes a calculated look through the door with his gloves .
Briar smiles at the Rat.
About freakin' time. I worked hard on those gloves.
Nikolay instinctively hops in line for healing from Charlie until he realizes he doesn't need it.
That's a nice change.
Nikolay takes advantage of the brief respite to take out his flask, take a drink, and Pass it to Charlie of course.
Clarity, as always, comes hard. There are TWO sets of double doors in the room. The southern set goes out into the courtyard which you can see through the arrow slits. There is value looking through the door perhaps, but I'll ASSUME you don't mean that one.
So you look through the norther pair, which are really each a half door - so it's a double door, but just 5' wide. Looking through that door (I assume) shows you a small 15'x10' room with three doors and a stairwell going up. However, as you look into the room, the stones themselves seem to ripple away from you like a pebble thrown in a pond. The ripple seems to go up the stairs and then disappears into the darkness.
When you pull your hands from the door, your fingers feel a little tingly.
Note: The room is naturally dark, so you only see a 10' radius around the door, but that's enough to pretty much cover the room and the first step or two.
Dandi follows along behind the others, her hair flicking and flowing ahead of her, checking on the others.
"There's a strange shiver that runs through the stones and up the stairs. The shiver bounced back into my hands as well. What do you take that for?" Barael stretches his fingers a little.
"Is this castle one big spiderweb? And now some big hairy thing knows we're walking onto its threads?"
Briar looks at the Rat, trusting in his nose to lead them.
"Which way, Rat? Pick one and we'll follow."
"Let's unravel the weave. That always works." Fondo clicks the fingers of his gaunet together and summons up a whiff of rose scent
"I'm assuming we want to investigate this side of the castle before we reverse directions? Yeah, let's do that."
Checking the pseudo-double doors for locks, Barael readies to open them, bracing himself. "Might want to stand back for a moment. Are we good?" Barael opens the doors.
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Charlie gets a twinkle in his eye after gratefully accepting a wee dram from Nik. He then casts right behind Barael and giggles like a madman.
The party crowds around the small door as Barael carefully tries to open it. At first it doesn't seem to go - perhaps it's locked? - No, just stuck and with a little force it opens without further difficulty to the sound of giggling.
The room is empty save for two doors on the far side (call them #2 and 3), one door to the left (call it #1) and a stairwell going up. You see none of the ripple effect that you saw previously. Perhaps the gloves are showing you something... unreal?
"Did you hear that?! There was laughter. It knows we're here, I tell you." Barael's hackles raise up. When he turns back to the others, and sees Charlie, his shoulders droop. "Really, Charlie. This place is full of creepy. That includes you." Barael shakes his head, then chuckles in spite of himself.
He tiptoes to the stairwell, and strains to hear anything.
"Hah. Good one, Kako. Fear's powerless when humor's about." Fondo peers into the room, his ruby glasses revealing what life or undeath might be lurking. He follows in Barael's wake, conviction in every step.
Briar moves to provide cover to Barael and Fondo while also keeping Charlie (the troublemaker) in his sights.
Perception
Dandi creeps along with the others, her wand at the ready.
The party hears all manner of sounds, but nothing particularly relevant other than some light shuffling from above. You hear creaks, groans, and some light sobbing as well - though these sounds are hard to pinpoint.
And of course the giggling. Charlie shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head as if to say, It's not me., but you hear giggling from the hall you just left none the less...