DM Alexander Kilcoyne's Sargavan Saga

Game Master Alexander Kilcoyne

Absentmindedly as she searches, the elf replies, "It says 'Captain Akirra, who distinguished himself defending Fort Erghur as commander of the 32d Vanguards.' It looks like I might be able to extract his experiences, so I'm looking for the sort of device that could store them."

"I think it is a sort of a way to honor him perhaps," Kieran says after listening on to Ansha's words and in regards to Tebati's earlier question. "To perhaps keep him alive somehow, even in a condition such as this?" The half-elf seems to ponder on such a possibility for a moment before continuing. "But if that is the case, should we not awaken him and free him of this... imprisonment? For it appears to be a form of it. And we do outnumber him if he proves to be less than friendly and cooperative."

Frowning Qhude tries to make sense of the situation before asking "When this thing takes from his mind... is he left whole or empty?"

"Whole, I should think," Ansha says. "Hardly useful to leave him an empty shell...."

Qhude furrows his brow in confusion "Hardly useful to leave a warrior that could still fight swallowed by time." hissing "Eish!" before shaking his head and backing away slightly, clearly leaving the forward plan to the discretion of those within the umkhaya more able to make sense of what was before them.

"I think it is a sort of a way to honor him perhaps," Kieran says after listening on to Ansha's words and in regards to Tebati's earlier question. "To perhaps keep him alive somehow, even in a condition such as this?"

"May we all avoid incurring the Order's 'honor,'" Tebati says darkly, frowning through the door at the unnaturally preserved body.

Ansha shakes her head at Qhude. "You won't even be able to touch him," she says. "Seems he was placed in stasis after a military campaign."

Mouthing the words 'Sensory extraction?, Ansha almost pulls the lever labeled the same (after a moment's hesitation over the one labeled Mind wipe). Second-guessing the idea, she looks around for a place to insert a receptacle, and any such suitable objects nearby.

It took Ansha some time to spot the spot for a "receptacle". The device that loomed over the Azlant seemed to be move-able; and a section of it that she lowered to herself contained an indent that seemed designed to fit someone's head like a helmet. The receptacle was apparently meant to be another sentient being.

"Let's take a look around the other two rooms, aye?" Ansha suggests after tinkering with the device for a few minutes. She slips past the gawkers at the door and starts to walk toward the door across the hallway.

With a sigh, Tebati goes back to sit on the bottom step while Ansha explores the toy box she has found.

Are the Sargavan experts still up there at the top of the steps, studying the second level? We could probably just call them down here. :P

"We should make sure there is nothing awake upon this level first before dealing with that which sleeps."

Ansha nods her head in agreement as she walks.

Ansha opened the north-west room's door and revealed another identical chamber; but this one was entirely empty of any physical remains. The pulsing, healthy looking lines of magic led her to believe this room's device had never actually been activated or used.

Tebati moved to sit down on the stairs, but was surprised to find herself unable to reach them. A sheer wall of intangible, magical force had risen up at the opening to the stairwell, with no apparent gaps. The group were trapped upon this level.

Map Link

Tebati cries out in alarm at her discovery. "There are more than four prisons on this level! Like the doors, there is no way back out now that we've come in." Her eyes wander unwillingly to the skeleton that died trying to cut its way out of its cell.

"Great," Ansha mutters upon hearing Tebati's cry of alarm. Seeing no reason to panic, she sets to searching the room until she is certain there are no suitable 'receptacles' in it. Assuming she finds nothing, Ansha exits and heads for the last door.

Grimacing at the revelation that they were confined, Qhude strains against the barrier...
It is solid like steel, or does it have some give?
...before admitting defeat.

Absolutely no give at all. Think an invisible wall of force, basically.

Growling "Forward then..."

Sword held firmly in his right hand, Kieran puts his left hand on Tebati's shoulder, his gesture one of reassurance and comfort. "As Qhude just said," he says in his usual tone, seemingly unperturbed by the revelation that they apparently find themselves with no way back. "It is not like we are stuck here. We do have somewhere to go. Forward."

He then calls to the elven wizardess. "Anything more you can tell us about the sleeping beauty over there? Do we leave him here?"

"Leave him. He has managed to sleep this long, letting him rest a bit more will do no harm."

Jakob moves to investigate the fountain.

"At least we have plenty to drink, should that wall not come down."

Jakob refills a canteen from the fountain. A few words clear the water of debris. {Purify Food and drink, on the water in the canteen.}

"Checking the last door first," Ansha says as she makes it over to the last unopened door. She opens it cautiously. But if it's just another cell....

Opening the door cautiously, Ansha paled a little as she saw what lay inside before her. Another identical looking room, with the familiar metallic device and the twisted, corrupted looking veins of magic that had withered and turned black.

Upon the floor of the chamber, a skeleton lay curled up upon the ground as though in great pain. The source of the former living being's pain was an obvious one; the short sword its skeletal hands still clutched, the blade lying inside its ribcage.

Floating in the air above the long-dead remains was a malevolent-looking cloud of shadows. The cloud seemed to emanate several different, muttering voices, coalescing together into a small symphony of gibbering madness.

Small, black limb-like shapes began to extend from its incorporeal form as the cloud began to move towards Ansha and those gathered beside her...

Ansha and anyone else who would be looking into the room please make a DC17 Will save. If you fail, you begin this encounter Fascinated. This is a sonic, mind-affecting compulsion effect.

Anyone not looking into the room please specify where you are.

Will: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

Looking into the room alongside Ansha, Qhude's muscles slacken and his stance relaxes.

Tebati is out in the middle of the hallway somewhere, waiting impatiently to move forward.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Oh--" Ansha begins to say, her voice drifting off dreamily as her attention is enveloped by the dark cloud in front of her. Her free hand falls to her side limply.

Kieran is alongside Tebati, as per my last post.

Will Save. Jakob was looking at the fountain but would turn to watch the pretty elf. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Aha! Jakob's long years of practice at only listening to his own voice finally pay off!

Rule question. Could this be disrupted by ghost sounds or is this a job for Countersong?

Countersong.

.

.

The Insane Azlanti Apparition

Round 1-

Ordered Initiative-

Kieran- 26
Qhude (Fascinated)- 19
Jakob- 16
Tebati- 16
Ansha (Fascinated)- 10

Active Effects-

Map-

Link

Notes-

Fascination lasts 2d4 rounds and breaks when you are attacked by the spirit.

Action-

The party is up.

Seeing both Qhude and Ansha's expressions change all of a sudden, Kieran draws his sword and moves towards them, trying to see what is inside the room that could be the cause of this. As he does so, there is a feeling washing over him, as if he is witnessing some grand spectacle, but he manages to chase it away. "There is some sort of... creature in here, a ghost or shadow of some kind," the half-elf warns Tebati and, wasting no time, squeezes past the fascinated Bas'o and brings his magical curved blade down on the strange apparition.

Round 1, Initiative 26

Hit Points 29/29
AC 22/FF 17/T 15, CMD 20 (21 vs. disarm)
Fort +4/Ref +7/Will +1; +2 vs. enchantment
Effects: None

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

Free Action: Draw weapon.
Move Action: Move to the suare next to Qhude and engage the creature.
Standard Action: Attack the apparition.
Melee attack (+1 adamantine Aldori dueling sword): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Sneak attack (if applicable): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Kieran Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

The shadowy creature was quick but Kieran was quicker still, his magical sword seeming to actually harm the shadowy thing. His blade felt resistance from the incorporeal being and it recoiled swiftly from his blade's touch.

Put you next to Qhude in order to strike, which means you passed through the enemies square (but flat-footed so no AOO); the doorway is in Ansha's square.

Jakob/Tebati are up.

round 1 i16
will save if needed: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"Sorry Ansha."

Jakob lowers his shoulder and plows into the wizard at a run, driving her back and slamming her painfully into the happily distracted pugilist.

Bull rush on Ansha: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13(a success I think? Ansha, you list your CMD as 13. Is that up to date?) driving her into Qhude. Follow-on bull rush on Qhude, second target: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 4 = 6. (Not even bothering to check this, I did not expect to actually rush Qhude) So no net movement but the bull rush attempt might be close enough to an attack to trigger the 'obvious hostile action' clause and bring them both round.

Quite ambitious mechanics but you can actually rouse a single ally from Fascinated condition as a standard action so thats what your effort will amount to.

Jakob gave Ansha a hard shove, almost toppling her in her dream-like stance. It did have the effect of snapping her out of the trance she was in though...

Tebati and Ansha to act before the creature. Knowledge (Religion) is the appropriate roll.

Judging it wisest to rouse Qhude before risking falling under the sphere of influence of whatever is in the room herself, Tebati moves along the wall, readying her trident, and slaps the handle firmly across the Bas'o's back, calling his name sharply: "Qhude!"

Move to the square north of Qhude, drawing her trident; standard action to rouse him

Ansha blinks rapidly as she comes out of the trance she had fallen in. She focuses her emerald eyes, and her gaze falls on the apparition in front of her.

"Oh!" she repeats, backpedaling instinctively at the unmistakable hostility emanating from the spirit. An Elven phrase spilling staccato from her lips, she makes a knife-like jab with one open-palmed hand, and jade darts of magical force slam into the apparition.

Five-foot step in the opposite direction of the apparition and cast Magic Missile.

Spell penetration, if necessary: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

Qhude won't act this round but acts normally next round.

The babbling creature seemed confused by the presence of the group. It whirled to and fro, floating from side to side in quick motions. It tentatively reached out to touch Kieran, still babbling softly in ancient tongues. Its vaguely humanoid face that flickered in and out of view that Kieran would even try and dodge its touch, but the Half-Elf did.

Melee Touch Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Still an action needed from Ansha this round but I have a limited update window so please retcon it in. Shouldn't affect its action this round.

The Insane Azlanti Apparition

Round 2-

Ordered Initiative-
Kieran- 26
Qhude- 19
Jakob- 16
Tebati- 16
Ansha- 10
Shadowy Creature- 8

Active Effects-

Map-

Link

Notes-

Attacking from squares other than Ansha's and from inside the room will grant the enemy a cover bonus to AC.

Action-

The group is up. Unfortunately... Qhude and Ansha need to save against the same DC once again.

Will save vs fascination: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

As Tebati pointed out in the OOC thread, see the post immediately above yours for Ansha's round 1 action, AK.

Roused from his stupor by Tebati, Qhude's gaze falls back across the creature and he feels a draw towards observance...
Will Save: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18
...but is able to snap out of the funk. Anger welling within him, Qhude gives way to the white heat and strikes. Instinct drives him to match the shadowy being with his guisarme as he growls at Ansha "Back!" but he does not wait, his polearm brought down heavily through the apparition's form...
Rage, 5ft to the East, then attack with guisarme (likely through cover granted by Ansha.
Raging Power Attack Guisarme: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 = 15 for 2d4 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 13 + 3 = 20

The spirit reeled back as Ansha's force missiles crashed into its form. Its erratic movements as the magic missiles forced it back made it difficult to strike and Qhude's guisarme was dodged quite easily by its jittery movements; the heavy end of the pole-arm crashing into the mosaic-like floor near Kieran's shifting feet while barely making a dent.

Ok, everyone has saved except Tebati who hasn't required one yet. Nice roll Qhude. The group (sans Qhude) is up.

"Mind the toes, Qhude. I still have need of them," Kieran quips with a soft chuckle. Still, even as he does so, the half-elven swordsman's head is definitely in the fight as he tries to find the best way to attack the shadow creature before putting his sword to work again.

Round 2, Initiative 26

Hit Points 29/29
AC 22/FF 17/T 15, CMD 20 (21 vs. disarm)
Fort +4/Ref +7/Will +1; +2 vs. enchantment
Effects: None

No Action: 5-foot step if it would put him in a flanking position (not sure if a step to the west would do that).
Standard Action: Attack the apparition.
Melee attack (+1 adamantine Aldori dueling sword): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21, +2 if flanking
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Sneak attack (if applicable): 1d6 ⇒ 1

Kieran's adamantine sword flicked through the spirit once more, leaving a small patch of black shadow-substance on his blade for merely a moment before it vanished, diminishing the foe in the process.

Leaving Jakob, Tebati and Ansha to act.

round 2 i16

"What is this thing?"

Casting resistance on self

Touching for a moment her holy symbol and intoning a plea to Shimye-Magalla to strengthen her will, Tebati moves back toward the center of the hallway where she can see the creature past her allies.

Cast guidance on self; move in line of sight; Will (guidance) 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 = 16

Looks like we're not going to find out what it is, since Tebati's the only one with Knowledge (religion). My PCs constantly fail Will saves, even when they've got the best bonus in the party. :P

Ansha continues to backpedal, repeating the Elven phrase and hammering the apparition with more bolts of jade energy.

5-foot step further east and casting Magic Missile again.

SR: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 2 = 8

Tebati's mind almost succeeded in throwing off the babbling noises, but eventually she succumbed; listening in apt fascination that appeared as rapture to onlookers.

Ansha sent more magical missiles into the shadow-like creature, further dissipating its form. It continued to desperately reach out to Kieran but its efforts were utterly in vain as the Half-Elf smoothly darted in and out of reach.

Though he was definitely helped by the fact someone broke my dice roller. What is this? I think Talomyr switched dice with me when I wasn't looking.

Melee Touch Attack (Miss): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

The Insane Azlanti Apparition

Round 3-

Ordered Initiative-
Kieran- 26
Qhude- 19
Jakob- 16
Tebati (Fascinated)- 16
Ansha- 10
Shadowy Creature- 8

Active Effects-

Notes-

Action-

Group is up. I'll be surprised if the thing survives this round so i'm not putting up a map update.

Through the clouded vision of anger Qhude sees that the apparition still exists... he attempts to alter that reality through judicious application of brute force...
2nd round of rage, 5ft to an unimpeded attack route then attack with guisarme
Raging Power Attack Guisarme: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 = 27 for 2d4 + 13 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3) + 13 + 3 = 21

Kieran seems to be having fun, strange though it may be. The half-elf manages to avoid the apparition's attacks, while at the same time his own appear to be more successful at scoring hits.

Round 3, Initiative 26

Hit Points 29/29
AC 22/FF 17/T 15, CMD 20 (21 vs. disarm)
Fort +4/Ref +7/Will +1; +2 vs. enchantment
Effects: None

No Action: 5-foot step if it would put him in a flanking position, stay put if not.
Standard Action: Attack the apparition.
Melee attack (+1 adamantine Aldori dueling sword): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19, +2 if flanking
Damage (slashing): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Sneak attack (if applicable): 1d6 ⇒ 2

I for one am grateful that your dice seems a bit... unresponsive, however long such a thing may last. :-P

This never normally happens to me, I swear!

Erectile dysfunction jokes aside...

Between the continuous deft strikes of Kieran and a massive swing from Qhude, the shadow creature continued to dissipate until all that was left of it was shadowy substance upon their respective blades; which too, quickly faded. The shadow-creature was gone, leaving no trace that it ever existed; unless you were to count the skeleton still lying upon the floor. Examining it, it seemed fairly obvious that the humanoid took its own life in a very painful manner.

Ansha cautiously approaches the doorway again after the apparition's 'death.' "What was that thing?" she asks, looking at Tebati, who was just shaking off the vapid fascination on her own face.

"I-- what?" she shakes herself free of her mental fugue.

Are retroactive Knowledge checks allowed, or was she even able to get a good look at it before/while zoning out?

Letting the white heat dissipate from his body as the apparition fades, Qhude first turns to the Sangoma to ensure that she has returned to them - before moving to the skeletal body. Leaning on his guisarme as he catches his breath "Is it gone?"