DM Bigrin's Shattered Star (Group B) (Inactive)

Game Master bigrin42

"RrrrRRRRrgh!!"

At this point, Shabbezz was so angry over her continually fizzling spells that she was practically nonverbal. She fired the wand again, and started wondering what the chances were of casting a fireball without incinerating her teammates.

Firing the wand of magic missile (12 charges remaining, CL3, range 130 feet, two missiles, no attack roll needed). Targeting the nearest two fuathi.

Versus SR: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Damage (force), 1st missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage (force), 2nd missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Once more Shabbezz's spell fizzled and she is left wondering if the wand would be more effective if she hopped in there and broke it over a fuathi's head. The hag swiped at Angelica with her claws, but with the clinging membranes gone, the rogue was easily able to dodge the blows.

Frustrated at the little creatures which keep pouring forward, Jakscar slashes again with his sword, before driving his dagger into the creatures eye.

Attack D Sword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Dmg D sword: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Attack CI dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Dmg CI dagger: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Crit confirmation: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Dmg Crit: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Trying to maneuver into a more beneficial position, to take advantage of her training, Angelica twists and moves past the ugly old crone to try and get at her from a different side.

Move, Acrobatics to tumble through fuathi and past hag 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 If that succeeds.. she gets her Canny Tumble

With the distracting nature of her agile maneuvering, she uses the confusion to lash out with silverfang. She has a fairly solid bead on the old hag, and tries to drive the enchanted blade home.

Standard, attack w/silverfang 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 (+2 if the tumble worked, also hag loses dex to AC), damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 plus 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11 (if the tumble worked)

Sorry for the delay. Things are chaotic around here and I forgot which games I had read but not posted to

Jakscar slew the gremlin before him, opening up a path for Angelica to tumble past. The rogue stepped up into a near-perfect lunge, driving the tip of her rapier deep into the hag. The creature let out a scream and then cried out again as a trio of Jam's arrows thudded in. The gremlins clawed at Angelica, but she gave them little notice as their claws couldn't even penetrate her armor.

Dangit, forgot to go again

Zaph blinks in some surprise as he realizes no one is yet in need of healing. So he loads his crossbow and fires off another shot at the hag.

Ranged: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Common wisdom said the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Shabbezz was currently trying to test that theory in the crucible of battle.

Firing the wand of magic missile (11 charges remaining, CL3, range 130 feet, two missiles, no attack roll needed). Targeting the nearest two fuathi.

Versus SR: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Damage (force), 1st missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage (force), 2nd missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Sorry, I had originally had planned on trying something more elaborate this time around, but I'm currently sick as a dog and begging all that's holy to be unconscious as soon as possible. :-( Maybe next turn.

Please feel better. Also, throw that wand away

Once more Shabbezz activated her wand, and again the missiles were turned away. The hag cackled again, even as Zaphomil's arrow flew past her head, and swiped at Angelica. In a crackling voice that sounded like a blend of an untuned fiddle and a log rolling downhill she said "Dance, my pretty, dance!" She seemed not to care that her blows came nowhere near the dodging burglar, nor that she was grievously injured.

Feel better soon Shabbezz.

Stepping forward, Jakscar sheaths both his blades in the hag, with a double lunge.

Attack D sword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Dmg D sword: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Attack CI dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Dmg CI dagger: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

crit confirmation CI dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Crit dmg CI dagger: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

It seems the dice like me at the moment. Makes a nice change.

Angelica once more nimbly dances past one of the little ugly creatures to distract the hag before stabbing her again with Silverfang. The dance or her movements and blade working once more to allow her to get a precise move against the ugly old woman. Looking down at one of the little ones, she sneers, "Once she drops, you little s!#$s are next on my list."

Move, Acrobatics to 2 squares south 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 she gets her Canny Tumble
Standard, attack w/silverfang 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 +2 and the hag loses dex to AC, damage 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 plus 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Zaphomil reloads his crossbow and fires a shot at one of the gremlins.

Ranged: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The hag dies under the onslaught of blades that Jakscar and Angelica brought to bear, and Zaphomil and Jam finished off the last of the fuathi. That left no other foes in the area, unless you wanted to count the wounded, naked woman on the small island a foe.

Shabbezz looks at her wand with disgust, then gives up and shoves it back in her belt sash. She looks around the tunnel to see how the others have fared.

"Is that all of them? Is everyone alright?"

Zaphomil laughs. "I think that's the first fight we've had since I met you that I haven't had to patch up someone! I almost didn't know what to do with myself!"

He pulls out a different wand and applies it to Angelica. "Here, your muscles are trembling. This will help.

Lesser restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 2
25 charges left on the wand of lesser restoration

Sheathing his blades, Jakscar begins to move out into the water, towards the wounded naked woman. Taking off his cloak to keep it dry, he offers it to the woman.
"There, there we won't hurt you, I am Jakscar, who are you?"

You can tell that the woman is in shock, her wounds nearly killing her. Surprisingly, there is a deep scar across her face, a wound long since healed. She gratefully accepted Jakscar's cloak, but was in too much pain and shock to respond to his words.

Seeing that the woman is gravely injured, Zaph rushes up to her. He swaps out gentle repose for a healing spell, and gently applies it.

CMW: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (7, 5) + 6 = 18

The woman stirred in response to Zaphomil's healing magics. Her eyes opened, and she clutched the cloak to herself as she looked around in alarm. "Who are you? And what happened to the hag and her minions? I'll not return to Sorshen's service, I don't care what you saved me from!"

Zaphomil rocks back, holding up his hands and showing her the Desna holy symbol he used to to the healing. "Hey! Whoa, not asking you to go back to Sorshen, that's for sure. Say, you know she's supposed to be dead, right? Why do you think you'd have to serve her?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

"Rest easy, the hag and her minions are dead. We are merely exploring this area, you are safe with us."

Aid Zaph: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Dead? Sorshen's not dead. She's just been in hiding all these years. She has a tower room somewhere up in the Lady's Light. My former companions are all in thrall to her. She...does something to your mind, and then you have no choice but to serve. But, it wore off. And I tried to lead some of my sister Maidens in a revolt. They turned on me, the b~!%~es, and Sorshen gave me to the hag as a plaything. Damn them all!"

"Former companions, you say? We're here exploring, but had word of a group that got here ahead of us. How long have you been here?"

"Sorshen's alive?" Shabbezz repeated incredulously. "There must be some mistake here. A Runelord alive and active in this day and age-- why, it's simply not possible. Nevermind the levels of magic that would have to have been involved, an event of that magnitude couldn't possibly have gone unnoticed for so long!"

"Well, maybe not Sorshen then, but she damn sure looks like all the statues around here. And she's lustful enough. And has a huge ability with magic. Gray Maidens are selected and trained to be resistant to any form of magic, especially those that touch our minds. Sorshen bespelled us as if we were day-old rabbits."

"By us I mean the Gray Maidens, led by Captain Oriana. We were here looking for the treasures reported to lie under the Lady's Light, hoping to use them to hire a mercenary army to place the rightful Queen back on the throne of Korvosa. We found the place, all right, fought our way in here, and lost two of our sisters to a giant glass golem on an island in the middle of an underground lake. It was just after there, when we had fought and killed a bunch of incubi that the Lady Sorshen appeared, bewitched us all, and then teleported us to our new headquarters. Captain Oriana and a few of her Lieutenants stayed with Sorshen, and sometimes one or two of us would be teleported to meet with the Lady herself. Mostly, though, we just train, relax, and no one wonders any more when we are going to leave this place and get back to restoring the Crimson Throne!"

"That's what broke the spell for me. The fact that no one else seemed to care any more. I tried to convince them, and I think I had three or four starting to snap out of it, but then the rest turned on me. They delivered me to Sorshen, who played with me for a while before handing me over to that hag."

Zaphomil sits down on the ground as he processes the situation before them.

"Well, if we're going to face a beguiling beauty, we'll need some protection." He can't help but smirk. "Magical protection from charms, I mean. Desna can provide that, but that'll have to come in a day. What does everyone think?"

Turning back to the woman, "What's your name, by the way? Do you know the way to 'Sorshen'?"

"I am Helanda. And I only know of one way that might lead to Sorshen, but it runs right through my former sisters."

Something doesn't add up for Angelica, "But, I thought we saw Sorshen's body preserved in that sarcophagus? The one that almost killed Zap and I. Granted it was a few days ago by now." She looks up at the cavern ceiling, realizing it's tough to tell the time of day for how long they've been underground. "Look lady, I appreciate a good looking woman as well as the guys here, but how do we know we can trust you? I mean, guys c'mon, you can't just believe everything a woman tells you. Sometimes, you just didn't get her there." She winks at Shabbezz, in a 'you know what I'm talking about' kind of way. Then her expression turns curious. Does she? May have to ask her about how... some other time.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

As far as Angelica knows, the woman is telling the truth.

Shabbezz opens her mouth in reply, then just shrugs in resignation at Angelica's double entendre. No matter the situation, the changeling never let a raunchy comment slip past her. Her dedication was almost admirable, in a way. Sort of.

"Simulacrums--that is, magically created duplicates--are just one way that high-level wizards can create copies of themselves. Even if it wasn't the true Sorshen's doing, it's still within the realm of possibility that someone's been whipping up copies, but as to what their greater plan is I can hardly speculate.

"Regardless, Zaphomil is correct that we should have some countermeasures prepared for enchantment magic. Abjuration isn't my specialty, sadly, but perhaps we can spend the time we would be awaiting Zaph to pray for the appropriate spells by following Helanda and scouting out exactly what we're up against. My divinations can help with that at least."

"Former sisters?" Zaph considers. "Any way we can go through them without bloodshed? Convince them to see things your way? Or even bluff them into thinking we're here to pay our respects to Sorshen?"

Helanda shrugged. "When they turned on me and handed me over to be tortured to death, they forfeited the right to be my sisters. You can talk all you want, but I won't hesitate to put a sword in the belly of those that would betray one of their own like that."

"Well, then. I still have most of my spells and healing that Desna has provided me today, so perhaps we should see about meeting these women. If it comes down to a fight, I should be able to keep you all in fighting shape. Then, once we've secured our way past them, we can rest and I'll get the protections from enchantment so we'll be ready to face 'Sorshen.'"

How does that sound?

"I think that's the most prudent course of action. Let's do it."

Works for me.

Angelica holds up a finger in pause, "Hold up for just a minute. Did that old hag have anything useful on her? Or maybe anything around here?" She takes a moment to encircle the chamber and search the nasty old witch.

Perception 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29 (+2 vs traps, and +4 vs stone like creatures)

"That makes sense to me. Helanda, could you give us an idea of the route and what we might expect? Also perhaps what we might expect from your sisters: weapons, magic, ranged combat, that sort of thing. When we move off, Angelica here will scout ahead along the route you direct us. You howevwr can enjoy my company, second in the line for now i think."

The only thing the hag had on her was a keen +1 long spear and a set of wretched rags she wore as clothing. Apparently she wasn't a hoarder like some other of her kind. Whilst looking around, Angelica spotted a cleft in the rocks to the east that probably led to another passage, though you'd have to swim there.

Meanwhile, Helana was still talking, answering what questions she could while tying Jakscar's cloak around her in a toga-like wrap. "I don't know where we are at the moment. I was beaten nearly unconscious when they gave me over to the hag. But, if you know where the beach is on the lake with the sparkling ceiling, there is a secret door there that leads to where the Gray Maidens are bunking. There's maybe a dozen of us...them left, but they won't all be in the barracks. There's duties that keep us - them, dammit! - busy most of the time, so there's likely no more than a handful there at any time. Through the barracks is a bathhouse, and then some halls. I think that one of the halls has a way to Sorshen directly, but I've never used it. I've always been teleported to her chambers by Oriana or one of her lieutenants. Or by Sorshen herself."

"So we're going to be looking for an entrance to Sorshen's chambers, then--possibly a hidden one. I have a spell prepared that can help with that, at least."

"Is that not that last secret door? Is it just going to be one of the other tunnels? Also Helana what threats can we expect from your sisters, where do their combat skills lie?"

"They are the Grey Maidens, the Queensguard, selected young and trained for years to be the sword and shield of the ruler of Korvosa. You can expect them to fight to the death with sword, shield, and bow. "

"Right so fanatical sword and board fighters with ranged support, just great! Do you think we could lure them out a few at a time or would that just give away surprise?"

Zaph sighs as he thinks on the battle ahead. "Well, I'll start by using the shard to speed everyone up. That ought to give us all an advantage. Then I'll keep you all healthy while you fight. Hopefully, they won't all decide to come after me, but if that happens, they won't be attacking you." He grins fiercely.

You guys have any more questions are are you wanting to move forward?

I'm good to move on.

I agree. Let's go.

Picking yourselves up, you head back to the secret door, with Helanda following behind. Peering through, you see a rough hewn cavern with the embers of a large fire up against one wall. An iron pot and other cooking implements sit to one side of the fire. A narrow natural chimney extends through the roof twenty feet overhead. On the wall to the east is a huge red panel door, similar to the ones you have seen throughout this facility. Opposite that lean several crudely made fishing poles and nets.

Helanda indicated that through the door are the main living quarters where the rest of the grey maidens stay. Once you were ready, Angelica activated the door and as it swung open you see a long wooden table with a half-dozen armored fighters sitting around it playing cards. Along both sides of the room are wooden doors, with another of the red metal doors at the far side.

When the gray maidens saw you, they sprung to their feet, drawing their weapons.

Zaphomil reaches into his pocket and activates the artifact hidden within. Time seems to slow down for him and his allies, or they seem to speed up. He's not really sure which, but it's effective.

Haste for everyone! 20 rounds

As Zaphomi's spell takes effect, Shabbezz steps forward into the room. With a practiced motion she whips something out from her spell component pouch, barks some syllables and makes some complicated hand motions. A mass erupts near the back of the room.

Casting web at three of the Gray Maidens (CL6; Casting time: 1 standard action; Components: V,S,M [spider web]; Range: 160 ft.; Effect: webs in a 20-ft.-radius spread; Duration: 60 min.; Saving Throw: Reflex negates (DC 16), see text; Spell Resistance: no). The area covered will be a 20-foot radius spread originating at the lower rear of the room and; see the Magic section of the old prd for image. This means that it will be anchored between the walls and effect the blue squares. Anyone moving into the effected area will treat it as difficult terrain and must make a combat maneuver check or an Escape Artist check as part of their move action with a DC 16 check. Creatures that fail lose their movement and become grappled in the first square of webbing that they enter. If you have at least 5 feet of web between you and an opponent, it provides cover. If you have at least 20 feet of web between you, it provides total cover. The strands of a web spell are flammable. A flaming weapon can slash them away as easily as a hand brushes away cobwebs. Any fire can set the webs alight and burn away one 5-foot square in 1 round. All creatures within flaming webs take 2d4 points of fire damage from the flames.

(tl;dr: Blue squares are webs. Anyone grappled can break free by making a combat maneuver check or Escape Artist check as a standard action against DC 16. Webs provide soft cover for every feet, total cover for every 20 feet. Fire destroys webs but hurts those trapped inside. See the descriptive text for the web spell at the prd for details.)

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

As the door opens and the maidens are revealed, Jakscar rushes in. Hopping onto the end of the table, fixes the maiden on his right with his eyes and lunges with his long blade.
Attack D sword: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Dmg D Sword: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Am I right in thinking they are flat footed as they haven't acted yet? If so I change my sneak attack damage to a demoralisation attempt.(Bravado's Blade)
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Fall back fair maiden, or I will stick my steel rod into you once more!

Looking back I can't see that this has been used since we last slept, so I will use this on the first successful hit.
Black Cat: Once per day as an immediate action, when you are hit by a melee attack, you can force the opponent who made the attack to reroll it with a –4 penalty. The opponent must take the result of the second attack roll. This is a supernatural ability.

Angelica also takes advantage of the element of surprise, rushing into the room. She moves toward the side with the least webs. Getting into position for her and Whiskers to support one another, she stabs out at the furthest first.

They should be FF, yes, because even not surprised you are FF until you act in initiative.

Move, hasted to spot on map, drawing Silverfang while moving.
Standard, attack the one not flanked 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 = 26, damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 plus SA 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

For a variety of reasons I have not been able to log on recently. I pray you forgive my absence. Now, on with the show!

Zaphomil begins the battle with a burst of speed, followed by Shabbezz's shout of exclamation as strands of sticky webbing exploded over the far side of the table. Two of the armored women under the web sprung aside, but the third was wrapped in the webbing and cursed as she tried to pry herself free. At the close end, Jakscar and Angelica poked their foes with the pointy ends of their blades, shocking the nearest with their ferocity.

It doesn't hold, though, as the gray maiden retaliate. Longswords sing in the air as the scarred women attack, pinning Angelica between several, scoring her shoulder, and pushing Jakscar to his defensive abilities. Helanda, unarmed and unarmored, hung in the back, eyes fixed on her former sisters and waiting for a chance to strike.