DM Brainiac's War for the Crown: Table 1 (Inactive)

Game Master Brainiac

"She's got the leader separated and is going to hold her as long as she can." Zhe relays as they make their way to the monastery.

Dismaal's quarters contain a luxurious bed and desk, as well as an expansive wardrobe of exquisite clothing. The elf moves to the bed and starts to take her clothes off.

As Melodie crosses the threshold, though, a enormous glowing hand appears before her. It grabs a hold of the mesmerist, crushing her in its grasp!

CMB: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (19) + 30 = 49
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (4, 4) + 12 = 20

Dismaal gasps in shock. "It can't be! You're not Milon! Who are you?" The topless woman grabs her temple sword and whirls it over her head as she whips herself into a fury!

20 damage to Melodie and she is being grappled. Everybody may act. It might be a good time to use the scion's dagger and teleport everybody in! I will try to get a map up when I can.

Unless we've picked up a triumph I don't remember then I can't. At the moment the dagger only lets them monitor me. The upside of being a psychic caster is that I can still cast - so the plan is on! Ish...

How exactly am I being grappled? Something physical or magical? Mainly because I need to know if turning ethereal will get me out of it.

It's a crushing hand spell. Force effects work on ethereal creatures so that won't help. You should have gotten a triumph for usurping Jeroth's spy network, but I forgot to announce it. In the interest of Melodie not dying, I'll let you use the upgraded dagger ability. Once per day, you can teleport any number of your bodyguards to your location as per teleport. They must be willing and within 100 miles, and when they arrive, they appear within 20 feet of the dagger’s wielder in unoccupied spaces chosen by the GM.

Since that's presumably a standard action, when its my turn I'll try and teleport my four bodyguards (the other PC's) into the room with us! If I get a chance to do anything else it'll be Dispel Magic at the hand!

Yes, a standard action.

With a shimmer of magic, Maria, Melodie, Sara, and Zhi appear in the room!

Oh good, since I'm now there twice the paradox releases the other me from the Crushing Hand! More likely Zil appears right? :)

Yes, obviously I should read my posts more closely. :P

As Sara pops in, she immediately takes note of the situation and nods to Zhi, suggesting without words that she take front and center and serve as the distracting element while the smaller girl get on the bed and attack from behind.

She cries a righteous shout, giving everyone that familiiar floating feeling and a surge of courage and belief in their ability Greater Heroism.

The tall thug steps up and leads with a quick swipe across the woman's eyes before delivering kneeing her in the groin, following up with two quick kicks from her powerful, sharpened heels.

Quick Dirty Trick, Blind, GH, Outflank, BF: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 23 + 4 + 4 - 2 = 42 Iterative Attack
To Hit, Punch, GH, Outflank, BF: 1d20 + 15 + 4 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 4 + 4 - 2 = 24
Damage, Nonlethal: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Enforcer Intimidate: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (17) + 29 = 46 Free Action
Deadly Surprise Dirty Trick, Sicken: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 23 + 4 + 4 - 2 = 46 Immediate Action
Heel, GH, OF, PA, BF: 1d20 + 13 + 4 + 4 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 4 + 4 - 3 - 2 = 191d20 + 8 + 4 + 4 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 4 + 4 - 3 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 = 131d4 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 = 12

Zhi taps her boots together and moves around behind the woman. She fills her weapons with arcane energy and stabs at the monk.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 4 = 22 Outflank
Rapier Damage: 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15 Arcane Strike
Sneak Attack: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 1, 4) = 15

Current Effects: mage armor, Arcane Strike
Koriana's Blade: +4 AC, +1 AC to Sara
Current AC: 24

Persona phase

Zileska is out and about with her healer's bag, once again performing her women's health clinic services - taking care of various maladies, especially those associated with childcare. No particular reason...

Heal: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Improves Sacrifice rating to 3.

~~~~~~~~~~

In the thick of the fray

Zileska came prepared for this. Knowing that the team would have to make an assault on the monastery at some point, she's ready with spells to aid her friends and control the battlefield. Though she's briefly disoriented by the sudden transport, she turns in a moment, windmills her arms as she almost loses her balance on one of her heels, then waves her hand in a sharp right-to-left gesture and a wall of smooth stone covers the door.

Wall of stone to block off the entrance to the room, so we can have a little privacy from the rest of the acolytes in this smarmy place.

What's the caster level of the greater heroism? So we know how many temp HP we get from it.

The teleportation caught Maria off-guard, but she quickly recovered and ran to support Sara and Zhi, studying the woman's movements as she approached before striking.

Studied Attack: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Sorry for the delay, didn't see update notifications this morning.

You attack Sister Dismaal with a sudden fury. Sara's assault leaves her blinded, sickened and shaken. Maria and Zhi take advantage of this by stabbing the elf repeatedly. Zileska promptly seals the room with a wall of stone, cutting off any potential reinforcements.

Bloodied and beaten, Dismaal proves to be practical. She falls to her knees and raises her hands in surrender. "Please, spare my life! I will tell you anything you want to know! Remove the emerald from the lintel to free your friend!"

The giant hand continues to crush Melodie.

Crushing Hand: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 5) + 12 = 22

Melodie takes 22 more damage, but then you can remove the emerald to automatically dispel the hand.

Zhi looks up over the top of the door and reaches one hand upwards towards the gemstone and makes a pulling motion.

Sara grabs the woman's hair by the base of her skull, lifting her. "You are ours now. We have the power to kill you a dozen times over, and you have seen this. Repeat it back to me."

Intimidate, Inspiration: 1d20 + 29 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 29 + (5) = 38

assuming Mel is released as the monk claims she should be ...

Zhi stows her weapons and rushes over to where her wife was recently being crushed. Ironically the woman is being crushed again. Although, this time the culprit is a small Tian woman.

"What happened? Are you all right?" Not waiting for a reply, she turns to the priestess. " Zil! Could you help?"

"Of course, it's fine, she'll be fine once the hand is gone," says Zil confidently. She produces her lesser wand to exhaust some of its resources.

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

The hand disappears once Zhi removes the emerald. Sister Dismaal gasps in pain as Sara grabs her by the hair. "I-I am yours now. You have the power to kill me a dozen times over, and I have seen this," the elf repeats.

Dismaal's gear includes potions of barkskin (2), potions of cure serious wounds (2), potions of owl’s wisdom (3); mwk temple sword, amulet of mighty fists +1, belt of physical might +2 (Dex, Con), cloak of resistance +2, ring of protection +2

Dismaal’s wardrobe contains three noble’s outfits and seven courtier’s outfits, as well as assorted jewelry worth a total of 1,200 gp. The emerald set above the door is worth 2,000 gp.

A pewter brazier on the desk holds a half‐burned order from Maxillar Pythareus. This is a vital piece of evidence for his illegal agenda. What remains reads as follows.

—ill comely, despite her advancing age, and still within her childbearing years. I'd much prefer her argumentative nature curbed. This entire conflict would be so easily resolved with a wedding, were she not so demanding and selfish! It truly pains me to do this, but for the sake of Taldor she must be put down like the rabid animal she acts like. These new agents her fawning assistant seems to prefer—they are relative unknowns with a reputation for violence, are they not? Cut her throat and put the dagger in their hands; perhaps that will finally get the Lion Blades to obey. Return to me when the deed is done and your payment will be enough to establish your order as a legitimate force among the Taldan aristocracy.
—Pythareus

I wonder if make whole or greater make whole in conjunction with the ashes would restore the whole thing?

It would fix the paper itself but probably would not restore the writing on it.

You can hear pounding impacts on the other side of the wall of stone. Small cracks start to form in it. It might take the other monks a while, but they will eventually be able to break through it.

Melodie accepts the embrace gratefully, and thanks Zileska silently with her eyes as her wounds are healed. With Dismaal restrained Melodie brushes herself off and stands in front of her.

"Jeroth is dead and your hold on this city is gone. You've seen what we can do and your monks will believe me if I tell them you have been executed for treachery. Take your disciples and leave Taldor forever. You get your lives - that is all and far more than you deserve!"

Melodie waits a few moments for Dismaal to agree before stepping towards the wall.

"Stand down!" She demands, still using Jeroth's commanding tone. "Your time here is at an end. I need you in Zimar no longer. You are to test yourselves and head south into Qadira where you will find new challenges and new sins to sample! Cease your attack and prepare to depart, or face my wrath!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (20) + 28 = 48

Dismaal seems genuinely upset by the news of Jeroth's death. She nods wordlessly in agreement to Melodie's demands, a distant look in her eyes. "Do as he says," she calls to her acolytes, and they cease their efforts to break through the wall.

Melodie nods to Zileska to dismiss the spell and then stands there glaring, to watch the assassins follow her instructions.

Here's to hoping this works :)

Sara frowns as Melodie releases the assassins from service, but nonetheless, she throws the woman back to the ground without a word

Wall of stone is instantaneous so you can't dismiss or dispel it. You can punch your own hole in it though.

Dismaal pulls her shirt back on as you carve a hole in the wall of stone. Once the way is clear, she quickly gathers her acolytes and they all depart. You are able to ransack the monastery at your leisure.

I will post the full list of loot in the morning when I have more time.

The rogue moves close to Sara. "So, tell the truth," she asks quietly. "If it was just you and the rest of us weren't here, how long until you would have had that elf tied to the bed? She was totally your type."

"We already f*#$ed," Sara states dispassionately. "Second time Melodie checked in on these monks, I came with and invited Dismaal to spar. She pinned me down atop the practice mat. It was okay, but not as good as I had hoped. Too much talk. That's what the whole repeat it back to me shtick was, except I actually had the power in this situation, while even with me naked and a knife to my throat, she never did."

Maybe it's the truth, maybe she's lying to tease Zhi.

"Oh," Zhi responds in a small voice. She glances at her wife and then looks away. Sara can tell now that the small woman was joking. "I didn't realize ..." She trails off amidst a blush. She now seems to be in a hurry to leave.

Once the beating ceases against the wall, Zileska mumbles a few words and makes a parting gesture with both hands, and the middle of the wall over the door simply slides apart like malleable clay.

Stone shape.

The rest of the monastery consists of cells used as quarters, a training hall, a dining hall, a kitchen, and a library. The dining hall contains a gilded porcelain tea set worth 500 gp, and Qadiran, Taldan, and Tian vases worth a total of 2,000 gp. The kitchen area contains rare spices worth a total of 1,200 gp and seven bottles of Chelish red wine vented in 4562 and worth 100 gp each.

The library's scrolls and books include volumes on history, medicine, and philosophy, but also recipes for preparing intelligent creatures and reams of erotica, which one would not expect in a monastic collection. A thorough search reveals a manual of gainful exercise +1 tucked behind a shelf.

Poor Zhi, in a party with two bluff/dip specialists and not enough Sense Motive to know whether they mean it...

Melodie leaves much of the monastery searching to others, taking the time to catalogue Iovinus and Dismaal left behind, as well as looking closely at the emerald and the trap it was part of.

Sara doesn't seem to notice Zhi's reaction to her boasted dalliance with their defeated foe, busy examining her manicure. "We still haven't decided what to do with that big old lunk in the sewer, but I really wanna try my hand at luring a hippopotamus into his lair, I hear they are dreadful," she says, strangely optimistic about the prospect.

"There's other things we need to do first." Melodie says, finally completing her inventory. "The Rakshasa have done their job and we need to move on them quickly. We need to get a message to Pythareus about his castellan being replaced, and send it when we're just about to hit the house. That way we finish off his network for good. Then we can take the time to train a hippopotomus or whatever it is you want to do Sara. We'll also be negotiating from a position of strength then."

She pauses and then looks at the rest of the group. "Since I can be Jeroth I'm planning on legally transferring all his property in the city to us. That would be the house and maybe the tea shop as well. I can probably be the hag long enough to manage that if need be. Apart form using Waterhill as a base, does anyone have a use for them long term?"

She leaves the others to discuss this and steps away, pulling out the rod of sending to report in.

"Pythareus plans to assassinate Eutropia and frame us. Also he leads false flag attacks to provoke war with Qadira. Is this enough? More leads available." 47 charges left

Sara doesn't seem to notice Zhi's reaction to her boasted dalliance with their defeated foe, busy examining her manicure. "We still haven't decided what to do with that big old lunk in the sewer, but I really wanna try my hand at luring a hippopotamus into his lair, I hear they are dreadful," she says, strangely optimistic about the prospect.

"Give me a day and I could probably conjure one with a spell."

Zileska's offer of help leaves Sara a bit deflated. "Perhaps that's for the best," she concedes. "I mean a summoned critter won't actually lend that big gross guy any strength, it'll poof before too long. We could also kill him, but that seems a bit cruel."

She asks for the tea shop. "It was quite homey, and I love the cats. I've been feeding them every day," she nods, smiling.

Kathann responds to the sending. "Excellent work. It seems a pattern of Pythareus's behavior is forming. One more piece of solid evidence should seal the deal. Keep up your efforts."

***

When the time comes to visit the notaries, Melodie has no problems transferring legal ownership to Waterhill Manor and the Sweet Dreams Tea Shop to your names.

Sara gets the tea shop and Zhi gets the manor then, unless anyone else wants Waterhill?

With her (il)legal business concluded, Melodie returns to the Baths with the rest of the group. "We are now legal owners of the Sweet Dreams Tea shop and Waterhill Manor. Which gives us all the cover required to evict the 'squatters' currently residing there." She says. "I propose we go in tomorrow, fully prepared. The only question is how. I could go in and summon you all with the dagger, or we could simply go straight through the front door. As long as we are quiet either method should work..."

------------
Once the conference is over Melodie takes herself off and sends a request to Bartelby via the sending wand.

PM you Brainiac. :)

Sorry, this may modify some of the later stuff, but Zhi would have said something while the ladies were still at the Monastery ...

"Never mind," Zhi says aloud. "I don't want to know."

"I'm sorry. I don't understand."

Zhi almost seems swayed by Melodie's obvious confusion, but then, it seems, her resolve hardens.

"Don't play innocent. Sara already said that you and her have come here other times," she says looking at Sara for a reaction. "Isn't that what you told me?" she questions the tall woman.

Zhi turns back to her wife. "Or are you going to try and convince me that I imagined that?" she asks with her arms crossed over her chest.

Melodie looks back and forth between the two women, confusion evident on her face before she turns to Sara. "What did you say?" She demands, anger beginning to colour her tone. "You haven't come with me once! If this was meant to be a joke it's not funny!"

Like you could tell if she was lying anyway :P

Aw, I wanted Sara to have f$$!ed the elf

Sara stares quizzically at the pair, nervous. "What's going on with you two? I feel like I'm listening to half a conversation and it's not even one that makes sense."

Zhi glares at Sara.

"Didn't you tell me that you'd already f$#!ed that elf when you and Melodie came here alone? Maybe you two should spend a moment to get your story straight."

The small woman turns and stalks out into the sewers to stand and wait, leaning up against the filthy wall. She reaches up and brushes the tears from her eyes.

Yo I just went back and read the last page, I like genuinely thought Mels had been checking in in person, but nah, she said the monks should send letters to the manor about their progress. Oops

"What's her deal?" Sara mutters to no one in particular.

Technically Melodie should have been checking in in person at least once a week to be able to maintain the deception.

Yo I just went back and read the last page, I like genuinely thought Mels had been checking in in person, but nah, she said the monks should send letters to the manor about their progress. Oops

"What's her deal?" Sara mutters to no one in particular.

And that just makes the whole situation funnier :) Part of the reason I haven't suggested we take over the manor already was telling the assassins to send things there.

"She thinks we're lying to her." Melodie says miserably. "And you are listening to half a conversation. Remember?" She taps the side of her head. "I made a comment about 'Jeroth's body being fully masculine and suddenly she thinks I bought you here for a threesome or something."

She slumps onto one of the library stools. "Could you please tell her the truth - that you didn't come here with me?"

Brainiac did just say that you should have been checking in in person, and if that's the case, all I'm saying is it would make sense for Sara to have come with as muscle at least once or twice, but if this is the route we're going

"You linked your heads together?" Sara squints at Melodie for a long moment before continuing. "You two are weird, Mel. I'm so glad Zhi and I broke up and you and I never did nothing. I don't see how that's romantic, like, my thoughts are my own."

With further prompting, however, she does follow after Zhi, entering as far into the sewer as she is willing, doing her very best to keep her shoes clean.

"Knock knock," she shouts. "Zhi, you okay? What's eating you, girl? Talk about it with me."

Wouldn't have brought anyone if I had any choice about it. Jeroth didn't bring muscle, there's no need for me to. :) Oh well. I blame Zhi :P

Oh, sure, blame the girl swimming in hormones. ;P

With further prompting, however, she does follow after Zhi, entering as far into the sewer as she is willing, doing her very best to keep her shoes clean.

"Knock knock," she shouts. "Zhi, you okay? What's eating you, girl? Talk about it with me."

Zhi glances up and then looks away as the tall woman approaches. One hand reaches up to wipe her face.

"Seriously? You're going to ask me that? You?" she responds with a bitter laugh. "Hey, if you want to f*#* half the girls in the city, that's fine. That's ... that's you. But, Mel ... she's my wife. She said it would be just me." The tears start to fall again. "She's not supposed to ... she said I'd be the only one." She makes another attempt at clearing her eyes. "I should have known. It's all just lies," she concludes with a shake of her head. "Why would anyone want ...?"

She looks down and then takes a moment to check her gear.

"Tell everyone I'll meet them back at the Baths."

She begins walking down the sewers towards the exit.