DM Corerue's Carrion Crown

Game Master DM Corerue

Sour Heck finds the door locked when he moves to check it in the noxious fumes. It must be the doing of the man on the vats...

You still have a move action, Sour.

When the door next to him proves to be locked, Sour Heck ducks back into Grine's room, pulling its door shut behind him.

"Suddenly a hatch full of stirges doesn't sound so bad," he reflects.

GM, is that a window in the back of Grine's room? Is it large enough for people to pass through, and does it open and shut? Is it locked? We explored some previously.

Sour rushes back into the room and slams the door shut, but the man won't seem to give up that easily.

"Can't escape me dearie!" he cackles as the group stays holed up in the room.

They look about the room, but the only other avenue of escape is the ladder. The tiny industrial window on the wall has been painted over and its doubtful that even a halfling could squeeze through.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck
2nd: Mysterious Stranger
3rd: Eloise; Peredur; Iesha

Peredur climbs the ladder to check the trapdoor for anything suspicious before opening it.

Perception check (add +2 if looking for traps): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Peredur scales the ladder and sees that there is a magical trap affixed to the trapdoor. He knows that it will take him at least Rounds: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8 eight rounds to disable the device.

Ow. One more reason that archaeobards kind of pwn vanilla rogues--halving the time to disable a trap is a pretty big deal.

"It's a fiendish hard trap I'm finding here--we'll needs have to stand and fight!"

"Might as well start working on it--that cackler might not come through that door after us. And if he does, well, at least we'll die with our lungs full. Of air, hopefully, not blood."

Iesha and Eloise are caught off-guard by the sudden movement as Peredur begins to try and disable the lock and Sour Heck guards him.

Sour Heck listens for the approach of the man(?) but it seems as if the person disappeared into nothingness.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck
2nd: Mysterious Stranger
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 1/8; Iesha

Waiting for Sour Heck... ^_^

Sour Heck gets the unusually somber look on his face that tells people who know him that he's thought of a joke and is waiting for the right moment to spring it.

Sour Heck readies an action to begin an Inspire Courage performance right when a teammate makes an attack.

Eloise waits for Sour Heck who waits for others to act as the group seems paralyzed by fear and inaction.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Ready Inspire
2nd: Mysterious Stranger
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 1/8; Iesha

The ranger continues to work feverishly on the trap, his attention focused on its intricacies.

"Nuts to this!" Eloise growls. "Cover me!"

The Magus strides to the door, chanting. As she opens it, she finishes the incantation -- and launches three darts of magical energy at the stranger!

Magic missile for 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 2) + 3 = 10 unerring force damage.

Sour Heck begins to Inspire as Eloise opens the door and launches a salvo of attacks while Peredur continues to try and disable the trap. Iesha stands around dumbfounded.

Eloise sees that the man was actually creeping closer to the door and blasts him. He recoils, but laughs. "Thanks for that. Thought I'd have to come after you." The Magic Missiles seem to have been intercepted by a protective force.

He leaps back 5' and tosses a bomb into the room, to scorch everyone.

Bomb @ Eloise-11 TAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Fire Damage: 3d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 1, 4) + 5 = 11
8 damage to Iesha and Sour Heck; DC 18 Reflex Saves to halve.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Mysterious Stranger
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 2/8; Iesha

Status:
Peredur @ 28/44 HP
Eloise @ 22/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 41/41 HP *
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 27/33 HP*
*=8 Pending Bomb Damage

Grr... Sorry, guys. >_<

Take your action, Eloise...I think you go before Peredur, and his action will depend on yours.

Reflex Versus Bomb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Scorched by the firey blast, Sour Heck gives Eloise a pained look. "You might want to close that door--you're letting in a draft."'

The bard then scurries around until he can see their foe. "Oh, hello again! I imagine you're wondering who we are and what we're doing here. Funny story, really...it reminds me of a joke. کتے نے میری کوئی ناک ہے. ناسیکا نہیں ہے وہ بھانپنا کیسے بہت بر ہے!

Sour Heck maintains his performance, moves, and casts Hideous Laughter (Will DC 15) at the Mysterious Stranger.

Will Save @ DC 15: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 4 = 15 Whew! Close! +4 to the save since he is not a Humanoid.

The creature thinks about laughing, but then the punchline doesn't quite land like the creature thought it would, so it shrugs. "I don't get it..."

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Mysterious Stranger
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 2/8; Iesha

Status:
Peredur @ 28/44 HP
Eloise @ 22/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 33/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 27/33 HP*
*=8 Pending Bomb Damage

Still here, waiting on Eloise.

"Better yuck it up now, while you still can," Eloise says as she takes a single, ponderous step forward -- and then she becomes a sudden streak of darkness and colour. Images of the Magus blur the air between her and the stranger, and then she stands beyond the man -- and her blade is gently ending a vicious arc. Gore drips from the sword's night-black edge. "You might not be able to for much longer."

Knowledge (arcana) to check whether this is some kind of flesh golem (the stitching) 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17.
Eloise casts Bladed Dash and ends her movement beyond the stranger so he can be flanked. Attack roll: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 30 for 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 13 damage. If Shocking grasp is still active, add 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 5, 2, 1) = 16 electricity damage. If Eloise has determined this to be some kind of golem, she might dismiss the electricity damage if she has determined it to be counterproductive.

Time to get flanking!

Iesha shakes her head, recovering from some sort of distraction....and casts Prayer, calling on Shelyn to aid the group in their srtuggle against evil.

40' burst; You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a -1 penalty on such rolls.

Hey, if Iesha acts before Sour Heck, does the enemy miss his save because of prayer?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Eloise thinks that the stitching is reminiscent of flesh golems, but isn't sure what the beast is, but know for a fact that it isn't human. Still, this doesn't deter her as she leaps over the empty space above the vats to the small walkway to combat the creature, cutting into it with her sword.

@Peredur: Normally, I would order things in favor of the party, but the save was resolved nearly 18 hours before Iesha posted and the Hideous Laughter post was nearly 24 hours after your turn started. Not going to dial it back that far in real time. That being said, if we can get up to a post a day, then I'm all for giving the PCs the benefit of the doubt on action economy.

Iesha drops a blast of holy magic to bolster her friends and hinder her foes as she tries to dodge the blast from the bomb.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

She fails and is singed by the bomb for her efforts as Peredur continues to work away at the trap on the door.

The bombmaker quickly tumbles back, away from Eloise, and lobs a bomb at her, looking to burn her down quickly.

Bomb - Prayer: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 - 1 = 11
Damage - Prayer: 3d6 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 5 - 1 = 10

The bomb blasts Eloise, barely, injuring the woman further. "You sure you want to go toe-to-toe with me missy?" he chuckles as he sees her clothes burned by his bomb and a nice charring of her skin from the impact of both explosives.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Mysterious Stranger @ 14
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha

Status:
Peredur @ 28/44 HP
Eloise @ 12/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 33/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 19/33 HP

@Peredur: Everyone posted in one day. Not going to lose this momentum! If you want to do something besides disable, then take two round worth of actions, though one move action will be to climb down the 10' ladder you are one.

"It's another damn flesh golem of some sort!" Eloise shouts to the others.

To the creature itself, she sneers. "Getting burned won't stop me anymore than being cut, bitten or hit..."

Abruptly, Eloise charges the stranger, ramming her shoulder into his chest in an attempt to knock him off the walkway and into the vats below.

Desperate action time. Bull rush: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 2 = 25 I'm counting on all y'all to save me if this fails... ^^;

Peredur gives up on his attempt and drops to the ground, then follows Eloise out onto the balcony while drawing his bow. As the strange creature retreats from Eloise, he draws and fires at it.

Arrow to oddity, incl. prayer & inspiration: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 23
Damage, if applicable, incl. prayer & inspiration: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Edited to add Sour Heck's inspire courage.

Cupping his hands, Sour Heck shouts at the mysterious stranger, "It's funny because the وہ بھانپنا کیسے بہت بر ہے doesn't know that the ناسیکا نہیں ہے is really کتے نے میری کوئی ناک ہ!" The bard rolls his eyes. "I hate having to explain the blasphemous comedy of ancient civilizations."

Sour Heck tries the Hideous Laughter again, now that there's a Prayer of it working. He also maintains his inspire courage performance, and as a move action, unfurls the society's banner.

Party buffs: +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage (+2 competence from Inspire Courage, +1 morale from Flagbearer); +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects (from Inspire Courage). Please add the Flagbearer bonuses as appropriate to Eloise's and Peredur's actions.

@Iesha: I have no idea what resources you have left. Can you update your header to be like Sour Heck or Peredur with remaining spells so I can bot you?

@Eloise: I see that you don't have Imp. Bull Rush, so you provoke and "Unless otherwise noted, performing a combat maneuver provokes an attack of opportunity from the target of the maneuver. If you are hit by the target, you take the damage normally and apply that amount as a penalty to the attack roll to perform the maneuver."

Sour Heck continues to Inspire as he unfurls his banner, trying to bolster his compatriots even further as Peredur slams an arrow into the man.

Eloise charges at the man, which opens her up to an attack. The man swings his heavy mace at the girl as she charges.

Heavy Mace @ Eloise-15 AC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Fort Save against Poison.

The blow to her shoulder sends her veering off course, but she is able to recover before tumbling into the vats, however she collapses on the planks from the wound, barely holding on.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Mysterious Stranger @ 19
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha

Status:
Peredur @ 28/44 HP
Eloise-Bleeding Out @ -1/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 33/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 19/33 HP

GM, did you remember the penalty to hit and to damage for prayer? Also, don't forget that Sour Heck tried hideous laughter again.

Good points! Adding a tagline for existing magical effects so I don't forget!

Will Save @ DC 15: 1d20 + 8 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 4 - 1 = 19

The man overcomes the joke once more as Eloise seems to be playing dead, though she is awfully close. The stumble was just from the slam of the heavy mace, however it did cause her to miss her attempt to knock the man from the planks.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Mysterious Stranger @ 19
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha

Status:
Peredur @ 28/44 HP
Eloise-Staggered @ 0/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 33/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 19/33 HP

Current Magic Effects:
Prayer: +1 to allies; -1 to enemies

Fort save vs poison 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Fort save to stay conscious 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Eloise, don't forget the prayer, and at 0 HP you don't have to roll to stay conscious.

"What kind of creature doesn't laugh at a joke that leaves a manticore in stitches?" the bard mutters.

Knowledge check on what kind of creature we face, assuming it can be recognized by Knowledge: Arcana, Dungeoneering, Local, Nature or Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

"Well, if this is going to end badly, best get it over with quickly," Heck philosophizes. He draws his longsword with his free hand, then rushes into the vat room, waving the society's banner with his other hand.

Fort save vs. the vapors in the air. If the vapors are poison, add another +4 for the antitoxin Heck drank. I don't know the DC or the penalty if the roll fails: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Shaking his head in disbelief at his own foolishness, the bard dashes out on the planks, advancing swiftly to engage the stranger.

Acrobatics check to hop from plank to plank. Thank god for Prayer, and masterwork armor: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Sour Heck activates Arcane Strike as a swift action. This time, the bard's blade seems to wake to cruel life more quickly in response to his whispers.

Masterwork longsword to the face: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
TO THE FACE: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Party buffs: +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage (+2 competence from Inspire Courage, +1 morale from Flagbearer); +2 morale to saves versus fear and charm effects (from Inspire Courage). Inspire Courage will last 2 more rounds thanks to Lingering Performance.

Peredur switches to sword and shield, then drops to the plank and prepares to move in.

Fort save, incl. prayer: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13

@Eloise: You are staggered, not bleeding out. You still get a standard action.

Sour Heck recognizes that this creature is not a human, but a skin stealer. It is a rare form of fey that will harvest the skin of its victims and don them to ensnare others. Skin stealers are fey bent on destruction and gruesome murder. When left to their own devices, these gangly beings are unpredictable and spontaneous; when assigned duties from some higher, stronger power, however, skin stealers prove adept at performing complex assassinations and spy work. They don't have any traditional fey defenses or weaknesses (no DR/Cold Iron).

Either way, the man leaps on to the planks and moves to strike the man, navigating the wobbly wooden supports and strikes what must be Vorkstag in the face as Peredur readies to enter the dangerous area of the planks and vats.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Vorkstag @ 29
3rd: Eloise; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha

Status:
Peredur @ 28/44 HP
Eloise-Staggered @ 0/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 33/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 19/33 HP

Current Magic Effects:
Prayer: +1 to allies; -1 to enemies

Potion of CLW 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

While her opponent is - hopefully! - distracted by the others' attack, Eloise quaffs a healing draught.

Is that enough to un-stagger me and get me back both standard and move?

@Eloise: Well, it would be except you would have to draw the potion (move) and drink (standard) which you can't do while staggered.

Eloise draws forth the potion as she steps back a few steps on the wobbling planks, hoping to drink it before she is bombed once more.

Iesha steps forward, however, and blasts the area with all of her strength, collapsing to the floor from the effort.

Channel Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6) = 16

This blast of healing energy heals everyone back to perfect health with the exception of Eloise.

Vorkstag growls as he steps back along the rim of the vat with practiced ease before chucking another bomb. This time, the target seems to be Sour Heck's face.

Bomb @ Sour Heck-10 TAC: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 1 = 24
Fire Damage: 3d6 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (6, 1, 3) + 5 - 1 = 14
DC 18 Reflex from Eloise to halve the fire damage. (7/3)

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring
2nd: Vorkstag @ 29
3rd: Eloise-Holding Potion in One Hand; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha-Prone

Status:
Peredur @ 44/44 HP
Eloise @ 16/43 HP*
Sour Heck @ 27/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 33/33 HP

*=Pending Damage (7/3)

Current Magic Effects:
Prayer: +1 to allies; -1 to enemies (Luck)
Inspire Courage: +2 to attack/damage/certain saves (Morale: Saves; Competence: Other)
Flagbearer: +1 to attack/damage (Morale)

Eloise raises one hand against Vorkstag and unleashes a blast of magical flame, angled so as not to strike her comrades!

Burning hands for 5d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 2, 2) = 12 fire damage, reflex DC 15 for half. If possible, Eloise gulps down the potion.

Peredur picks his way slowly across the rickety planks, then cuts at the evil fey. "And what might th' link be 'tween you and th' folk of Karb Isle?"

Longsword to skin stealer, incl. prayer, banner, and inspire: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 23
Damage, incl. prayer, banner, and inspire: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 12

"From the look and smell of him, I'd say their graveyard is where he shops for clothes," Eloise snarks.

Iesha, weakened but persisting, attempts a shot with her crossbow.

attack lt crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 for (hopefully) lt crossbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

"You and your ally will have your reign of evil halted here and now!"

that will be a lot more convincing if I actually hit... ;)

Peredur-Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
1d4 ⇒ 1

Peredur leaps forward as he asks about Karb Isle, but is unready for the danger of the planks. He steps out over the planks and quickly falls prone on them, ruining his chance to attack the fey.

@Eloise: Since your hands are full, you cannot cast the spell. Potion in one hand, sword in another. Drinking the potion is a standard action.

Iesha stands up and fires off a shot from her crossbow but it goes wide after whizzing by Eloise's head.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring (2/3)
2nd: Vorkstag @ 29
3rd: Eloise-Holding Potion in One Hand; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha-Prone

Status:
Peredur @ 44/44 HP
Eloise @ 16/43 HP*
Sour Heck @ 27/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 33/33 HP

*=Pending Damage (7/3)

Current Magic Effects:
Prayer: +1 to allies; -1 to enemies (Luck)
Inspire Courage: +2 to attack/damage/certain saves (Morale: Saves; Competence: Other)
Flagbearer: +1 to attack/damage (Morale)

Eloise gulps down the potion and stands ready for further combat.

Full defence. Potion for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

@Eloise: Total Defense and drinking a potion are both standard actions and you still have a pending Reflex save.

Did moving at half-speed help at all with the Acrobatics roll? (Not that a three base is going to get me anywhere...also, where did Peredur fall?)

No listed bonus on the Acrobatics for half-speed in this instance and you just fell to the planks (prone) right by the outer walkway. (Your token should be where you fell.)

OK, thanks. Seems weird that your movement speed doesn't matter.

Reflex 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3. Potion me...

Might be an oversight as they usually do include that language, but nothing this time for some reason.

Eloise steps back after eating the full blast of the bomb's splash. She quickly downs the potion to heal the damage.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck - Inspiring (2/3)
2nd: Vorkstag @ 29
3rd: Eloise-Holding Potion in One Hand; Peredur-Diabling 3/8; Iesha-Prone

Status:
Peredur @ 44/44 HP
Eloise @ 18/43 HP
Sour Heck @ 27/41 HP
Iesha (3 Strength Damage) @ 33/33 HP

Current Magic Effects:
Prayer: +1 to allies; -1 to enemies (Luck)
Inspire Courage: +2 to attack/damage/certain saves (Morale: Saves; Competence: Other)
Flagbearer: +1 to attack/damage (Morale)

How often do we have to save vs. fumes? Does the skin stealer?

Sour Heck feigns a tremor in his sword hand as he regards the fey creature across the vat. "I'm trying to think of a way to chop you up without damaging that skin...because it's not your skin, is it, 'Vorkstag'? Did the real Vorkstag put up a fight when you flayed it from him? How long have you been wearing his face, fairy?"

Hoping his foe is surprised and distracted to be recognized, Sour Heck lunges across the vat at him, coaxing more sinister whispers from his blade as he attacks.

5' step on the vat edge towards the skin stealer, activate Arcane Strike as a swift action, then a melee attack with his masterwork longsword.

Acrobatics to cross planks: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Okay, that doesn't look good. Did Heck fall too? If so, disregard the following:

Masterwork longsword attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
MLA damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
...crit confirm?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
MLA crit damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

This would be a really good time for Sour Heck to crit for the first time ever. :) Last round of Lingering Performance, btw.