DMDM's Strange Aeons

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Whispering over to Fritz and Ghelik,

'Ask her for her name ... and how she got in here. This could be a trick or a trap."

Casts Detect Magic discreetly from cover behind the Paladin and Rogue, then steps 5' over for a clear look and focuses on the woman.

DM_DM already said no evil back in 1028.

Earthquake...that could explain all the destruction we've seen so far. And possibly that shaking we felt earlier in the dungeon."

We listen to your flavor text, we swear it!

Mrakala will move further into the room. "You look fine woman! We have a healer here, she might be able to help you. Now, please answer our questions. Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you come to be here? What killed that creature over there?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Because he's pushy and obviously smarter than everyone else, he's not going to wait for someone far more qualified to do the talking.

Maybe you two dated in a past life. You know Charm Person right?

Nope.

Kyleen, trying to impose herself between the woman and the charismatically challenged members of the party, attempts to get more information from her.
We can help you. But, we need to know what happened to this skinwalker. Who slit its throat, and why did the creature allow it to happen. And, more importantly, if it was not you, where is the person who did this. The body was blocking the door from within, this would make it impossible for the person to have left the room if it were not you.

DM_DM already said no evil back in 1028.

Yea wasn't sure if it might be different w light is all[/ooc]

Perception for surroundings now we have light and for roof and possiblly beyond: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

DMDM made a Perception on the other page, and cast Detect Magic from cover then moved forward, looking at the woman and focusing for about 2 rounds now.

If this woman is really a damsel in distress, we suck as rescuers.

Earthquake...that could explain all the destruction we've seen so far. And possibly that shaking we felt earlier in the dungeon."

We listen to your flavor text, we swear it!

Mrakala will move further into the room. "You look fine woman! We have a healer here, she might be able to help you. Now, please answer our questions. Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you come to be here? What killed that creature over there?"

[dice=Diplomacy]1d20-1

Because he's pushy and obviously smarter than everyone else, he's not going to wait for someone far more qualified to do the talking.

Mrakala's rapid-fire questions reduce the poor woman to complete incoherence. "No... didn't do anything... please don't hurt me"

We can help you. But, we need to know what happened to this skinwalker. Who slit its throat, and why did the creature allow it to happen. And, more importantly, if it was not you, where is the person who did this. The body was blocking the door from within, this would make it impossible for the person to have left the room if it were not you.

The old woman looks terrified (and, let's note, still in a lot of pain -- there's obviously something very wrong with her leg), but Kyleen's gentler approach gets some response: "Hiding... always hiding... I heard a girl... but I was afraid..." She shakes her head. "I don't want to see the girl. Please don't hurt me!"

don't worry we won't hurt ye. Someone help the poor women, me an Fritz will make sure there ain't no funny business.

Nod to Fritz for the two of us to flank the women while someone with a heal skill attends to her.

Yordan splashes forward through the water to examine the woman.

Heal check to examine her: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

"Tell me where it hurts."

Also Perception and Sense Motive to see if anything is abnormal or suspicious about her: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22, 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

He is very conscious of how easy it would be to use the spring-loaded dagger in his wrist sheath... Maybe she isn't another doctor. Maybe she isn't. What can we trust in here?

Fritz moves into position, just in case.

Kyleen squats down next to the woman.
I do not have any healing skills, but my companions can help you. Now, tell me about this girl. Did she kill this skinwalker? How did she make the creature put down its defenses?

Yordan examines the woman closely, then looks around for a while, and then draws a deep breath.

"This leg is days old. I don't think she's been able to move very far since then. Probably just about immobilized. But some of the movement around her -- ransacked drawers, muddy tracks, that sort of thing -- seems to have happened since the earthquake."

He looks down at her. "So why didn't the ransacker, or ransackers, do something about you? Or... did they?" He pulls his right hand back, holding it tensely about a foot from the woman -- just enough room for a dagger blade to fit in, if his now-empty hand were grasping one.

Vitæ Somnium wrote:

Perception for surroundings now we have light and for roof and possiblly beyond: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

DMDM made a Perception on the other page, and cast Detect Magic from cover then moved forward, looking at the woman and focusing for about 2 rounds now.

If this woman is really a damsel in distress, we suck as rescuers.

Reminder

Kyleen squats down next to the woman.

I do not have any healing skills, but my companions can help you. Now, tell me about this girl. Did she kill this skinwalker? How did she make the creature put down its defenses?

"I... I just heard talking... I heard a girl... I don't want to see her!"

"This leg is days old. I don't think she's been able to move very far since then. Probably just about immobilized. But some of the movement around her -- ransacked drawers, muddy tracks, that sort of thing -- seems to have happened since the earthquake."

He looks down at her. "So why didn't the ransacker, or ransackers, do something about you? Or... did they?" He pulls his right hand back, holding it tensely about a foot from the woman -- just enough room for a dagger blade to fit in, if his now-empty hand were grasping one.

1d20 ⇒ 3 The old woman cowers away from you, obviously terrified.

Oy, leave it be, the woman's hurt n scared. to Yordan.

To the woman, Don't worry, Yordan's a bit on edge ye see, all these horrible things running around here. We'll get you fixed and to safety.

Just to check, but we did try detect magic on her right? I think change shape shows up as magical with that?

Just to check, but we did try detect magic on her right? I think change shape shows up as magical with that?

For the record, this is where I diverge from What The Designers Say. The RAW is rather vague and general, but if you go with what James Jacobs, et al, have written then Detect Magic is already painfully overpowered for a spammable cantrip. It can be used to detect the presence of invisible creatures, can effectively detect illusions, and can detect shapechangers, even powerful ones like rakshasa and succubi.

I don't agree with this interpretation. So, FYI -- Detect Magic does not necessarily detect shapechangers IMC. (I mean, really. They'd be pretty completely pointless if it did.)

Works for me! Illusions are under-used anyway. The best interpretation for them is that they don't reveal to detect magic and they must be interacted with to get a save.

Works for me likewise.

Even if I am (almost) convinced this is another doppleganger.

"I... I just heard talking... I heard a girl... I don't want to see her!"

Nameless silently stands and approaches the group huddled around the fallen woman, holding the magically lit spear to illuminate the room. You heard talking? I sometimes hear talking, too. What was the voice you heard talking about? Are you ... Before? She Who Hears Voices squats down, and looks directly at the injured woman, gauging her reaction.

Fugue Recall(Sense Motive/low): 1d100 ⇒ 40

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 >_<

DMDM Fair enough. Would you please clarify what Detect Magic can detect when in use then?

Illusion? A magic item on an individual?

- -

Hearing the Oracle's perfect question, Vitæ see's if there is recognition in the face of the woman to the term "Before."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

detect magic has never detected illusions in any of my games. Using it to detect invisible creatures was possible but likely almost useless except for possibly making them move and give themselves away.

"We can't carry the woman nor can we trust her. To assuage anyone's guilty conscience, we can set her leg. However, I don't advise anything else. She seems to in shock to provide us with any useful information."

Was the doppleganger wearing anything by the way? if so, did we loot him? Let's loot him.

Glancing to the director door, Mrakala frowns. "Shall we investigate the director's room?"

"We can't carry the woman nor can we trust her. To assuage anyone's guilty conscience, we can set her leg. However, I don't advise anything else. She seems to in shock to provide us with any useful information."

Well, setting her leg would require a Heal check by someone. Assistance is possible.

Was the doppleganger wearing anything by the way? if so, did we loot him? Let's loot him.

Nobody wanted to touch the body, so no. Are you volunteering?

...Yeah, sure...let's see what happens.

Mrakala, not having any useful healing skills, moves to the body and checks its pockets.

Yordan, though still suspicious, sets the woman's leg.

Take 10 on Heal check, with kit, for 18

...Yeah, sure...let's see what happens.

Mrakala, not having any useful healing skills, moves to the body and checks its pockets.

Nothing. Either it had nothing, or someone else got there first.

@ the woman, his voice changing and becoming less course, almost a young man's voice, What is your name? Don't worry, we won't leave you here to die.

Are you with the others, that have the hallway blocked and guarding it from the Shapechangers?

Can you tell us anything about what is going on here...we can't seem to remember much.

Nobody wanted to touch the body, so no. Are you volunteering?

Technically, the oracle touched it. "Nobody reads my flavor text." -DMDM

Seeing the woman is too incoherent or overwhelmed to respond to her questions, Nameless looks to her leg.

Heal(assist): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9 If we choose to do so.

DMDM did you see my last 2 posts, thanks.

A stray memory?

A vision?

A Dream perhaps.

Vitæ's finger pulls a fraction of a breath towards himself, and the room's chatter is joined by the sound of a bolt in flight.

I would think the 'old woman thing' is flat footed and call this a surprise?

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

damage plus Painful Stare: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"It hates us!"

She's not flat-footed -- she was alert for something like this. So, you guys roll initiative in the surprise round.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Okay. Well then...

The "old lady" changes shape fast -- it happens literally in the blink of an eye. One moment she's cringing and whimpering, the next thick, grey, muscular tentacles are wrapping around Yordan.

1d20 ⇒ 18

Okay, so first the good news: that's just a grapple, so no actual damage has been inflicted on Yordan yet. -- Yordan, you were just setting its "broken leg" when that leg went boneless, grew a hand at the end, and grabbed your arms. The thing is now wrapped around you.

Less good: (1) The thing is able to use Yordan as cover now. That means any attack on it has a flat 20% chance of missing it and hitting the ranger. (2) The thing's face has peeled back to reveal a gaping maw like a shark's, pink and filled with several rows of triangular teeth.

Yet when it speaks, it's still in that same old-lady voice. "Hold hold now, sweet Befores! Doctor Latchke has a very important lesson for you!" The huge wet mouth hovers over Yordan's face.

DMDM, I don't think you can ready an action when not in combat. Weird but one of those rules. Can Vitæ make a Bluff check to get a surprise at least?

That was the surprise round. If you can beat an 11 on initiative, you can act. Vitae, you'll keep your 22 init. Do note that if you attack it and don't kill it, it looks ready to bite Yordan's face off once its initiative comes around.

Metagame note: if you've been checking the entry on doppelgangers... don't jump to any conclusions. It'd be pretty boring if they were predictable and all the same, don't you think?

Everything I know from Doppelgängers I know from 1st and 2nd Ed. I'm not opening the Bestiary, ruins the fun scares.

3rd / PF nerfed them a bit. The 1e version could induce truly cripping levels of paranoia. Good times.

Slight tangent: I was inspired to come back to PBP and run this particular AP because I ran a short Lovecraft-based campaign that was a tremendous amount of fun. Well, a tremendous amount of fun for me. Most of the PCs died. But the players also seemed to have fun!

Anyway, I mention this because it was FTF - tabletop using the 5e rules. And one of the players was a relative newbie who decided to compensate for his lack of gaming experience by reading the Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, and DMG very carefully. Bless his heart.

So they're nearing the final session, down in the basement of the museum, near the pulsing heart of the madness, the portal to Aucturn torn open by the mysterious artifact unearthed from the tomb. And they've been dealing with a lot of fungal-themed craziness, because the Fungi From Yuggoth Aucturn have been basically playing Lego with human and animal body parts plus the odd bits of this and that lying around the museum's basement, all glued together with fungus.

And now, as they approach the final room, the door swings open... and into the room slides a pygmy- or halfling-sized idol from the Mwangi Expanse, its dark wood covered with alien mold, its head removed and replaced with a pulsing human brain, also covered with mold. The idol is legless, but it's sitting on a bronze shield, using it like a sled. The shield/sled is being pulled by half a dozen rats like little sled dogs. Each rat has been infected by an alien fungus and has a mushroom growing where its brain should be. Long strands of fungal filaments connect rats, sled, idol and brain together, entwining them into a single composite organism.

So when I'm done describing this, there are several seconds of silence... and then New Guy suddenly bursts out, "That's not in the f!#%ing Monster Manual!"

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 Mrakala always acts in a surprise round

Mrakala spins on his heel, lifting one hand as a vision of horror crosses his face. "Watch out! It's going to attack!" he cries as he flings a Daze at the creature.

Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

What the . . .

Kyleen jumps back from the creature with a shriek.

You will not scare us. We shall defeat you as we did the horrid doctor.

Begin Inspire Courage

"Ahhh, the ol' broken-leg-to-ropy-arm-switcharoo!"

"<sigh> Will you please not?"

Yordan, should I just pullohhwhatthe- Nameless scrambles backwards, crab walking away from the Shifter. She stands with her spear readied to STAB. NO! No more rippling!

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 Oooo.

Mrakala always acts in a surprise round

Mrakala spins on his heel, lifting one hand as a vision of horror crosses his face. "Watch out! It's going to attack!" he cries as he flings a Daze at the creature.

The old lady thing will get a -2 on its save on top of the DC.

"It hates us!"

And now, as they approach the final room, the door swings open... and into the room slides a pygmy- or halfling-sized idol from the Mwangi Expanse, its dark wood covered with alien mold, its head removed and replaced with a pulsing human brain, also covered with mold. The idol is legless, but it's sitting on a bronze shield, using it like a sled. The shield/sled is being pulled by half a dozen rats like little sled dogs. Each rat has been infected by an alien fungus and has a mushroom growing where its brain should be. Long strands of fungal filaments connect rats, sled, idol and brain together, entwining them into a single composite organism.

So when I'm done describing this, there are several seconds of silence... and then New Guy suddenly bursts out, "That's not in the f%~@ing Monster Manual!"

The first part of that is horrifying. The second reminds me of a couple of our IRL players.

Yordan spasms in fear as the leg begins to shift beneath his hands.

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Will save to put myself in danger: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

"AIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!

Will save failed by more than 5. Yordan cowers.