DMDM's Strange Aeons

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Do I help Yordan, or turn it into chopped meat?
The dice roll in Ghelik's head.
1-50 assist break grapple or 51-100 attack: 1d100 ⇒ 43

Yordan I will help ya!

Will assist in breaking the grapple next round.

Mental 1 (DC 15 Will Save): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Backing to the wall, and white-knuckling her spear, Nameless moves outside the reach of the shapeshifter. She stays back where she can see both the shifter and the doorway. No more rippling. No more rippling. Auuuugh ... Her words trail into a sob as tears stream down her face.

"Just leave him to his fate, dear. He was too slow."

Through grimace and gritted teeth: SHUT. UP.

EXCELLENT USE OF NATURAL 20 INITIATIVE. Too bad I didn't remember the will save first ... c'est la vie.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 Init

Puckering Platypi! A cynical man would say we should just start stabbing everything.

I think I go before the thing

1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 - 1 = 12 for 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 = 11

Fritz thrusts his blade toward the hag

1d100 ⇒ 96 high is good for me, I do not hit Yordin

1d20+1 Init

Puckering Platypi! A cynical man would say we should just start stabbing everything.

I think I go before the thing

1d20+3-1 for 1d8+2+2

Fritz thrusts his blade toward the hag

1d100 high is good for me, I do not hit Yordin

With a 12, you're not going to hit much of anything.

Whoops, have to roll that Daze save against Mrakala. (That "always act in the surprise round" thing is pretty sweet.)

1d20 ⇒ 19

Fritz Fritzman wrote:

1d20+1 Init

Puckering Platypi! A cynical man would say we should just start stabbing everything.

I think I go before the thing

1d20+3-1 for 1d8+2+2

Fritz thrusts his blade toward the hag

1d100 high is good for me, I do not hit Yordin

With a 12, you're not going to hit much of anything.

Don't forget Fritz that you have the flank, so it is a 14. The creature also has the grappled condition so it is easier to hit so that might make a difference.

YEA 14! Grappled! That means Fritz wins!

...huh: actually, flanking plus grappled (-4 Dex / -2 AC) means he *does* hit.

So, how are you getting 7 + 2 + 2 damage? 2 for strength, 1 for Vitae's Stare...?

EDIT: I see, it's 2 + 1 Stare + 1 Inspire. So, 11 points. Very good.

Okay, everyone has gone except Mrakala (who acted in the surprise round and so gets to go again in Round 1). Mrakala?

Talking is a free action.

"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!! The shears! The shears!"

The shearing jaws, that is. Yordan is not thinking very clearly right now. Plus he needs at least one rank in Profession: Elocution Under Stress.

Seeing the nightmare come to being, Vitæ passes his hand through the air, sand trailing in patterns and the Mesmerist focuses past the others to meet the creature's 'face'.

Stepping to where he can get a better vantage point while not blocking the others, he draws his sword cane.

This round, cast Daze DC 14, - 2 to save. Move 5' step closer to set up possible flank next round, draw weapon as move action.

Can we use the charge action or does the water prevent or make this more difficult.

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 12

The wizard moves forward a few steps and hurls a net over the creature grappling Yordan.
As a random side, he did say he pulled it out and had it in hand like...forever ago when first entering the room.

Net Touch: 1d20 - 4 - 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) - 4 - 4 + 1 + 1 = 7 vs touch AC -4 for non proficiency, -4 for ranged attack in melee, +1 for inspire courage.

On hit, the doppleganger is entangled.

And that hits nothing...probably.

Talking is a free action.

"AAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!! The shears! The shears!"

The shearing jaws, that is. Yordan is not thinking very clearly right now. Plus he needs at least one rank in Profession: Elocution Under Stress.

Chuckle.

This round, cast Daze DC 14, - 2 to save. Move 5' step closer to set up possible flank next round, draw weapon as move action.

Can we use the charge action or does the water prevent or make this more difficult.

No charging. The creature is already flanked. And here's its save against your Daze: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Well: The creature's gaping maw hovers motionless over Yordan's screaming face! Everyone has one additional round to act. Have at it.

Weirdly, the jaws halt, wavering. Someone is giving me a second chance. Yordan tries desperately to act.

Will save in danger: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Yes! Hand flexes, spring-loaded dagger coming into his hand.

You can use light weapons in a grapple.

Not enough room to stab, but maybe a slash, inspired and boosted by Vitae's stare.

Dagger: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16 for 1d4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 5

Assist breaking grapple w/flank 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10 Yordan gets a +2 to his opposed grapple if he so chooses to take it.

Ghelik kicks the creature in an attempt to distract it, Quick, try to get out of it's grasp so we can get a clear attack on it!

...huh: actually, flanking plus grappled (-4 Dex / -2 AC) means he *does* hit.

So, how are you getting 7 + 2 + 2 damage? 2 for strength, 1 for Vitae's Stare...?

EDIT: I see, it's 2 + 1 Stare + 1 Inspire. So, 11 points. Very good.

Actually I forgot stare and inspire so it should be 7+2 STR +2 power attack+1+1 for inspire and stare

Mental 1 (DC 15 Will Save): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 Next round (in)action.

The oracle, whimpering, shrinks back towards the doorway - away from the monstrous Rippler. Whispers seem to rise in the air around her, a susurrus of cruel barbs and laughter.

Unsure what else to do, Kyleen finds a broken piece of material from the broken wall, and throws it at the creature, hoping to distract it and assist Yordan.

Aid Another: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
--> +2 to Yordan's AC, pretty sure also helps CMD

I know that Aid Another requires an actual attack, just like the description I used. Consider it a regular Aid Another.

Actually I forgot stare and inspire so it should be 7+2 STR +2 power attack+1+1 for inspire and stare

If you're using PA, you should announce it. Or is it the default for your attacks?

Also, you have another attack now.

Also Vitae has a Round 2 action.

that will be my default. I will announce when I turn it off

Fritz plunges his blade down again, trying to end the evil

1d20 + 3 - 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 1 + 1 + 2 = 20 for 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 7

Bodacious Beetles! This thing is hard to kill!

Free Action

Vitæ has maintained eye contact with the salivating Nightmare since it revealed itself.

"Why are you here?! You are not of this place."

DMDM for the sake of the story element can Vitæ ask the question and ready an action to cast? I would like to hear the answer or cast BEFORE the old lady Thing makes a threatening action against Yordan, the ready action goes off. If you don't want to do that assume I cast on my Initiative.

Vitæ will then say in a tongue from the Dreamlands,

"Three Skinwalkers leave the Dreaming to take over the world entire ..."

Cast Hideous Laughter either on my Initiative or as a ready action as described above. DC 15, - 2 to roll.

Kyleen discontinues her comments about the creatures tentacles, but the mirth continues to increase the parties morale, and attacks, for a few moments.

Discontinue Inspire Courage - Lingering Performance continues for 2 rounds.

This is a terrible place. Seriously. It is not longer funny.

Fritz's damage is enough to kill the thing! It lets out a weird, fluting wail, releases Yordan and tries to slither away, but it only gets a yard or two before it thrashes and then goes limp.

Upon death, it turns into another grey thing, much like the last two.

Vitae, I'll let you keep the spell.

Okay! Yordan is a bit traumatized, but otherwise you came through that rather well. Now what?

Yordan gasps sobbing breaths of relief. "That was far too close. I must -- we must -- be the hunters, not the prey. I should have stabbed her first." He looks up after a moment. "Thank you Fritz, thank you all."

Search the Thing's body for anything interesting, and then over the rest of the room, particularly the desks, for anything interesting or useful.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"I think we should check the door there -- it probably leads to the director's office. Then maybe we should see about getting our dead bodies and showing those guards that we aren't monsters. I think this is three of them. Even if it means we have to go back down into that pit. We have to rest sooner or later."

"I have no desire to crawl back down that chute into the pit of corpses. Let's look around up here first."

Fritz and I can go down and recovr' the last body. We have the rope...hopefully we won't run into anythin else back down there. he grips his weapons strongly as he thinks about the shapeshifters...

"I - I can go down with you," Yordan says. I have to face my fears. I cannot let myself be paralyzed. "Unless you need me to hold the rope or something." He looks doubtfully at Mrakala's muscles, or lack thereof. "But given that flying thing Ghelik says he saw, maybe we should try going down the furnace shaft, or down the chute from the storeroom, instead of going back outside."

1d6 ⇒ 5
1d20 ⇒ 16
1d20 ⇒ 15
1d100 ⇒ 77

Mm hm. Pray continue, don't mind me.

If we need the bodies let's put the other ones in that closet. Wouldn't want them to disappear ta' some beasties.

did it look like we could fit down the storeroom shoot? If so Ghelik would vote for that.

DM Vitæ had a 26 Perception focusing at the roof anything for that?

"Let's search this room carefully, we may find documents or perhaps a serviceable map or ... something ... anything. But be wary of dangers. That old lady Thing ... was this her abode? Would others come here knowing she was here?"

Vitæ will cast Detect Magic again and searches the room where the Doppelgänger lay focusing on areas with less water damage.

Wil someone please shut the door and someone please stab the old lady Thing again to be sure.

Mrakala moves to the door and closes it, moving the other dead doppelganger out of the way. "Did anyone check the other door?"

Did we use Perception on the director's door after the fight? I believe we did previously but not recently..

So back down we go? Ugh.

Um focus on this room guys and Kyleen, let's deal with the downstairs later why are we rushing back there.

"Finish this room and the deputy director's, then go downstairs. Yes. Tired, but the corpses will wait for us, Lady of Graves willing."

The door to the north -- which, presumably, opens on to the DE UTY DI EC OR room -- swing's open.

A -- girl? young woman -- puts her head out through the door.

"Would you people keep it down out there? I'm trying to go through files in here."

She looks human. Her age is hard to tell -- indeterminate teenager? Could be a tall fourteen or a scrawny eighteen.

She's wearing what looks like a patient's gown, a shapeless sack of a garment made of cheap wool. It looks grubby and dirty and has some very dubious looking stains. Beneath it, her feet are bare. Her hair is stringy and rather raggedly chopped off. Some of it hangs over her face, so that she's talking to you through a curtain. Insofar as you can make out her expression, she looks irritated.

Kyleen stands, almost in shock, as the old lady creature thing is killed. When it appears to let out its last struggle of lies, Kyleen slumps back against the wall.

Who are these things? Who am I?

The bard, still clothed in the rags she had from the cell, but now soaking wet from the travel across the courtyard, still appears utterly confused as to what is going on, and is apparently not paying much of any attention to the actions of the rest of the party.

"Well, now - you were /very/ helpful during that near-facial-surgery."

Wiping away angry tears, the oracle braces herself against the wall and takes several calming breaths, slowing her pulse. She suppresses a shudder and takes a single step towards the cooling corpse of the most recent "physician". I - I do not know what we should do, but I am not sure splitting up is a good idea. Especially with the Ripplers running about. We do have three potential Ripple-corpses to offer, though.

The woman lays a hand on Yordan's shoulder. We will make it yet. You've come from death's door and it does not revolve. Casts Guidance on Yordan.

Walking from person to person, Nameless gives each one an awkward smile or cryptic encouragement, granting them insight (Guidance on all).

@DMDM - If not too cheesy, from this point whenever there is downtime/non-combat, Nameless will attempt to bolster her comrades with Guidance periodically to have it queued up. Arguing with her, ahem, personalities and offering their insight to each party member also keeps her busy and distracted from the current horrors.

Who are these things? Who am I?

You are Rat-Talker. Rhyme-Sayer. Rag-Wearer. Looking from Kyleen to the newly appeared young girl she offers: Perhaps we all have files? I, too, would like an actual name or something substantial. There are ... pieces. Fragments. Flashes inside waking dreams. I - I don't know who to listen to ...

"DrEaMs? CaReFuL, wE dOn'T wAnT tO sTeP oN tOeS nOw, Do We?"

I am shocked, shocked I say that there are children in this establishment!

"Greetings child, hello. Who may you be? Please tell us your name. How come you are here by yourself? There are many dangers here Before and After."

Vitæ Is not buying this bit. The Mesmerist plunges two inches of his sword cane into the chest cavity of the Doppelgänger, all the while eyeing the 'child' carefully.

Sense Motive you ALL better Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Some Sense Motive please guys!

edit not bad roll

Seeing the strange little girl going through files, something that little girls are not supposed to be doing, Kyleen squints her eyes and carefully watches the child for any signs that she is anything but a diminutive human.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Seeing the strange little girl going through files, something that little girls are not supposed to be doing

Not a little girl. Teenager-ish.

"...and that's why I asked."

Mrakala extends his hand and prepares to cast Color Spary. He takes a couple of steps forward. "As my companions have said. Who are you? Convince us you aren't a doppelganger or you will be unconscious quickly."

Yordan grasps his glaive, but says nothing as he stares intently at the girl in the doorway, ignoring the water swirling around his boots.

Perception to notice anything unusual about her: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Sense Motive to see if he picks up anything from her words or demeanor.1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Both rolls are +2 if she's human (favored enemy).

Wiping away angry tears, the oracle braces herself against the wall and takes several calming breaths, slowing her pulse. She suppresses a shudder and takes a single step towards the cooling corpse of the most recent "physician".

FYI, I am reading the RP stuff and liking it. Even if I don't always respond.

The woman lays a hand on Yordan's shoulder. We will make it yet. You've come from death's door and it does not revolve. Casts Guidance on Yordan.

Walking from person to person, Nameless gives each one an awkward smile or cryptic encouragement, granting them insight (Guidance on all).

@DMDM - If not too cheesy, from this point whenever there is downtime/non-combat, Nameless will attempt to bolster her comrades with Guidance periodically to have it queued up. Arguing with her, ahem, personalities and offering their insight to each party member also keeps her busy and distracted from the current horrors.

Remind me what your alignment is now? (Note that at this stage of things, alignment is flexible -- you don't have to stick with the one you first chose if you think the character is evolving in another direction.)

"Greetings child, hello. Who may you be? Please tell us your name. How come you are here by yourself? There are many dangers here Before and After."

"I'm Rocksauce. Who are you people?"

edit not bad roll

There's definitely something... off about her. But whether that's because she's a doppelganger, or for some other reason, you can't yet say.