DM Fang Dragon's Strange Aeons (Inactive)

Game Master FangDragon

Sigh the forum has been unstable again. Anyway map updated.

Appointed similarly to the bedroom next door (albeit with no vat of vinegar), this bedroom shows signs of habitation with two neat stacks of clothes on top of the two beds. Actions? NB nobody has gone inside yet.

christ almighty, I've not been able to login in what feels like weeks.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 8 + (6) = 34

Agrippa turns his head towards the stairs.

Quiet. he says to the group and he points towards the stairs.

When nothing jumps out, Zarine starts walking to the next room, asking in passing Did anyone check the vat of vinegar?

When Heinrich asks for silence, she stops walking and turns around to see what is up, readying her bow just in case.

Before Zan gets a chance to examine the next room, he turns toward the stairs at Heinrich's word. Like Zarine, the warpriest readies his bow for whatever new, nightmarish foe they may face.

Perhaps mercifully all things considered, the vat of vinegar was devoid of any treasure. You soon however had other things on your mind, for Agrippa spots a trio of nobles (presumably cultists) stealthily advancing towards you followed by the blond assassin!

Lizzie "beads" Tamar' <----- WE ARE HERE

Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa
Blond Assassin
Zandomir

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 1 ----

Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Diseased, False Life (2700 rounds)
Blond Assassin
Zandomir
---- Round 2 ----
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Immune to gaze
Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Diseased, Dex Drain(12), False Life (2699 rounds)
Blond Assassin
Zandomir

Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Momijii and Zarine are up.

"We've fought through your allies so far, this is your last chance to forfeit your evil plans."

(assuming no response..)

"Alright, then so be it. Have at you, cultists!"

"Zarine, let me take your spot please."

Lizzie takes Zarine's current spot if allowed, and readies a swing for the 1st to approach.

Movement on map based partially on previous posting

Filbert makes himself invisible once more and creeps towards the newly opened doorway...

remaining invisible Filbert steps out of the hallway.

Stealth(invis): 1d20 + 16 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 16 + 10 = 38
perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

OK just need Zarine and Momijii's actions now. Forum permitting...

Momiji, in rather rough shape still from the previous fight, and decided that it would be best to hold back for now. She did adopt her fighting stance and prepared to move in if necessary but for now was in a fully defensive position.

Down about half hp so I will hang back for at least the start of this fight.

Zarine steps back to let Lizzie take her spot (moved her up), and then shoots over Lizzie's head at the approaching bad guys.

Attack Red: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Unfortunately missing.

Annoyingly swapping with somebody is a team work feat, Lizzie can of course move through Zarine's square.
Lizzie tries to talk to the onrushing cultists, as she moves in front of Zarine, but the only reaction is a snarl from the closest one.

Filbert vanishes and watches as the battle unfolds...

Hurt, Momijii decides that discretion in the better part of valor and hangs back for now. The previous bunch of cultists should have had one potion of cure moderate wounds each. I'm happy for you to retcon any healing and change your action.

Zarine sends an arrow into the onrushing throng, unfortunately her shot was rushed and it missed.

As they get closer you realize all the cultists are holding potions. As one they down then and abruptly vanish! This is tricky to play in pbp, they're going to move to close so nobody is going to be able to move forwards or you'd bump into them. I haven't move them, the map currently shows the last known locations. The perception DC to pinpoint any individual is 20.

Lizzie "beads" Tamar'

Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Blond Assassin
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <----- WE ARE HERE
Zandomir

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 1 ----

Lizzie "beads" Tamar'
Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists Invisible
Blond Assassin Invisible
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Diseased, Dex Drain(12), False Life (2700 rounds)
Zandomir
---- Round 2 ----
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Immune to gaze
Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists Invisible
Blond Assassin Invisible
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Diseased, Dex Drain(12), False Life (2699 rounds)
Zandomir

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Zandomir, Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Momijii and Zarine are up.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Zandomir notices the closest approaching cultist and releases a pair of arrows at his location, hoping to land a lucky blow or two.

Longbow Attack 1 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12 (Rapid Shot, Point-Blank)
Longbow Attack 2 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 = 7 (Rapid Shot, Point-Blank)

Not sure how you’re handling miss chance, DM, so I’ll let you roll that as needed.

Vs invisible foes you pinpointed, unless you have see invisibility or blind fighting etc... you need to roll a d100 where 1-50 misses and 51-100 hits.

1st Attack Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 22

2nd Attack Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 20

Welp.

We didn't swap. I moved to a different square than she was in. She just moved to where I left, so I don't think that is a teamwork feat, just a delay until after I moved, right?

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Zarine doesn't see anyone, but she knows there are down the hall, so she shoots over Lizzie's head anyway, trying to hit one of the people there.

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 72
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 5) + 1 = 9

No idea if that will be allowed, and no worries if it isn't, but seemed silly to not know where they were in general since they had all been right there, and I can see if doors open.

Agrippa drinks his Adhesive Spittle formulae. He prepares to make someone's day uncomfortable.

OK np Zarine, the feat really shouldn't exist anyway.

Heinrich downs a swig of something really icky... Meanwhile Zandomir manages to track where one of the cultists went to within a few feet, but he couldn't see him and so he had to guessing exactly where he stood. To his consternation the arrows hot only the floor.

Lizzie holds firm, waiting for the inevitable attack to occur. Likewise Filbert lurks invisible, waiting for the cultists to reappear. Momijii also continues to hang back.

Zarine I kinda get what you mean. They all moved after drinking their potions, and there's only so many places they could be right now. I'm happy to let you attack a named square if you want. I'm going to give you a chance to do that before they have their turn.

Filbert groans inwardly as the cultist disappear within the hallway, weighing his chance at hitting what he couldn't see and holding to hit them as they appeared from their blind side. Moving so that he can see the hallway in front of his companions (black arrow), Filbert waits quietly for the first to show themselves.

stealth: 1d20 + 16 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 16 + 10 = 45

empowered kinetic blast: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
damage: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) + 9 = 20 + 5 = 25 damage

Roger that Filbert. @Zarine just tell me which square you want the arrow to go into :)

Zarine shoots for the square where the red guy used to be, 25 feet in front of herself.

Zarine shoots towards where a cultist was moments ago before he vanished, but to her surprise a female rather than male voice grunted in pain! Spots of bright red blood appear on the floor.

Suddenly the column of attackers reappear as several daggers flash into the party, a crossbow snaps and the lead cultist thrusts at Lizzie with his rapier which is turned aside by her armor. A dagger bounces off Lizzie, but one whizzes past her ear to embed itself into Zarine's shoulder. The crossbow bolt suddenly juts out through broken links of Lizzie chain mail, having bitten deep she feels the taint of a poison leeching into her veins, which she resists with all her might! The female assasin then slinks into a room behind out of sight...

Red: Rapier, sneak attack vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (2, 3) = 8 <--- MISS
Green: Dagger, sneak attack vs Zarine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (5, 2) = 9 <--- HIT
Blue: Dagger, sneak attack vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (1, 4) = 10 <--- MISS
Yellow: Hand crossbow, sneak attack vs Lizzie: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22Damage: 1d4 + 4d6 ⇒ (4) + (5, 4, 2, 1) = 16 <--- HIT
Save vs poison: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 <--- PASS (just)

OK so I'm going to rule Filberts action was a readied action from the previous round.
Filbert had been waiting patently for the cultists to reappear and when one does, he unleashes a broadside. Various small objects are hurtled with terrifying force into the man who is caught completely unawares, and flung bodily against the wall. He staggers back leaving a trail of blood and turns towards the gnome with murder in his eyes.

Lizzie "beads" Tamar'

Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Blond Assassin
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa <----- WE ARE HERE
Zandomir

Buffs and Debuffs wrote:

Spoiler:

---- Round 2 ----

Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Immune to gaze
Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Blond Assassin
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Diseased, Dex Drain(12), False Life (2699 rounds)
Zandomir
---- Round 3 ----
Lizzie "beads" Tamar' Immune to gaze
Filbert Springbit
Momijii
Zarine
Cultists
Blond Assassin
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa Diseased, Dex Drain(12), False Life (2698 rounds)
Zandomir

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, Zandomir, Lizzie "beads" Tamar', Filbert Springbit, Momijii and Zarine are up.

Well, that yellow's got a good attack bonus, shooting through cover like that, a +11? :P

Swift, LoH on self. 3d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) = 8
Morningstar vs red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 Bump: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

*Shakes fist at dicebot for those low d6 results*

The bolt veers round the combatants almost as if it was magic...

Filbert draws a pellet from his pouch, rolling it between his hands he extends them towards the the man in front of the doorway.

kinetic blast(bludgeoning): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 Crit?
damage: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 5, 6) + 9 = 23
kinetic blast(confirm): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
damage: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 6, 5) + 9 = 21

That ought to hurt either way it goes

Zandomir assesses the situation again now that the cultists have revealed themselves. He doubts they'll be able to pull their vanishing act again.

The warpriest sends energy into his bow causing it to crackle with electricity. With sparking coming off his bow, Zan takes aim at the red cultist and releases a pair of arrows at his foe.

Longbow Attack 1 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14 (Rapid Shot, Point-Blank)
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Longbow Attack 2 (w/Durable Cold Iron Arrow): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11 (Rapid Shot, Point-Blank)
Electricity Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Not sure how strictly you're enforcing soft cover, so the above rolls don't include that, please apply if needed. If the red cultist happens to be dead or incapacitated before Zan acts, he'll just take a 5-ft step back and attack one of the other cultists as needed.

Zarine is hit, but tries to shake it off as she continues to shoot.

She aims over Lizzie's head right at the red guy and lets fly two arrows in quick succession. (rapid shot)

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 11
Attack 2: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 - 2 = 9

But somehow, even at point-blank range, she misses both shots.

What kind of wizardry is this? she screams, knowing that such a failure had to be external, for she was a better bowman than this. Then she realizes that her wound must be affecting her more than she realized, and tries desperately to adjust her stance for the next volley.

Agrippa vomits the foul concoction all over the lead cultist.

Reflex DC 14, 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8 rounds

A putrid and amazingly sticky mass of gunk spurts towards the lead cultist, the man darts away and with a look of disgust remarks, "What the blazes is wrong with you?! Can't you see this is a three hundred gold suit!"
Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 <--- PASS

I sometimes forget soft cover but it's in the rules, kind of moot with rolls like that those...
No sooner than the man had spoken than Zandomir unloaded, his bow crackling with lightning. Skewered, the man jerked about in agony as the electricity wracked his body and he fell down face first with greasy smoke coming out of every orifice.

Wounded, Lizzie calls upon the power of the gods to heal herself before stepping over the still smoking cultist to finish off the one wounded by Filbert, her morning-star dashing his brains out.

Filbert then edges closer to the door and then accelerates a large vase to appalling speed which impacts the last cultist in the sternum, ripping a gaping hole in his chest. The man is flung back twenty feet before taking the landing door off it's hinges!

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 20 = 38

And then suddenly it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop...

Combat nominally over.

Looking over the expensive suit Zarine says

Hmm. Maybe we could hide some of those scorch marks with embroidery...

She is just joking though, and after removing it from the dead man, repairs it with a Mending spell.

"The worked silver is probably worth more, but I'd feel better if we melted all these symbols down into the silver their made from."

Did we see the last cultist duck into a room? I thought at least a couple of us would have seen that, unless she did so while invisible. If one of us did see it, Zan would advocate for pursuing her immediately. The stuff below assumes we didn't though.

Zan nods in agreement with Filbert. "That seems like the best plan. Maybe they'll actually do some good as simple silver. The rest of these things we may be able to sell in town.

"Also, does anyone need healing before we move on? I would rather not assume we've dealt with every threat in light of this most recent encounter."

If anyone requests healing, Zan will channel positive energy for everyone before offering to heal individuals with his wand of Cure Light Wounds.

Channel Positive Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

If you need more healing, feel free to go ahead and make CLW rolls as needed and I'll remove the appropriate number of charges from my wand.

The fight had ended quickly enough and Momijii felt pleased at the end result. She realized that, with things as they were, she should probably heal up a bit more. It was around the than that she remembered that she actually had a few potions that could help with that. Disgusted at her lapse in memory Momijii reached into her pack and drew out a bottle, popped it open, and swallowed the contents. Part of her injuries healed up but not enough as vicious as the fights had been in this hell hole. She took another potion out and chugged it as well which healed most of the rest of them. More confident now she felt she was ready for what may come and tried to keep in mind that she still had one potion left to her of a higher potency. She felt the wave of healing from Zandomir wash over her and with that the last of her injuries, at least that could be readily treated, were gone.

cure moderate: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 7) + 3 = 11
cure moderate: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

Just need to get rid of this damned negative level now. Has it been 24 hours since I got it to try and roll out of it?

Zarine gives the mended suit to Zandomir.

You might look good in this.

She then has him heal her with his wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Thanks she says, smiling. I feel a lot better.

Channel +7, 45 HP.
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
At 58 HP. Seems fair enough an amount to continue.

Lizzie smiles with appreciation, as Zandomir uses his wand to ease her wounds.

"Well then, where to next? I recall the yellow noble stepping into the room over there."

At one point you talked about visiting Winter for curatives. Might be advisable before the final encounter.
Feeling much refreshed, the party was almost ready to venture further into the mansion...

@Zandomir yes you did see her duck into a room. Speaking of which... Of the blonde assassin there's no sign. The bedroom she vanished into looks like it once belonged to a child. The walls are painted blue with a tin soldier motif. Thick dust covers most of the furniture in the room, aside from a single wooden chair. Apart from some neatly stacked (and dust free) female clothes upon that chair there's nothing of interest in here.

Map updated.

GM, if we've had at least 6 minutes since Filbert was injured last, his Force Ward should be restored

Filbert 'pockets' the unholy symbols in his haversack for safe keeping, waiting for Zandomir to heal Zarine and Momijii to heal herself.

"Nice work on the suit, I'd clean it for ya, but seems I already played that trick today." spotting the chair and clothing sans the blonde.

"She's becoming a bit of a handful, we'll just borrow these as well, should make things interesting should she show herself once more." Filbert muses as he stuffs her clothing within the sac as well.

Zandomir is uncomfortable with the assassin's disappearance. There's only so many places she could have gone. Thinking back to the others' invisibility act, the warpriest wonders if she might have done something similar. He examines the room for a few more moments in case the assassin is hiding nearby.

Casting Detect Magic to see if Zan can pick up on any illusion auras.

Also:

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Zarine follows the party, keeping her bow ready in case some bad guy pops up.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

As with last time, stay safe Filbert and good luck with all the repairs!

Thanks

Filbert looks to the others noticing Zandomir taking time to look around a bit more than he had. "What'cha looking at?"

Zandomir points at the ceiling and says to everyone in a whisper - hopefully one soft enough that someone listening from a nearby room wouldn't be able to hear - "There's illusion magic being used on the ceiling above. If you look closely you can see that there's a ring that can probably be pulled on to open the ceiling. I suspect that's where the remaining assassin went. It appears to be about 12 feet in the air though. Filbert, maybe you can sit on my shoulders again to open it? We should be ready for a surprise attack as soon as we do so."

After having it pointed out, Zarine tells the group she can cast Open on the trapdoor above them. After they are ready, she does so.

With a wrenching sound the trapdoor shifts before falling open with a bang revealing an ingenious folding ladder which swung down! Stale musty air wafted down from above and you catch a glimpse of a slanted ceiling supported by wooden trusses, beams, and rafters. The ceiling slopes down from the highest beams in the middle to the lowest on the perimeter, where you can just about see several ugly, fibrous plants which sprout from clay pots, barely illuminated by a few dormer windows.

Before you have a chance to react, you hear a piercing cry from above. An elder sounding woman sobbed, "No! You must not come up. You must not see. T'is shameful, shame has been visited upon me! Shame, shame, shame. Be gone! None may see what has befallen."

What do you do? Climbing up looks to be easy.

Zarine has a sudden urge to throw a fireball through the open trapdoor, although she doesn't know how to cast that spell. Instead, she does what she can and casts a spell on Zandomir before he goes up.

Unbreakable Heart: +4 morale bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects that rely on negative emotions (such as crushing despair, rage, or fear effects) or that would force him to harm an ally (such as confusion) -- Lasts 6 rounds

Zandomir nods in thanks to Zarine as she casts the protective spell on him.

Looking up at the hole in the ceiling, Zan shouts, "I'm coming up now! Stay at a distance if you mean us no harm. Maybe we can help you if we know what's happened."

That said, Zan knows Zarine's spell won't last long so he quickly begins climbing up the stairs into the attic.

Zandomir as you poke your head up into the musty attic you notice movement. Your eye catches the back of an old woman dressed for mourning who retreats deeper into the attic. She pleads with you,"No! You must not come closer, you must not see!"

Map updated, the attic is the bit to the right.

Assuming it is safe since she isn't hearing any attacks, Zarine follows Zandomir up.

Seeing Zarine coming up, Zandomir moves out of the way enough for her and everyone else to come up if they so desire, but he doesn't otherwise approach the woman.

Instead, he tries talking to her again. "If you're injured in some way, we may be able to help. But you need to tell us what's going on first. We saw you with some of the other people here. Were you with them?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 (For the truthfulness of any response she gives.)

Minor correction, neither Zandomir nor Zarine have seen her before. Anyone else who comes up will recognize her. I'll give them a chance to post.

I guess the storm is clobbering folks - stay safe!
Sounding puzzled the old woman, facing the corner away from you, replies "Eh what? Never seen you before sonny, I never forget a face!" Suddenly she sobs, "Oh gods my face..." before snapping, "Leave an old woman to her misery!" You could almost imagine her adding 'before it's too late'.

Zandomir you don't thing she's dissembling, rather she feels a deep shame about something and really does not wish you to see her. She doesn't strike you as entirely stable and heaven knows what she'd do if cornered.