DM Jesse's Kingmaker PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Jesse Heinig

Rest of 'em look in real bad shape. I think this is the only one that's stable enough to explore. Jenya says. Maybe we can just kill the thing from a distance.

Nothing prevents you from standing back and shooting the vines or lobbing alchemical fire at them. At least, as far as you can see...

"There is something sentient living here. If we start attacking its gardening projects or whatever, it will come after us." Vallen reasons, looking at the killer vines.

"Let's leave this alone for now and move to the center tower. It's not like a bunch of vines is going to sneak up on us." The dwarf says, leaning his head towards the center structure.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10.

Although he is unable to determine if those vines covering the doorway was indeed sentient, Vladric will take his fellow Mivoni at her word that those same vines will prove to be dangerous.

"I do have a single flask of alchemist's fire upon my person if we would need to burn through those vines. We also have the option of returning to this place at a later time with some other means to bypass those obstacles. It's not likely for a place such as this to simply just disappear once we leave, now that we know where it is..."

Hopefully this place will not be like that legendary disappearing Feasting Hall back home in Mivon...

Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 Hurr Durr, what plant?

"What are you guys looking at?" Cassandra asks through slightly teary eyes. Whatever that smell was, she was having a bad reaction to it. She tries to sneeze quietly but only seems to make the tears worse.

Jenya moves with Vallen towards the central structure.

Vallen starts to gesture towards the vines climbing up the tower walls, but then stops and shakes his head. "Ah, don't worry about it Cass. We'll come back to it later if we must."

Pistol at the ready, he and Jenya start to move to the central structure, wary of traps.

The keep’s central tower is an elegant spire of ivory colored stone, draped with a riot of vines and other plants. The most complete structure in the entire fortress, its 5-foot-thick walls climb 70 feet to a multipointed stone roof.

This wide chamber has an impressive vaulted ceiling. Though obscured in places by earth and undergrowth, the hall’s floor is crafted of smooth stone tiles in multicolored pastel hues. The walls of the chamber are decorated with faded frescoes of sylvan life, showing scenes of beautiful elves engaged in hunting, feasting, dancing, singing, and a bewildering variety of other idyllic pursuits. To the west, a graceful, filigreed stone staircase, garlanded with flowering vines, climbs to the level above.

Move yourself where you wanna go! The central chamber doesn't have doors any more, so you can just... walk right in.

[ooc[I can't access roll 20 on my phone unfortunately, but I will try to remember to move my token when I get home. [/ooc]

Vallen walks through the gap in the tower where the doors used to be, stopping on the threshold to peer inside. He forgets about the dangers of the keep for a moment, instead admiring the vaulted ceiling and frescos. Then he remembers it was all done by Elves and sighs with disgust.

"If they had put all this underground it wouldn't be falling in." The priest begrudgingly mumbles, turning to head towards the staircase to climb to the upper levels. By Torag, the railing looks so delicate! Yet it still stands!

Well this doesn't look much like Corflut's shop. So either he didn't know what he was talkin' about or this place is definitely not Elvish Jenya says. Looks like the only way is up?

Cassandra rolls her eyes at the grumpy dwarf. So elves made a castle? You'd think he'd be impressed? Instead he seemed insulted. "Other races can build nice things too Vallen." She then looks at the steps Jenya pointed out and halts her. "Hang on. If the last plant was dangerous, those might be too."

Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Well, hopefully survival is the correct skill to identify the plants on the steps. Is the smell worse here?

On Roll20, there doesn't seem to be anyway to move the tokens about. Apologies also for the extra blue boxes- not too sure how to get rid of them from the map.

Well this doesn't look much like Corflut's shop. So either he didn't know what he was talkin' about or this place is definitely not Elvish Jenya says. Looks like the only way is up?

"Didn't Vallen mention something about this place predating the Starstone? It could be possible that the Elvish building styles were somewhat different way back then."

Vladric looks about the keep's interior while keeping an eye out for any trouble. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12.

Cassie hangs back and sniffs at the air as Vladric moves closer so that he can scrutinize the area.

A short time after Vallen enters and starts looking at the staircase, a low violet mist rises from the ground inside the central tower.

Vallen: Fort save (poison): 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13
Wis damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Vallen feels light-headed as the noxious fumes rise about him.

Nooo my Dwarven constitution has failed me! I needed that wisdom!

Vallen carefully approaches the staircase at the edge of the tower, intent on unraveling the secrets of its construction.

It wasn't careful enough though, and he starts as the purple is rises up around him. Coughing loudly, he looks around at the walls with wild eyes and runs back towards the group at the tower entrance, tools and armor jangling.

"The walls! The vines! Do you see them?! They're getting bigger, they're taking nourishment from the starlight trapped in the stone! The elves trapped starlight in the stone, that's how they made it stay together so well!" The priest rambles, cowering back from the walls and standing in the open space of the removed tower door.

He takes a few deep breaths of clean air and puts a hand on his sweaty forehead. "Ugh I... I feel like I'm being pulled back in time. I think it was some kind of magical poison. I don't... If I disappear from the present, please tell my Uncle that... That Riverrun castle's northeastern wall deviates from the foundation by zero point six seven degrees towards the east and may cause the wall to sag in a few decades."

Vallen shakes his head rapidly and smacks his face with a palm. "No! No what am I saying I've been trained for this, I'm a priest of Torag! A dwarf! I will not be bested by some elf-poison!" He pulls of one of the many bags and boxes attached to his belt, shuffling through the contents for various herbs and remedies.

Vallen will move out of the poison cloud, back towards the door frame, then attempt to teat his poison with his healers kit.

Heal to treat poison, healers kit: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9 That's uh, not very good.

What was that? A trap? Jenya exclaims trying to see where the poison was coming from. Should we wait for the mist to fade away?

Per: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Vallen staggers out of the violet mist, babbling semi-coherently. Then he takes out his healer's kit, removes some kind of suctioning device, and places it on his forehead and starts squeezing the air bladder. This results in a large red spot as the pressure change pulls his forehead skin out in a red, protuberant circle.

While it sure looks like some kind of trap, Jenya has no idea how it was set off. Just standing there? Some kind of plant response to Vallen trampling over the vines and leaves? A buried tripwire or pressure plate? No immediately obvious signs.

The mist will dissipate in about half a minute.

Though he is no longer quite as incoherent, Vallen certainly does not seem himself. He also seems to insist on continuing to suction cup his forehead, which has left a massive and painful looking red welt.

After the mist dissipates, he cautiously toes forward again, rapidly suctioning in his forehead as if the preemptive action will prevent future poisoning.

"We should ascend the stairs slowly, inspecting every step for traps. At least one minute per step, no less!" The priest says, finally making it to the staircase after taking only one step every 10 seconds.

Well, it's not like we're in any particular hurry Jenya sighs and moves back in after mist dissipates. Taking 20 as she goes along with Vallen.

The seriousness of the situation lost on her, Ilystria covers her mouth and tries to stifle the tittering laughter the grumpy one's sudden, odd behavior elicits from the diminutive fey. It isn't the first time she's witnessed a mortal take leave of their senses, but—for her and most of her kind—it was a joke that never stopped being funny. Noticing that no one else seems to find the event amusing, the fey queen redoubles her efforts to make it seem like she's not laughing at Vallen by waving a hand in front of her face and trying to pass it off as a fit of coughing brought on by the mists. She gives a few weak coughs to sell it, then delicately clears her throat once she's finally regained her composure. Though it's hard to know for sure considering her eyes have no discernable pupils, one gets the impression that the faerie dignitary is sheepishly looking away after her apparently inappropriate outburst.

"Maybe the mist attacked because you insulted the ones who built this tower? You should try saying something nice about them this time," Ilystria suggests in all sincerity from her spot outside the tower.

Vallen stops inspecting the grain of the stone on the very first step of the staircase to look at Ilystria. "Perhaps you're right. But if you are, I have a different approach. I'll say nothing else about this tower, starting now. So I can avoid... The wrath of what I just mentioned."

"If I don't talk about.... There will be no noticing me. The rest of you feel free to draw... The attention of what I"m not mentioning." The forehead suctioning increases with the apparent stress of trying to avoid talking about... "it".

"I didn't see anything cause that," Cassandra says, waving away some of the residual mist. Reaching into her pack, she takes out a bandanna and ties it over her nose and mouth. If the mist was based on inhalation it should help. "Anyone else bring one?" she asks looking around at the others. If they do go with Vallen's cautious approach, she stands watch behind everyone bow and arrows at the ready.

Perception on the mist and the vines by the staircase: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24.

When the colorful mist first appeared by the staircase when it engulfed Vallen, Vladric moved closer to his present position on the map but wisely kept out of Vallen's way for the most part as the Dwarven Forgepriest busily healed himself up with the Heal-Kit.

Ilystria's initial open amusement at Vallen's predicament did draw an incredulous look from Vladric's face as he glanced over towards her direction but since the Fey Queen did seem to have enough presence of mind to cover up for her initial faux-pas, the Mivoni Nobleman decided not to press the issue.

As both Jenya and Vallen slowly make their way up the staircase again, Vladric replies to Cassandra's question with a shake of his head, "I'm afraid I left my handkerchief and cravat with the rest of my formal-wear back in town."

Know:Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5. To determine if magic was involved with the purple mist.

With Vallen's current addled state, the procession up the stairwell is slow going. The trap doesn't fire again. Vladric eventually discovers a disturbed tripwire that's actually made out of twisted vines, cunningly blended in with the forest litter, that released a reservoir of gas, but it looks like it can only be reset manually.

The stairs end in a circular room featuring wide windows draped with hanging vines that offer panoramic views of the keep’s overgrown courtyard and the forest beyond. An open circular skylight in the ceiling provides glimpses of the forest canopy overhead. The walls between the windows are carved with exquisite, delicate nature motifs highlighted in gold and silver leaf. A riot of flowers, plants, and bushes sprout from the thick loam that carpets the hall’s floor, as if one were walking in a fantastic glade elevated high above the forest floor.

The wooden interior walls have long since rotted to dust, turning this into a single wide chamber. The ceiling is 40 feet high.

Feel free to move your tokens toward the tower upper floor on the left side.

Seated on the edge of a delicate bedframe that has somehow survived the test of time, near a beautiful life-sized alabaster statue of a nude dancing elf woman and a wooden wardrobe with a water clock atop it and a chest next to it, is an alluring, graceful elven woman (the same one as the statue, apparently.) She has alabaster skin, golden hair, and emerald green eyes, and wears a flowing white gown of archaic elven style, tied at the waist with blood-red scarf. She stands gracefully as you arrive in the room.

The eleven woman certainly had plenty of time to prepare for their approach considering Vallen loudly complained any time someone started going up the stairs too fast.

He is able to see up into the circular room long before they arrive, begrudgingly admiring the carvings along the windows and the surprisingly still intact sunroof. The priest is more shocked by the loam covered floor than he is the presence of the elf. How did all this dirt get up here? To grow plants? Who builds a tower to grow plants? Elves, I suppose

Blue eyes settle on the statue first, and his professional curiosity would have warranted a good look if it's living likeness did not move to rise nearby. He flicks his vision back and forth between the statue and the elf, mystified as to who keeps a statue of their own self next to their bed.

Remembering he's supposed to be the Grand Diplomat of their kingdom, Vallen clears his throat and focuses on the elf. "Erm... Hello? We are dignitaries of the nearby Kingdom of Emeria, looking to establish beneficial and cooperative relations with the sentient creatures living in the Narlmarshes or the surrounding areas. I am Vallen Silverclasp, Priest of Torag, and uh..." Having calmed down a bit, Ilystria words echo in his mind. " This is a very nice keep you have here. It has weathered the centuries with incredible stability."

diplomacy to influence attitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Huh Jenya blurts out, the young woman is already embarrassed by the nude statue but seeing the apparent model of the staute stand up to greet them causes her to blush beet red. It's uh. you?

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Ilystria smiles to herself as the group makes it up the staircase without any more purple mist appearing, pleased to find that at least one rule she learned in the First World still held true in even in this strange Mortal Realm: It's important to mind your manners.

Once they reach the second floor landing, Ilystria doesn't immediately notice the elven woman, fascinated as she is by the marriage of stonework and greenery the room features. She runs a gentle hand over the hanging vines and the fragrant blooms and wonders if the same could be done to the castle back in River Run, or at least to the chambers she was given for her stay. Just as she's about to ask Vallen, who seems to be in charge of the architectural improvements of the fort, if such a thing is possible, she hears the dwarf introducing himself to someone.

Though surprised to find the beautiful elven woman alone in the supposedly abandoned tower, Ilystria recovers and gives the woman a bright smile. "Greetings! I am Ilystria Leafheart, Queen of the Narlmarches," she introduces herself as she steps forward, fluttering her wings and filling the space with the delicate perfume of hibiscuses. "My apologies for the intrusion. My friends here were also concerned that bandits might have made their home in your tower. Have you had any trouble with them in your territory? These mortals were kind enough to rid my demesne of their presence; maybe we could do the same for you."

Looking around at her companions for validation, Ilystria's smile falters as she looks to Jenya. "Are you feeling well? Your face is as red as a lillukka berry..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

The elven woman stands slowly, and though she is tall and slender, she has a way of... swaying... that is hypnotic. Her lips part slightly and she raises a hand in a languid motion, then takes a short chasse step to her left... then cants her hips and raises her hand above her head... and something seems not quite right.

Every person in the upper chamber must make a DC 19(!) Will save. If you fail, you become utterly enthralled as she begins her dance. If you are 'into the ladies,' so to speak, you take a -2 penalty on this saving throw.

Hmm, Vallen is only into Dwarf women, so this ladies' lack of a beard is a pretty huge turn off to be honest! But because I hate myself I'll take it on top of the already apparent wisdom damage..

Will saving throw: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 2 = 12

Vallen falls silent, his jaw drooping slightly. He feels his mouth start to go dry, and all he can do is stare at the magnificent beauty of the dancing elf.

will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Is this a mind affecting effect? If so. Just made it thanks to Tough minded Trait! Let me know!

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 2 = 4

Ilystria's attention refocuses on the elven woman when it seems she's finally ready to speak. A slight chill runs down the gathlain's spine as the elf begins to dance instead and the typically oblivious fey starts getting suspicious as the woman's movements become more and more familiar. But the pieces fall into place too slowly, and before Ilystria knows it, she finds herself captivated by the bavanshee's graceful dance.

[dice=will]1d20+4

Is this a mind affecting effect? If so. Just made it thanks to Tough minded Trait! Let me know!

The writeup of the baobhan sith doesn't specify, but that seems like an oversight, as it's clearly a magical effect designed to influence your thoughts, so I'll say that counts.

Tough DC!

I think a Jenya's actions might change depending on Vladric and Cass's Will rolls! She's pretty much going to shoot though!

Probably could use the discovery of that spent trap to explain why Vladric and Cassandra lingered behind the others while they spoke with the dancing elf?

Having discovered the remains of a gas trap with vine-like tripwires, Vladric will point it out to the nearest person at the time, in this case, Cassandra, while Vallen, Jenya, and Ilystria made their way up the staircase. "So it was some type of trap after all; given that these ruins were of elven-make, I had initially thought that magic might have been involved."

As Vallen, Jenya, and Ilystria introduce themselves to somebody up the staircase, Vladric will also head up after them just in time to see some fascinating dance moves from the sole inhabitant of this place....

Vladric will spend a use of Charmed Life to add plus three to his Will Save.

Will save: 1d20 + 1 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 3 - 2 = 5. Forgot to add in the modifier...

Anyone seen any sign of Cass?

Point Blank shot on Touch: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 = 12
If that somehow hits
Point Blank damage using one grit on Up close and deadly: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 1 + (5) = 14

Yeah, well I ain't really used to naked elves dancin' in ancient towers... Jenya falters when she notices she's the only one talking. The elf is weird enough but seeing Vladric, Illystria, and Vallen slack jawed and drooling is what really freaks the young human out. Something is VERY VERY WRONG.! she shouts and raises Misfire to deliver a hasty shot!

The crack of the firearm resounds around the small room and the smell of burnt gunpowder fills the air.

Even if miss target will get grazed for 2 damage

K:Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Wow. She's...She's..." Cassandra's bow droops and nearly falls from her grasp as a peaceful look takes over her feral face.

There's a loud BOOM and the stench of powder as Jenya's shot goes off, and her hand trembles slightly as she sees the effect that this creature has on her comrades. The bullet ricochets off a wall, and the creature ever so slowly turns to look at the divot in the wall as Jenya's smoking gun comes down, all the while shifting and twisting and continuing her dance.

The eerie woman looks to Vladric and says, "Come, let me... touch thee." Her accent is odd, some kind of old elvish.

Vladric needs to make a DC 17 Will save next, or this seems like a "totally reasonable suggestion."

Her captivating performance continues and is definitely magical!

Round 2

Looks like this one is up to you, Jenya!

Vallen continues to stare at the captivating elf, not even flinching from the gun going off right next to him. "Why not... me?" He mumbles with abject sadness.

Jenya is really panicking now as everyone around her just stares like drooling idiots at the thing that is rapidly looking like some sort of fairy tale monster rather than a beautiful elf. Especially since she just shrugged off Jenya's attack. It was a terrible shot though and so Jenya tires to calm her breathing and reloads again with powder and shot before firing a hopefully more accurate bullet at her.

Point Blank shot on Touch: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24

Point Blank damage using one grit on Up close and deadly: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + (3) = 9

Jenya reloads as fast as she can and there's a belch of smoke and fire. Her bullet impacts the creature's flesh and a small droplet of red blood oozes out... but not the pumping, thick blood expected from shooting a person. This is more like... a tiny trail, a pinprick.

Hits, but she has a lot of hp!

The creature barely spares a sideways glance at Jenya before crooking her finger at Vladric.

Waiting on Vlad for that Will save.

With a beatific smile upon her face and eyes glazed over, Ilystria gently sways from side to side as if trying to (poorly) imitate the other fey's hypnotic dance.

Not sure if Vladric would be able to pull another charmed life, so this'll be just the standard will save.

1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 1 - 2 = 11.

Just a touch? That seems like quite a reasonable request to fulfill. Should I try to kiss her hand first... for propriety's sake, of course...

Vladric stiffly moves towards the beckoning enchantress in a dazed sort of shuffle.

But I want a touch. Cassandra pouted, though the effect was mostly lost on her feral appearance, as Vladric drew closer.

The strange creature continues to pivot and shift enticingly as Vladric finds himself drawn to it. She reaches out to wrap her arms around him...

... but something in the back of Vlad's mind, screaming helplessly, resists and after she caresses his cheek once, he pushes her back when she attempts to draw him into an embrace. She pouts.

Jenya, if you have anything that helps you crit or cause continuing damage, may be worthwhile. :)

1d20 ⇒ 16

Jenya realizes the problem and curses herself for not having a smoke stick or some flash powder, or anything to break line of sight. She looks around as he rapidly reloads with a paper cartridge and decides on... Vallen. She moves behind the dwarf priest.. who really should have been able to resist the evil elf monster ... and wraps one arm around to cover his eyes while she shoots the monster with the other. It probably looks like she's taking him hostage or something.

Vallen. Gods Damn it. That thing is dancing and it's got you droolin' like you've seen an adamantine forge or something. Get Torag to do something

Swift Action reload, Move action go behind Vallen and cover his eyes. Standard Action to shoot the elf from behind him

Misfire booms with a cracking sound right next to Vallen's ears.

Point Blank shot on Touch: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 24

Point Blank damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Ooh, shiny. I mean shaky. Jiggly? Do I like jiggly? Right now I do. Uh oh. Looks like Jenya's jealous. Hehe.

BOOM! Smoke and thunder erupt and the elf-like creature barely pauses in her swaying. Jenya wraps her hands around Vallen's eyes and the dwarf seems to start.

Vallen's mind snaps back like a broken bowstring when Jenya covers his eyes. The shooting next to his ear was overkill, however.

"AH!" He starts, mind quickly racing. "That thrice-damned elf put me under her spell! The others.. she got the others too?"

He licks his lips nervously, reaching up to grab his holy symbol. "Torag, hear the plea of your servant! Our minds are assaulted by a great evil, I beseech you for protection!"

The dwarf's fingers glow with a bright white light, and he quickly touches his chest with one hand while the other touches Jenya's arm covering his eyes. "I'll keep my eyes closed, guide me to Cass and Ilystria, I have to touch them to bestow Torag's protection!" The priest says quickly, arms desperately flailing for his companions.

Full-round Action: Cast Protection from Evil, communal, Touching himself and Jenya first. Then with Jenya's help, Cass and Ilystria. Split between the four of us the protection will last 10 rounds.

If this thing is Evil, IF... then we should get another will save to resist the effect.

How far away is Vladric? Probably too far away to touch before the spell discharges, even with a full-round action? Could Vallen continue to hold the spell after one round, then have Jenya guide Vallen to Vladric next round to bestow the spell's effect? I think it's discharged n the round after he starts putting it on people.

Jenya will use all of her next round to guide Vallen to whoever she can! If she can lead him in a circle to touch all three remaining enthralled people she will do that. I think the next save gets a +2 morale bonus too doesn't it?

The creature is evil, and you get a +2 morale bonus on reroll saves.

I moved Jenya next to Vallen on the map (since she must be adjacent to him to cover his eyes). Luckily, the whole party is in touch range for him!

Evil elf-like thing AoO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

As Vallen starts chanting his spell, the monstrous thing whips her head around, her fine golden hair lashing like it's in a sudden storm, and swings at him with a clawed hand! But it deflects off his armor and his spell finishes.

Time for new saves, folks!