DM Rah's Strange Aeons

Game Master Kobash

"Run? Why are we running? Let's kill the bad things? But if you want to catregically move to a better spot, we can do that. I mean, a good hallway is fine because the catnumber us," Cats explains as he has his good choppy sword out.

Though he is confused by the plan to run, he will move with the group to place where both he and Mariner can get some chops in.

I put two scribbles on the map where we are backing up to on our init, Catless and Brother behind us.

will saves: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 4 = 21 DC 15
will saves: 1d20 + 11 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 4 = 23 DC 15.

Jasper says a quick prayer to Desna. Disposable, Cartridge, Safety. And he causes a war razor to appear in the air slashing at the hounds in the hall.
Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 6 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 5 + 1 = 30
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Jasper then moves off to the area that Cats recommends. Looking to support The Watchmen with Desna's luck and protections.

Spiritual Weapon 1/8, Shield Other, Shield of Faith, Haste

As soon as Jasper rounds the corner, the fast war razor zooms back to his side.

The Watchmen run down the hall, the hounds giving chase with their denizen masters not far behind. They reach the doorway just as Brother Butterfly rounds the first corner, their howls piercing the night air. Then, suddenly, a howl ends in a startled yip as a darkness lunges through the doorway and snatches a hound in mid-lope. Dozens of teeth sink into the hound, splattering the area with black ichor. The second hound stops and cowers in fear, the denizens bumping into each other as they try to stop their forward motion.

INITIATIVE
Players up!
Enemies getting eaten by formless spawn

Enemies getting eaten by formless spawn

Awesome. Did not see that happening.

Cats readies his sword to sneak chop anyone (bad guy) that comes around the corner.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 Stealth

Moved back on map. Not sure I want to get into the middle of all that.

Fearless runs back as he tosses his dagger outward to protect Mariner's retreat. "Let's go!"

+1 Spell Storing Returning Dagger; Aid Another; Covering Fire DC 10; PBS; Distance: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 12

If Pinkie isn't with us the Fearless would shift his ring to Cats for the Protection. Mariner and Cats get +4 AC vs Orange.

Crunching bone and bone-chilling screams follow the Watchmen as they withdraw from the horror vs horror happening in the hall outside the baths. At the end of the twisting hallways they come to the bookkeeper’s office containing the stairs leading to the rooms above.

Standing in the bookkeeper’s office is a slender humanoid figure immaculately dressed with a sharply peaked collar and a tall top hat. In a hand he holds one of the scattered ledgers, head bowed, reading intently. In response to your intrusion and the horrible sounds coming from down the hall, he holds up a slender finger.

”Normally I would enjoy such a symphony of pain,” He says, displaying needle-like teeth. ”..but right now I am reading. Close the door, if you please.”

The slender man

Fearless calmly shuts the door behind him. "Ugh, that going to be alright back there?" he jabs a finger behind him as the sounds of shredding and killing fill the air.

As Brother's spiritual weapon whips through the door just before Fearless closes it, Jasper talks with the slender man.
Interesting, I bet anything if we were side by side, we'd make a perfect 10. You'd be the 1 and I'd be the Zero (0). Besides the funny numerology involved with you being here, do you have information to impart, or are you just a small barrier for us to go through to advance up the stairs to our main goal - the mad guy.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 Jasper's words are sort of intimidation (+5 bonus vs. +16), but this guy seems like a battle of superior intelectualists might actually be diplomatic vs. antagonistic. He's certainly not a "butter em up with words" diplomacy check.

”It sounds as if someone might not be alright, but you can go check on them if you are the kind that cares about such things.”

The slender man chuckles at Brother Butterfly. ”Oh, I assure you. I am no small barrier.”

Knowledge nature to recognize what the slender man is.

The Mariner saunters in, looking a little behind distracted by the crunching macabre. Then sighting the man in the room, he approaches with the magical broadsword in a ready grip, weight of the pummel resting atop top the pinkie, ready to take a scalp if the man blinks... or lifts his frock.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Cats looks at the SlenderCat with his cat's eyes, looking for. Detect Evil.

Cats doesn't feel the need to add his intimidation to the mix, he's a leave a sleeping cat alone kind of cat.

Jasper smiles, and twists his mustache.

Oh, I assure you. I am no small barrier.”

Well, well. So we now both know that we are no small barrier to each other. Let's now get to the skinny -- no pun about you intended- of your reading and presence here at the Caravansarai.

Brother is looking to place Death Ward on Mariner, when appropriate.

sense motive: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

BB scrutinizes each word from this top hatted dream reader. Trying to glean meanings within meanings from Mr. Skinny.

Nature: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 9 + (6) = 16

Fearless looks back and forth. "Let's just hear him out! What else do we have to lose."

"Let's just hear him out! What else do we have to lose."

Bb nods in agreement, he's going a diplomatic route.

The slender man seems to ignore the Warchmen until he finishes a page i the book he’s reading. He then turns an unnerving gaze upon Brother Butterfly.

”Information.” He drawls, tapping his book with a very long finger. ”What do you know of mathematics. Of accounting. There is a mystery here that I mean to unravel.”

You didn’t stop to investigate this room or the books on your last visit.

Cats eyes flutter as there is mention of maths, then accounting. He knows little of such things. And no desire to learn.

"What? Are we supposed to know catculus, too? We're not wizards, dude, we don't know maths. S~$@."

Fearless sighs. He had been digging through books for weeks now. He moves over beside the slenderman and shoos him off to the side. "Show me what you are looking at. Maybe I can help." He looks around for a pencil and a sheet of scratch paper.

The Mariner circles the man, "I was told there'd be no math."

Jasper laughs when Mariner cites that he doesn't/ didn't want to do math. The man was here to fight, and I'm certain he'll get his chance soon, maybe against Stick-Man here, maybe against enemies above.

The Watchmen are assembled to solve mysteries. Let this accounting mystery not be an exception. It appears that we have the skills to reveal. We can make the number dance, a skill I *probably* used well when tabulating tithes for the Great Desna - Master of these Dreamlands - may Her greatness be praised and recognized.

Contingent -- @GM, so BB's participation is contingent- and totally your call. If this is "work" as in real work, Jasper looks, maybe helps with a blessing of luck and then abandon's the chore saying something like, " you don't need my critical eye - you got this.".
But if his "help" is more as a supervisory role and an ability to be critical thinker for Fearless, He'll fully participate. Asking Desna for two "luck prayers" to spot critical parts. One he takes and one he gives to Fearless (if allowed).
Aha! You mistook that symbol for a Tilde - It's not, so that 5 should really be a 7 to get your sum.

aid other: 1d20 ⇒ 1 I don't know what bonus to add.
luck roll: 1d20 ⇒ 7 Desna's little helper!

Fearless begins looking through the documents and quickly realizes that the numbers in the accounts were either written by a madman or a genius.

Going to need a really good linguistics check here. Looks like Butterfly is offering a luck roll and possibly aid.

We're not even really sure Cats can read. Probably can.

Cats looks at the numbers briefly then throws his hands up.

"I give up! Is the answer 10,000? Because that's a big number, that's probably the answer, but also, it could be 7. 7 is also a good number, I'm sure of cat."

Cats walks away and again takes a guarding position at the rear.

"I was told there was to be no maths. I can't do maths. Catddition, maybe, but that's about cat."

42...

Linguistics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Linguistics; Aid; inspiration: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 + (2) = 29

Fearless wracks his brain, "Carry the one...." He kicks his foot up onto the table for the extra counting toes.

Is there a luck roll? I only ask as it may change your inspiration too.

BB: I believe you offered your lucky and it seems he benefited from it.

Fearless dives into the papers, running tabulations, noting assets, liabilities, and equity, cross checking double entries, carrying the ones, balancing payables and receivables, and applying some big name theorems - Pythagorean, Boolean, Mordenkainen...

In the end he has to give himself a Bigby’s Facepalm at the realization that the bookkeeper was cursed so that letters and numbers would twist into illegibility as they were penned. The answer the slender man is seeking is ultimately incomprehensible.

Fearless points out an explanation. "The answer is that there is no answer. This bookkeeper was cursed." He points out the clear evidence in the book.

”Oh yeah, that’s was pretty clear. Anyone using numbers to count is probably cursed,” Cats agrees readily, relieved on not having to do much summing up of numbers. ”You can’t trust people who use maths. You just cat.”

The slender man glances at Fearless, checks his math, then checks his own notes, and slowly shakes his head. "I believe you are mistaken..." He finally says and picks up another journal to peruse.

"Normally, I would bleed your minds of fear and drink your last terrified thoughts like a fine wine, but the mystery here is quite fascinating, and I'm quite satisfied at the moment with the 7-course meal being slowly digested by the spawn in the bathing chamber down the hall."

"Now, since you've been helpful, and I'd prefer no further interruptions, I will inform you that the Madman upstairs is no longer in residence. I came here with the denizens of Leng, led by one named Weiralai. I suppose she expected me to kill any intruders that came after, but lucky for you, someone studied math. She said she needed to "get rid of" the man upstairs, but seemed hesitant to actually murder him, so I suggested she strand him to the Moon instead. Last I saw, she was flying off in her ship in that direction."

The slender man turns his attention fully back to the cursed writings.

Weiralai? That is a name we know.

Jasper is about to say something more like.. "but we killed her. That's impossible." -- but lots of things are impossible in the land of dreams.
Brother thus shuts his yap, as he doesn't like saying foolish things aloud. He has a reputation to uphold. A fine, sterling reputation.

He thinks about Denizens of Leng. He also thinks of how to get to the moon!
knowledge planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 Leng
planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Moon

"...so I suggested she strand him to the Moon instead."

”Strand him on the where now?” Cats asks incredulously. ”Are you some sort of lunacat? You can’t get to the moon, it’s the *moon*. And I hear it’s made of cheese. And you can’t build a prison out of cheese, I mean, everyone would just eat their way out. That doesn’t make any sense.”

Cats seems very right that he’s right about the Moon, because it only makes sense.

Fearless look defeated. "How are we supposed to get to the moon and ships can't fly, they float in water."

”Interesting.” The slender man mutters over his book. ”Weiralai seems to think you stole one hers.”

When you fought the denizen of leng captain captain and rescued Pinkie, you also ended up in possession of a sentient folding boat that you have completely forgotten about.

"How are we supposed to get to the moon and ships can't fly, they float in water."

"Yeah. Catxactly. Catless is not the only smart one here. Ships are for water, and maybe lava, but I dunno if that works, but definitely for water."

Would we know that boat flies? or even to the moon?

Would we know that boat flies? or even to the moon?

Yes. The Bloodwind flies.

Fearless gets a thought to him as he turns his bag over across the desk until he finds what he is looking for. Scooping what he can aside he pulls out a small paper boat. "The Bloodwind flew when we found Pinkie!" He holds the paper boat in both hands up as a reminder.

Jasper looks at this.
Hmmm. A paper boat. I say we draw straws on who will be the captain.

BB gives a slight pause, then laughs a quick chuckle.
just kidding, obviously Mariner takes the helm. Well Fearless- Let's go upstairs real quick to see if the lunatic left any clues and then sneak past the many armed death monster to get this paper boat activated and flying!

BB goes upstairs to check out the place. perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Then, work with the team to beat a hasty retreat to the front open sandy area.

[Not seeing anything because he's busy thinking up new names for the ship.
And we need to change the name. Let's call it The Watchpost! Anyone have any alcohol on them to Christen it?
But then his facial expression changes, getting reserved. He really shouldn't have mentioned alcohol - he hadn't even thought of the stuff since the Auger's Ritual.

"Your face is paper boat," Cats responds to Brother as he is still annoyed by the introduction of maths to his pleasant waking dream.

"If you say it flies, then prove it, Catterfly. Let's go for a *sky sail* in the *sky* to the *moon*, because that's what you do in your dreams," he crosses his arms and rebuffs with some notes of passive-aggressiveness.

Yeah, sure, let's sail away with me (lads), come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me.

The Mariner kept an eye on the slender man as he followed the others upstairs. "Renaming a ship is about as bad an idea as you having a drink. Nobody renames ship unless they want to end up at the bottom of the ocean", he shakes his head at Butterfly. "Thank goodness Fearless here knows the number arts, cuz' Cats here can only count to nine."

Slipping back outside of the caravansary Fearless holds up the folded boat version of Bloodwind. As you consider the possibility of flying to the moon the boat begins to unfold and grow before your eyes. The size of it soon fills the entire courtyard and you are forced to scurry back to avoid getting crushed.

A rumbling chuckle comes from the ship as you climb aboard.

”You dare to claim me as your own! The Bloodwind is a Leng ship, you fools.”

Taking control of the Bloodwind will require commanding at the helm and making a will save to overcome its ego.

Cats looks over at Brother, as if a crazy talking boat would be right up the man’s alley.

”You’re good at finding the little man in the canoe, maybe you can talk this ship in catbeying orders?”

"Either that or Mariner wrestles it into submission." Fearless immediately regrets using the word submission in front of Brother Butterfly.

A LENG Ship, as if that's supposed to outclass us? We, The Watchmen, have shoved the Leng to the side time and time again. We are more dominant than any Leng. Weirilei -- shucked like corn. Two Leng and a couple yippy hounds inside that building--- Shorn like sheep.
Brother Butterfly thumbs a bit behind him. Indicating the Caravansarai.
the Watchmen are Upper, Upper Class and your Leng infatuation is only upper, middle class at best. NOW STAND DOWN AND LET ME TAKE THE HELM AND MARINER GUIDE YOU!

Brother takes the helm and looks to dominate the vessel.
Dominate!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 If the Ego is against the ship using compulsion on me, I get a +2 to this roll. Total: 22 or 24.

spend my fortune reroll for the day. Take the best result.
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Brother Butterfly takes the helm and promptly makes the Bloodwind his b!tch. The ship grumpbles and goes silent. As the order is given to fly to the moon, it rises from the sand and lurches upwards.

The pale moon that hangs over the Dreamlands is small, but appears larger because it’s very close. Because of its proximity, it’s surprisingly accessible, and though the air between the Dreamlands and its moon is cold is remains breathable. The trip takes a few hours, during which time the silhouette of a few other airborne vessels are spotted in the dark, but none of them seem interested in an encounter.

Upon arrival, the Bloodwind descends quickly to the rocky surface of the moon, seemingly having made this trip before, it passes over the the mostly barren stony terrain an comes to a lake of dark, viscous fluid surrounded by looming hills. A large, windowless building squats at the edge of the lake, constructed of enormous, close-fitting blocks of the pale stone from which the moon is formed.

The building’s largest entrance pierces one end of the structure, with a smaller entrance to the side. The other end of the structure rises several dozen feet above the level of the lake like the humped back of a great stone beast.

As the Bloodwind approaches the main entrance a figure emerges from the building. Wrapped in rags and shielding it's eyes from the moondust kicked up by the landing ship, it appears to be a leng ghoul.

"Bloodwind?" The ghoul calls. "What brings you to the prison? Is Captain Vadrack aboard?"

The ship growls, but still firmly under Brother Butterfly's command, does not reply.

Fearless casually leans over the railing. "Nope, just us. Looking for the King in Yellow. Seen him around? You help us out and maybe we can get you off this moon."

The ship growls, but still firmly under Brother Butterfly's command, does not reply.

Cats shakes his head.

”Catterfly, we literally just left your wife. And now, right before us, you’re...starting another relationship?” Cats isn’t surprised. ”I know you like big boats, I cannot...I uh...wow..”

Oh man, this whole scene is amazing and the “relationship pun is golden. Bottlecaps for all.

Yes. I like big boats.
Jasper chuckles, thinking of a bawdy Bard's song he heard at the Inn in Thrushmoor. It's lyrics were just so close to what Cat's was saying.

Back to the task at hand.
Vadrack. Vadrack. I'm trying to recall that name.

I'm on a Boat!