
"Cats" |

Covering Fire, +4 to Cats and BB AC vs Red.
Lol. Excellent work, Catless! Usual AC is 24, but with your bonus, neither the 24 nor the 27 hit Cats!
Round 7
Cats steps into flank and hacks away at red.
1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 18 + 2 = 39 to hit;
1d10 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 slashing damage.
1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 = 23 to hit;
1d10 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 slashing damage.
Pot crit?
1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 2 = 22 to hit;
1d10 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 slashing damage.
Melee Curveblade:
[ dice]1d20+18[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] slashing damage.
[ dice]1d20+13[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] slashing damage.
Vorpal Curveblade:
[ dice]1d20+18[/dice] to hit;
[ dice]1d10+15[/dice] damage.
AC: 24
HP: 80/80
LoH: 2/4 used (2d6)
0/1 used Hero's Defiance
0/10 boots of speed
[ dice]1d20+12+11d6d6d1d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 5, 4, 3, 5, 6, 2, 2, 8, 8, 5, 7, 4, 1, 2, 3) + 8 + 1 = 83 damage.
Rapid:
[ dice]1d20+12+11d6d6d1d8 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 1, 6, 2, 5, 4) + 8 + 1 = 35 damage.
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+12+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
[ dice]1d20+7+1[/dice] to hit; (PBS)
[ dice]1d8+8+1[/dice] damage.
Catrenrae’s Gift: 0/2 used.
Mini Smite: 0/1 used: Once per day as a swift action, you can add your Charisma bonus to your attack rolls and deal 1 additional point of damage for each class level you have against evil creatures for 1 round. You must have a good alignment to take this trait.
+8 Bab +7 Dex +1 magic +1 PBS -2 DA -2 Rapid= +13/+13 to hit
+3 Str +1 magic +4 DA +1 PBS = +9 damage

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How are you all doing? I see lots of blood, and some monster saliva on Mariner, but has Desna closed enough of your wounds?
The war razors continue to cut at the glob creature. BB usually uses them to shave from head to toe -- keeping his curled mustache as the lone island of hair-- but this encounter has tasked his spiritual war razors to cut a foreign substance.
WR1: 1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 3 = 15 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
WR1: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 3 = 19 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
WR2: 1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 3 = 30 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
WR2: 1d20 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 3 = 7 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
BB still has an action, but I'm not certain what's needed in the way of healing my fellow PC's. Please advise how your health is in character.
Possible crit on WR2.
WR2: 1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 3 = 14 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

DM Rah |

Fearless let’s loose a barrage of magic, but they fail to penetrate the strange substance the monster is made of. Just shy of the SR
Cats dodges between tentacles with a little help from Fearless, then hacks into the monster. The Mariner cuts pieces away too.
Brother Butterfly’s razors slash and slash.
Slam vs Mariner: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
If hit, then grab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18
Slam vs Mariner: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
If hit, then grab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24
Slam vs Cats: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
If hit, then grab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36
Slam vs Cats: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
If hit, then grab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33
Crit Confirmation vs Mariner: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Crit Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
INITIATIVE - PCs up!
Fearless
Butterfly
Mariner
Cats
Monster -111

"Fearless" |

Fearless continues to pelt numerous missiles out into the beast before it can drain Cats too much. "Hang in there Cats!"
Magic Missile: 5d6 + 5 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 4, 2) + 5 = 23
SR Check: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 = 23
HP 74/74
AC 21 (25 w/ Mental Barrier)
Spells: 1st 2/7 | 2nd 5/5 | 3rd 3/4 | 4th 2/2
Inspiration 9/9
Tactician 1/1 (Rounds 3/3)
Challenge 1/1
Phrenic Pool 0/4
Wand of Magic Missile (3rd) 14 charges remaining
Wand of Unnatural Lust (48/50)
Ring of Tactical Precision (Cats, Brother Butterfly)

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Last rounds action. Channel Energy. I think it can benefit Mariner and Cats. Please take healing: 7d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 3, 6, 1, 5) = 28
Brother looks at how his war razor is doing against this creature and decides that the day might be saved with a bit of Desna's luck!
He reaches out and touches Mariner.
May Desna allow your furious focus to strike true!
The blades continue to try and nick and cut the creature.
WR1: 1d20 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 6 = 30 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
WR1: 1d20 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 6 = 17 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
WR1: 1d20 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 6 = 19 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
WR1: 1d20 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 6 = 24 damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Mariner, you have luck next round. You get to reroll your attacks and take the best result.

DM Rah |
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Fearless’ magic finally breaks through, splatting Cats and the Mariner with eyes, teeth, and eldritch cthugoo. Blades then finish the monster off.
Standing over jiggling nasty, the Watchmen hear clapping from the southern side of the library. There, standing in a doorway recently unbarred, is a familiar face, though this one is devoid of the strange stretched quality the brothers he left behind to guard the Old Infirmary in Cassomir.
”Well done!” Miacknian Mun smiles. ”Are you the rescue party?”

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Brother Butterfly smiles. He twists his curled mustache with his right hand as he extends his left hand is a peace gesture.
Rescue Party? We are probably not your definition of a rescue party, as I find it hard to believe that someone who *intentionally* traveled hundred of miles here and *intentionally* infiltrated this museum is in need of being rescued.
BB looks to read the man's face- his original faced and not some golem(ed) version).
sense motive: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
We have been a couple steps behind you in your travels. We know you are not here by accident or without having planned at least some of this chaos.
Let us speak candid and frank. Strip the floors and get down to the brass tacks. Sounds good?

"Cats" |
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Cats falls to his knees, gasping heavily, and takes a few moment to catch his breath. He pauses wipe away the blood and saliva. He will retrieve his dagger, and also stomp a few eyeballs for the satisfying ‘pop’…a small revenge for the unwanted squeezings he was offered.
He watches Catterfly neatly sidesteps him to make acquaintances of the rescued.
He will need a few hits from the healing wand.
6d8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 7, 2, 8, 7, 5) + 6 = 41 CLW

"The Mariner" |

The Mariner spits out a tooth, not his own but one of the goob that had flown into his mouth. He picks poor Cats off the floor and helps him with the catnip stick. A hearty slap on the back then he moves to join Brother's side.
"Oh its the Convict, you really like prisons don'tcha."
assist diplo: 1d20 ⇒ 3

DM Rah |

Mun blinks at Brother Butterfly and Fearess and the Mariner. ”Did you say you were following me? Whatever for? And what’s this about intentional chaos, captives and convicts and prisons, oh my! I’m afraid I have no idea what you’re talking about. I am just a poor academic that chose the wrong day to visit the library. Who are you people?”
1d20 ⇒ 6

"Cats" |

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Sense Motive
Cats listens as he dusts himself off and gets off the ground.
”Yeah,” Cats says. ”But you best be honest with us. You don’t want to make us cat. You wouldn’t like us when we’re cat.”

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BB thinks internally as he tries to gage Mun's replies and body language. Initially reading it all wrong. Hmm, this guy really doesn't know? Maybe he has amnesia?
once Cats, and Fearless start calling him out as a liar, BB decides to jump on that band wagon. Mostly because he likes the way the group is sending this conversation.
Yes, as my diminiative companion cites - drop the crazy fool act. We've had conversations with your Derro business partners, who by the way were lookin to rob your place once they found out you were gone.
We used to work for Lowls. We know he's mentioned us before. While we don't work for him anymore- we *are* looking for him. We know you've partnered up and are turning this museum into some upside down version of itself.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21 If you view this more as a bluff- my bonus is +9.

"The Mariner" |

"None of us wants to see this little guy get upset”, the Mariner thumbs at Fearless's twitchy eyes, ”He gets all weepy and pouty like a child actor. Things start bursting into flames. People too. And we're in a library”. He makes motion with his hands of a firestarter.
Not threatening yet, just conversation

DM Rah |
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Mun’s pretense drops when Butterfly mentions the derro, the prison, and especially Lowls.
”So.. you’re telling me Haserton didn’t send you?” He glances at Fearless and flinches, mostly thanks to the Mariner’s comment, but also more than a little because the halfling looks a bit deranged, which is how he normally looks to the other Warchmen, so to them the flinch is a true mystery. ”Ok, alright, hold your horses. I think perhaps we find ourselves in the same boat, so to speak. I came here with the Count a few weeks ago to help with research - he’s positively useless with the Dewey decimal system, or basic alphabetizing really.”
Seeing that his only chance to escape the Mysterium is through a group of men that just tore apart monsters he couldn’t handle himself, Mun tells his story.
Upon arriving at Katheer, Lowls and Mun made their way to the Mysterium. Lowls knew of the hard times faced by the Stewards and was eventually able to bribe Elder Lythiin—the present keeper of the university—in gold and rare manuscripts in order to gain unfettered access to the library.
Mun and Lowls slowly made their way down to the Soul of the library with some locally hired guards (in case the stories of the library’s dangerous protections were true), and found the Necronomicon chained and warded within. Over the following seemingly endless hours and days, the pair translated several sections of the vile tome, and in unraveling dark knowledge learned that Neruzavin was in a region of southwestern Casmaron known as the Parchlands. With this knowledge, Lowls began to put the final pieces of his expedition in place, sending arcane messages to an old associate named Biting Lash in Okeno for her to expect him shortly. Unfortunately, the knowledge found within the Necronomicon was not enough for Lowls; he wanted the tome for his own, and made one last trip into the Soul—this time to steal the book.
On this unauthorized visit, Lowls and his group triggered the Mysterium’s defenses. However, due to some strange influence, perhaps from the Necronomicon itself, the wards were subverted. Instead of summoning angelic guardians and other outsiders, creatures like hounds of Tindalos and proto-shoggoths manifested in the breached library and immediately attacked both Lowls’s group and the Mysterium’s own protectors.
The last time Mun saw Lowls was in the Soul at the deepest heart of the Mysterium, tearing free the Necronomicon from a chain meant to bind it to the library. Mun fled as the horrors converged and assumes now that Lowls is still locked in the Soul with the tome.

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Yes, and who are the group of "helpers" that The Count hired? What type of specialists has he employed?
As for leaving Count Lowls in the Soul, I don't think that's do-able. A part of me wants the man brought to justice.

"The Mariner" |

”He's here?...”, the Mariner says, not expecting what Mun just said. ”Lowl is here”, he adds more firmly.
”Wait - are we dreaming?”, the Mariner looks around with growing excitement. The man, the myth, the legend, the scumbag he's been searching for since the greasy sausages at Briarstone is a few floors below his feet. He approaches Mun, who now appears to the Mariner as Lowl's house pet. Then says with low chilling tone, ”Is he trapped or setting a trap? ”.
Intimidate interrogate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

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Answer honestly and fully Mun. I know what it's like to deeply lament the people you end up traveling with. So, your life can still be spared as long as you are no longer rooting for Dreamland Armmegedon with Lowls.
Yeah, Brother can certainly see how Mun had been seeking knowledge and power, but had looked around and discovered he was traveling with a bunch of f@*$ ups that were going to get him killed.
BB can empathize with Mun. Brother had thought those similar thoughts often, he'd been there. He'd done that.... and yet he was still traveling with them!

DM Rah |
2 people marked this as a favorite. |

”The creature in the attic?” Mun chuckles. ”That cute little thing? Oh, shoot… I hope I left enough alchemical growth inhibitor for it. Without a daily dose it could get really big.”
To Butterfly, he shrugs and gestures to the ooze remains. ”I’m pretty sure my ‘helpers’ were eaten.”
When the Mariner threstens him with a point blank blast of pirate breath, Mun flinches and covers his nose. ”Hey now, my new friends! I want no part of armageddon (a real one or that awful Opperan play about Starfall featuring Sir Willis Bruce), but I can point the way to the soul, where I am sure the dead corpse of that fool can be found.”

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Without a daily dose it could get really big.
With that, BB chuckles.
You call him a fool. What did you learn that made him take these foolish steps? He MUST have gleaned something from the Necronomicon that you can share. When he said he was planning another trip, you *must* have balked and said,' Are you serious? You dragged me all the way to Katheer in Qadira and now a few hundred mile trek into Casmaron?'You asked Lowls THAT question right? What was his answer?
Also, who is Neruzavin? You dropped his name and didn't man-splain a thing.
Knowledge planes or religion for info on Neruzavin?

"Cats" |
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”The creature in the attic?” Mun chuckles. ”That cute little thing? Oh, shoot… I hope I left enough alchemical growth inhibitor for it. Without a daily dose it could get really big.”
”Yeah, no, it’s not getting any bigger now. Ever. Ever catting again,” Cats agrees. ”Also, your ‘home’ hobgobs are gone too. They weren’t very hospitable or helpful.” Cats crosses his arms, still vexed by Mun.
He will let Brother’s queries shape his response. It’s good that Brother is also properly annoyed.

DM Rah |
1 person marked this as a favorite. |

”First things first.” Mun says. ”Neruzavin is a place, not a person. It’s somewhere deep in the Parchlands, and Lowls was trying to find it so he can go there, and travel through it to Carcosa so might beseech the King in Yellow to cure him of some kind of madness he’s suffering from. Said he stepped in a Blot or some such and can’t get it off his mind.”
”As to why I was helping him, we’ll, isn’t that what old friends do?” Mun then frowns. ”In hindsight, I should probably be more discerning with who I call friends in the future.”
”As far as leaning Lowls in the Soul, I’m all for it. Let’s get out of here and let someone else clean up this mess!”

"The Mariner" |
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I want no part of armageddon (a real one or that awful Opperan play about Starfall featuring Sir Willis Bruce)
https://paizo.com/campaigns/DMRahsStrangeAeons/discussion&page=6#287
I kinda liked that play.
”That's what they all say about the villain being dead”, the Mariner comments on Lowls corpse, ”Then they show up at the insane asylum with memories missing. So I'm thinking we leave you - the accomplice - here, and we'll come back with his corpse”.
This guy can turn on us

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So many options. So many paths that they can tread.
There's returning Mun to the surface and hand him over to the guards.
There is the prospect of leaving the museum all together and going to the island port looking for this Lash creature to get more info.
There's the prospect of delving into the "Soul" and ringing Lowl's neck whether he's alive or dead.
So many options, and yet, Jasper is a cleric of the goddess of luck. He needs to not rely on his will, but Her will in this situation. He already asked Her to "find the path". This whole time in the museum, She has been laying it out for him (and continues to do so), so he should heed his religious blessings.
Alright, alright, my brain is hurting from how each person wants to go in a different direction! It's like someone tied five squirrels together by their tails and it's now destructive mayhem.
Let me put order back into this motley crew.
First order of business, we are going to head upstairs again with Mun and hand him over to the watchful eyes of the Museum's clerical order. They will have questions that he'll need to answer before they let us leave. Let's hand him over and then continue on our quest. I prayed to Desna earlier to give me a path to follow, and She has. I'm following it, I hope you join me for my protection and yours.
@Gm - Using follow the path, looking for the direction and room that Desna wants me to go to next. If I recall, the spell was cast with it's intent to be focused on the path towards the Soul.
Can you (GM) point us in whichever room/direction that is in your next summary post?

"Cats" |

Cats looks at Brother Butterfly and wonder what madness possesses him, but then nods in agreement as the likely destination was either a fight to the death or a pretty sweet orgy, and the latter would suit Cats just fine.
"Yeah, let's see where Catna takes us."

"The Mariner" |

The Mariner was about to bite a pair of nuts and leave the body, sniffing at Mun like a bloodhound. Then Brother tugging at the leash gives a moment to think. Turning to Mun with a pointing finger before backing off,
"Lucky day... ”, then to the Watchmen, ”Alright Lowl's not going anywhere I suppose. Let's return to the deck and come back later.”
Is there time for a fast forward bazaar trip to upgrade a sword?

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Fully expecting push back from The Watchmen, BB splutters out some words, as he wasn't ready for universal compliance. Obviously the wind has been let out of his sails.
You.. well... okay... yes....
As you adroitly said, let's see where Desna takes us.
BB starts walking towards the top with Mun in tow.

DM Rah |

”I imagine tying a bunch of squirrels together by their tails is much like tying a bunch of rats together by their tails. It’s great fun! Unless they escape into the sewers, then not so much. Let me tell you about the Rat King of Absolom…”
The Watchmen lead Mun upstairs and hand him over to the guards.
Mariner mentioned a jaunt back to the city for some shopping. Upgrades take time, but purchases might be possible. What did you want to get?

DM Rah |

Upgrading through crafting would cost 6000gp and take a few days (and could mean more mayhem from the Mysterium). A swap out would be quicker, but cost more (7000gp). Assuming you can afford the 7000, let’s go with the quicker option and jump back in.
After a quick trip into the city to acquire a new sword for the Mariner, the Watchmen return to the Mysterium and follow Brother Butterfly’s spell back down through the halls. Descending another level requires finding four more angelic statues, and the magic takes the group quickly to 3 of them not far from where they fought the Cthulhu-oozes. Turning the statues heads, the group is then led east, twisting through a hall that turns down a small passage to the final statue. Once that one is turned a grinding of stone is heard from beyond a nearby wall. Backtracking a little the group heads south, then turns east again…
A preternatural stench hangs in the air here among the vandalism and chaos of the chamber. Dimly lit by a couple remaining candles, you can just make out the remnants of bent, broken, and gnawed cages litter the room, along with mounds of books and papers. Blocks of stone from the ceiling and walls litter the ground, partially obscuring the angelic gate you’re looking for.

"Cats" |

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 Perception
"What is that smell?" Cats also wrinkles his nose. "Catting reeks in here, or...or...is that smell coming from you, Catiner? What did you buy and is it garlic infused?"
Cats has his bow out and is looking around.

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This looks ominous.
perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24 DC 30
looking closely,
I must be wrong. Things look just fine, if not dangerous.
BB prays for protection vs evil 10 foot circle, but advances into the room, unaware of any true menace.