DM Rah's Strange Aeons

Game Master Kobash

Pinkie flais his weapons around hopeing to hit his foe and not his companion

shortsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
dagger: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Fearless puts a bolt in the apostle's leg. He grunts, but it doesn't sow him down much.

Brother Butterfly heals the Mariner with the power of Desna.

Mad with rage, the Mariner pulls his sword, but Desna's luck is fleeting and he misses with a wild swing that injured the couch instead.

@Mariner: no luck this round. BB healed instead.

Meanwhile, in the storage room Cats and Pinkie chase around the frightened apostle in a comedy of errors.

Apostle vs Mariner AC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Female Apostle vs Mariner AC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The apostles continue their attack. The man misses completely, but the woman manages to stab the Mariner in the arm.

INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16) *mage armor
Brother Butterfly (19/19) *diseased -2 Dex, (1 save), rash -2Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Mariner (6/27) *diseased -2 Dex, -1 Con (1 save)
Cats (17/17)
Pinkie (8/17) *rash -2 Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Apostles (orange -3, purple frightened 3/3)

"Enough Boy let yer uncle have a go" Pinkies stance changes slightly as he continues to attack the Apostle

short sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
dagger: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

+4HP for rage

The Mariner continues the blood rage, going nuts and wildly swinging the blade at the woman.

rage, power attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 17
dam: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 10

Round 4, Init 16

Cats slashes again at the jerk who is a jerk.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 to hit;
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 piercing damage.

Keep them off balance. These Apostles seem to do really well when they can flank and distract. When that happens the one that is blindsiding Mariner seems to get in a good stab.
It's time to turn the tables. Keep them off balance with my greatest weapon, my words.

"Ah Vren, you are in a very bad position. See, while you are battling my friend here - Desna is healing all those wounds you gave. In the meantime, I am moving to open that door to DARKNESS.
Once opened, you will hear sobs, and voices, and FEEL the blackness. DEATH is in that room, and you are going to be pushed right in there along with him.

"
cure light wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
move 5 feet closer to door.

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Cats, with sword now bloodied, looks over his shoulder at Brother Butterfly.

"What are you catting talking about, Catterfly? Death, doors, and darkness?! Are you sure you're okay?" Cats worries.

Fearless reloads his crossbow, firing once again at the apostle stabbing Mariner.

Hand Crossbow; Melee; PBS: 1d20 + 5 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 4 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Fearless gives the apostle another bolt, making him flinch and glare past the Mariner at him.

Brother Butterfly continues to heal the Mariner who slashes the woman across the leg with his sword.

Cats and Pinkie corner the third apostle and manage to draw blood from the poor frightened crazy bastard.

Apostle vs Mariner AC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Female Apostle vs Mariner AC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Apostle vs Pinkie AC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Ganging up on the Mariner the male apostle slams his club into his knee while the woman jumps on his back and stabs him again.

The wounded man in the storage room recovers his nerve and screams like a banshee before clubbing Pinkie across the head, nearly knocking him out.

INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16) *mage armor
Brother Butterfly (19/19) *diseased -2 Dex, (1 save), rash -2Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Mariner (5/27) *diseased -2 Dex, -1 Con (1 save)
Cats (17/17)
Pinkie (2/17) *rash -2 Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Apostles (orange -5, red -10, purple -12)

Are you sure you're okay?

Don't worry Cats, I am all right.You must have missed it when I WINKED. They aren't paying attention to me anyway. Hopefuly that will change soon.

Desna bless us. We have been wounded by their transgressions. Bruised by their iniquities. Chastised by their false God. For all these actions, we shall be healed!

Pausing a bit, BB Selectively Channels Energy and then moves to the door. Opening it if he can.

Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Round 6, Init 16

Cats slashes again at the crazy bastard (the purple guy, not Pinkie).

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 to hit;
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 piercing damage.

Fearless' head snaps to the north as Pinkie screams in pain. "Damned crazies stopped running around."

He tries to formulate some sort of a plan so these fools don't get themselves killed.

"Back them into the doorway!"

His hand fumbles as he reloads his crossbow, hoping one of these crazy bastards doesn't take a blade through their neck anytime soon.

Move-Reload
Standard- use Tactician (Everyone gets the covering fire feat)

"Oh you crusty crazy b@%#$! I'll take you both on!!" the Mariner throws himself into the corner and doubles up on his grip of the long sword. Seeing the flank open, he strikes down ibn the man instead.

raging power attack, flank, pugnacious damage: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23
pugnacious damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 5) + 10 = 19

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Assuming that The Mariner took out the big guy.

"Ah, the white Bishop moves to position. Allowing an opening for the white Rook to take the Black Rook, and at the same time putting the Black Queen(King) in Check.
So, little queen, are we to play to the end game? Or is it really check-mate?"

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Distracted by Brother's words, Cats swings poorly at his target.

"Kings? Queens? Rookeries? What are you catting on about now?" Cats asks again, clearly distracted.

Fearless looks over at Cat's and swirls a finger around his head nodding at BB.

Kast, I am talking about Desnian Chess! Haven't you ever played Chess? Either Chelaxian or Nexian Chess at least?

I'm a talker Kast, that's what I do. A preacher must preach! Can you please just try to go with it in the middle of combat? Maybe ask these questions outside the earshot of our quarry?

In a softer voice and to himself, I can't believe he stepped on my moment. It was a good analogy of Desnian Chess and he stepped on it.

Turning his attention to the surviving strumpet. He prepares to ask Desna to heal the party some more. (next round).

Cats continues to fight distractedly.

I did *NOT* step on his chest. I don't even know what chest he's talking about. Or even know how to play chest. Now, I know how to play with a woman's chest, be she Taldan or Nexian or Nubian, but I don't think that's what he was talking about. You know what would be keen right now? Some women. Yeah, that would be good. With chests. Of beer. And the other kinds of chests too. Yeah...

Cats has a dreamy smile on his face.

Fearless decides tactics are in order and tries to rally the Watchmen.

Brother Butterfly channels Desna's power and heals his companions. His words, however, fall on deaf ears as the woman seems in the throes of a mindless frenzy.

Channeling his rage, the Mariner ignores the woman for a moment and takes down the crazed man before him with a slash that disembowels the apostle.

Over in the storage room the apostle avoids a thrust from Cats,

Pinkie Red Destiny: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Pinkie dagger: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Pinkie stabs the man again, leaving him badly wounded, but not down.

Female Apostle vs BB AC 12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Apostle vs Pinkie AC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The crazed woman leaps at Brother Butterfly, screaming over and over. "Shut up! Shut UP! SHUT! UUUUP!!"

INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16) *mage armor
Brother Butterfly (15/19) *diseased -2 Dex, (1 save), rash -2Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Mariner (12/27) *diseased -2 Dex, -1 Con (1 save)
Cats (17/17)
Pinkie (14/17) *rash -2 Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Apostles (red -10, purple -14)

The Mariner stays on the couch and clobbers the woman as she goes flying at Brother's sermon on mammaries.

raging power attack flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
dam: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

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Fearless fires a bolt through the door, distracting the cultist assaulting the Mariner.

Hand crossbow; Melee; PBS; Aid another: 1d20 + 5 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 4 + 1 = 13

"Knock him out while his head is turned."

Everyone gets +4 to AC from Aid Another.

"Exactly what I wanted! Check Mate.
"
Taking a wound wasn't exactly what he wanted, but he did need them to stop beating on The Mariner. Brother Butterfly makes certain to stay in flanking position and brandishes his mace looking for opportunities.

He wields the mace, but channels Desna's energy, hoping to close the wound just received.
selective channel: 1d6 ⇒ 3

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Pinkie takes a couple futile swings at his opponent before taking a step back and taunts his foe. "Your Gods have failed you you nitwit. You'll bleed to death before you can hit me again"

short sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
dagger: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round 7, Init 16

Cats slashes again at the crazy bastard.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 to hit;
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 piercing damage.

"Catrender and I won't have to kill you!"

Cats takes down the man in the storage room, but Brother Butterfly and the Mariner have trouble subduing the mad woman, though Desna's healing is giving them the advantage.

Distracted by Fearless' near miss, the woman turns and throws herself at the crossbow wielding halfling and tries to hit him with a flask she was holding in her off hand!

Provoking AoOs from Mariner and Butterfly.

Improvised weapon charge at Fearless AC FF 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 *Catch off guard feat

INITIATIVE
Fearless (16/16) *mage armor
Brother Butterfly (18/19) *diseased -2 Dex, (1 save), rash -2Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Mariner (15/27) *diseased -2 Dex, -1 Con (1 save)
Cats (17/17)
Pinkie (14/17) *rash -2 Dex/Cha for 10 hours
Apostles (red -10)

Round 8, Init 16

"Hey! Leave the halfling alone! It's not his fault he's crazy like a cat!"

Cats moves to poke at the remaining foe.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 to hit;
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 piercing damage.

Dropping his hand crossbow Fearless draws the silver masterwork dagger from his belt. With shaking hands he grips the dagger in both hands and lunges for the Apostles throat.

Silver Masterwork Dagger; fight defensively: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Though the sweat from his hands causes the dagger to slip from his grasp.

+2 AC from fighting defensively

The sudden thought of running a woman through with a longsword kicks the Mariner out of his blood lust.

Aoo grapple, rage: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16

"Knock her out Brother!"

end rage, pin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

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Making a grapple requires a standard action. An Attack of Opportunity only allows you to make a single melee attack.

OK, then switch action to AOO: rage longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16

if longsword hits: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

The Mariner cuts down the woman as she makes for Fearless, turning her mad charge into a face down slide that leaves her crumpled at the halfling's feet.

Combat over.

In the office is a stained couch and small desks covered in paint flakes - thick dust fills the area from where part of the ceiling plaster has cracked and crumbled. Nurses used to work and take brief breaks here, and remnants of the mundane work they performed here remain amid the chaos of looting.

The storage room contains medicine cabinets which have been thoroughly ransacked. They once stored bandages, dried herbs, mundane tinctures, and chemical medications useful in treating a spectrum of ailments. The apostles here seem to have enjoyed going through them, leaving many empty bottles, flasks, and syringes scattered about the area.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

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Fearless lowers the dagger back into his sheathe, glad he didn't have to actually use it as he looks down at the Apostle. "Blind faith gives such conviction." He says as he looks up to Brother Butterfly.

His foot steps creak on the boards and dust flutters into the air as he runs his hands along the desk to clear off a smudge.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

He picks up a book wrapped in butcher's paper that bears the word "con scated". Inside is a Taldan quarto titled Her Majesty’s Honorable Nightcap by Charent. "This book is worth a bit of gold. Not that it matters much in here."

Moving over to the medicine cabinets Fearless riffles through them. "Might still be something of use."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"Look here." he tosses several bandages and salves out to Brother Butterfly. "Enough for a healer's kit and a couple of Potions of CLW's."

Healer's Kit (1) and Potion of CLW (2)

Reacting to what Fearless mentioned.
"I don't think these three were sycophants. Looking at the clues all around, they reacted the way they did because they were stoned out of their minds. The girl tried to bum-rush you with a whino flask!
Great work all. Especially you Mariner. You got pummeled good. Let Deana present her grace."

Cast CLW.
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

BB IS interested in the makings of a healers bag. He takes that, but he doesn't need the potions. Others should take those.

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The Mariner chugs a couple of his potions like lemonade after exertion. "What? You really are a sop to fall for that boohoo trick in the darkroom. I'm not tackling nuffin. Tie a rope to the brother and toss him in like bai- I mean fishing line." ::mmm that's good:: licking his lips. "Minty", tossing the empty vials to Brother.

CLWx2 nice...: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 7) + 2 = 14

Cats sifts through the bodies of the downed, looking for things of interest.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Perception

"Ayep, just that, huh?" Cats says, watching as the Mariner guzzles both potions. He looks around for another way forward. That last room has some wooden(?) things,but no way forward? Right, GM Rah?

"Maybe we cat back to Winter and explain about the darkness. Maybe she can 'enlighten' us, if you know what I cat."

Happy to go back if we are out of healing. We've done a bit this day.

On the way back (if we go back), Cats will check his barricades.

As Brother Butterfly heals the Mariner and has him drink a potion to mend the rest of his wounds, Cats searches bodies and looks around for another way forward, but doesn't find one.

Mariner: you only need to use one of the potions to get to full HP.
Cats: the apostles have padded armor and clubs, knives, or improvised weapons. As far as you can tell there is no other way forward except through the dark room.

Shoulda clarify, the Mariner was using his personal potions from earlier loot, not the ones just found, I had marked it off on the loot page. But if only one is needed, then one is all he drinks.

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"Maybe we cat back to Winter and explain about the darkness. Maybe she can 'enlighten' us, if you know what I cat."

Fearless groans at the pun as he places his head into his hands. "Speaking with Winter is better than talking to the darkness any day." Fearless turns on his heels to return as he mumbles to himself. "Though we have done far more in a few short days than that entire lot sitting there weepinga nd moaning about the situation. At least we will die on our own terms and not wait for it to come to us."

Cats grabs the armor, clubs, and knives, especially if the party is going back to the chapel.

"Maybe we shoulda left one of them alive so that we could cat them about the darkness," Cats meows. "Might be that one of the prisoners could tell us why the crying lad won't come out or why it's dark. Somehow they seem to get to and fro, right?"

Cats loads up. Once out of earshot of the darkness, Kast comes to speak to Brother.

"Say Brother Catterfly? Didn't you want to wear the yellow robes when we come back?"

I have a ton of healing still left.

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we don't need to sleep. Let's keep going
"I think we need to talk with the child. Maybe get the toy soldiers. We also don't want to dawdle, let's move quickly at the Sanctuary."

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You are right Kast, When we come back to this part of the Asylum, we will want to put on the Yellow Robes and I will use some of that paint to put flame symbols on our foreheads.

"Bring the boy and the toys. He'll want to talk to his brother right? Pinkie is good with kids, let him have a go at it." the Mariner makes his way back.

Kast agrees with Mariner.

"Yeah, we'll bring the cat back to his brother. Everything should be cat then."

Dropping off the loot to the Chapel, speaking to the prisoners about the darkness, talking to Winter about the darkness, getting the brother to come help. Everyone, take a task?

Fearless stuffs the loot into his special bag. "Sounds fine. I will take care of the gear."

Don't want to speak to anymore people than I have to at the moment. I need to figure out who isn't trying to get at me first."

He smiles up at Cats. "Ready when you are"

I will talk to Winter about the various updates. Tell her whose bodies we have encountered as we seem to have names for most of them. With Captain York there, he will know the patients. I'll also tell them about the cook that makes cookies.

I am at work but will try to write a little thing at lunch for Winter. Making Diplomacy Roll now to keep things moving.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

With the nearby areas secured and warm water restored, the Chapel is slowly finding a level of calm thanks to the hard work of the Watchmen. If it wasn't for the sickly yellow light filtering through the narrow windows, painting all of the survivors like jaundiced victims of a wasting disease, the place might seem like a normal asylum for the mentally ill.

The Mariner checks in with Captain York at the barricades and learns that the apostles at the nurse station were all highly disturbed patients from Ward of the Wicked. Noting the apostle's mention of fresh cookies, York rubs his head and looks off to the north. "Ivory Garidine is Briarstone's assistant chef, and known for her cookies. If she is still alive then the apostles must hold the kitchens."

Brother Butterfly, shadowed by Fearless, approaches Lady Winter and gives her a progress, then asks advice about the voice in the darkness.

"It was asking for Brenton?" Winter asks in a hushed tone, careful not to let her voice carry to the young man who is sitting across the Chapel. "I'm not sure you should involve Brenton unless you are sure it is his brother Debis. And not a threat. Many strange things are afoot in the asylum... doppelgängers and restless spirits among them. What do you think it wanted?"

As Pinkie heads over to speak with Brenton, Cats finds himself looking on without any real assignment, his eyes drawn to the shapes cast by the young man's shadow lantern...

Lady Winter.
Brother Butterfly gives an appropriate bow of respect. He also waits for her to give an acknowledgement that he can speak. Normally, Jasper likes to "rule the roost", but he knows that his report bears some bad news about the kitchens and the cook and the bodies in all the rooms they have encountered. So, as long as someone isn't sitting in his (Dr Losandro's former) chair and at HIS desk, he wants to play this interaction with Lady Winter cool, contrite, and controlled. They can only stay 10 -15 minutes before he wants The Watchmen to continue their exploration. Time is running short.

Our exploration of the different rooms has lead us to find a few deceased. Because of the threat of Dopplegangers, I think it's prudent to report those that were identified.
Mrs. Freling - she was found in her wheelchair. Dead.
Orderly Hobes - She was also found, having given a solid fight during the riots doing what was right, but succumbing to her wounds.

We also lost a fellow Watchmen to a terrible fiend called a NightGut. Tall Thin flying creature. Nightmarish. This thing flew off with The Twins. We were later able to kill it, and avenge his death.
Lastly, there was Jalpine, who was strapped to a bed in the common area and turned into a ghoul - right in front of our eyes - by a dream invoked by The Tatterman.
Those nightmares are dangerous - it seems that This Sanctuary is also a sanctuary against the Tatterman's influence. Praise be to Desna.
You should keep people close to it's safety. There are spiritual "haunts" that are out there and they are active. If anyone of your guards explores, while they will find a memorial to The Twins; but only trouble and death otherwise.

Cats moves over to the lantern, fearing no evil here in the Chapel.

"Pinkie, does that look like a catting cat to you in the light?" Cats moves forward, first to trace the pattern in the light, then to examine the hole in the shade that produced it. "Ha! Neat! I think that's also a hand."

Cats tries to touch the hand.