DM Rah's Strange Aeons

Game Master Kobash

Fearless seems a bit better as they semi-barricade the area and head to the Manor. "How long do you think those have been down there." Fearless points to the hole. "That shit isn't right? Nothing in this town is?"

He follows the others to the door, his mind thinking of all the possibilities and hard questions that still need answered. "Do you think we did this? Or knew about it?"

The Mariner axes the door to open and it obliges without argument.

The room beyond is furnished with a big table, eight chairs, and a glass-paned cupboard. The room smells of smoke from the fireplace, and a few dirty dishes, an emptied wine bottle, and used cutlery testify to a recent meal consumed at the table.

To Cats the room appears empty at first glance and he relaxes a bit. However, the rest of the Watchmen hear the scrape of shoe leather on wood floors an instant before two men rise from behind chairs and hurl daggers at those in the doorway!

Dagger at Mariner FF AC 18: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Damage + Sneak Attack: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (1, 1) = 6
Dagger at Cats FF AC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage + Sneak Attack: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (1, 2) = 6

Cats watches dumbly as a dagger spins past his face. The Mariner isn’t so lucky as the other lacerates his cheek.

Cats is the only one who doesn’t notice the hiding guards and loses out on the surprise round.

INITIATIVE - surprise round! Reminder: one move or standard action only
Guards
Mariner (77/88) *shield of faith 38 rnds
Brother Butterfly (46/53) *expeditious retreat 29 rounds
Fearless (40/40)

I know I've already done a lot of talking and we are in combat, So I hope it's okay for more roleplaying since Fearless gave a great push post. Which sort of sums up our whole reason for being here from the first day we woke up in the asylum to right now.

Do you think we did this? Or knew about it?"

To which BB responds.. What you talk about was a lifetime ago. We were all different people. When last we walked out these double doors that Mariner has sundered, I was a drunk, Cats was a stone cold murderer, Mariner was a vicious strong armed pugulist, you were plotting against your Oathsworn and sided with Melissen. Pinkie was theiving, plotting, and betraying.

The straighbacked men that walk IN THROUGH THESE doors bear no likeness or share those adjectives. We walk into this Villa the embodiment of better adjectives: Blessed by the Gods. Protectors of Thrushmoor. Watchmen.

By invoking Desna, he grants Fearless Luck. If they can throw daggers, so can Fearless.

Fearless steps in behind Cats and throws his dagger at the man with the orange hair. "How are there more of them?" He turns and watches as Brother Butterfly explains morals and and human growth. "NOt time Shapeshifter. Still more trying to kill us!"

+1 Returning Dagger; PBS: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 = 25
Luck Reroll: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

”Sneaky Bastard! -hugging the left wall just disappeared! Block the door and watch out!”, The Mariner calls out and he dashes onto the table to gain high ground. ”Is the circus in town?!”, he comments on the knife throwers and seemingly endless supply of sentries.

@orange:cleave,power: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 = 21 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 4 = 11

cleave: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 = 20 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 = 8

The Mariner charges in, leaping to the table and trying to take on both guards with one swing. He injures one, but unfortunately the other is just a little too far apart for the tactic that worked so well against the savages outside. Cleave targets must be adjacent to each other.

Brother Butterfly blesses Fearless with luck and the halfling sends his dagger into a guard's leg.

The two guards draw rapiers and shift to flank the Mariner.
"The only clowns I see are you lot." One of them quips.

Rapier + flanking vs Mariner AC 18: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damage + sneak attack: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (1, 4) = 9
Touch of Chaos + flanking vs Mariner Touch AC 13: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
*Touch of chaos: For the next round, anytime the target rolls a d20, he must roll twice and take the less favorable result.

One guard stabs at the seam in the old man's armor, but doesn't get through. The other reaches out with a glowing hand and taps one of the Mariner's feet. A cacophony of voices babble in his mind, spreading a feeling of confusion and doubt.

Rapier + invisibility vs Cats FF AC 16: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage + sneak attack: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (3, 6) = 14
Touch of Chaos vs Cats FF Touch AC 11: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
*Touch of chaos: For the next round, anytime the target rolls a d20, he must roll twice and take the less favorable result.

Cats is just about to spring into action when two more guards appear out of thin air on either side of him. They use a similar tactic that both injures and sends his mind reeling!

The guard who touched Cats shoots a grin at Brother Butterlfy. "It seems your goddess has restored her favors, Jasper. Like before, she will not save you. Her power is nothing to the The King in Yellow you see, for he twists fate too. The others are worthless. Traitors and heathens. But you are different. Submit to his will and all will be forgiven. Melisenn has promised this."

With these powers, these are no mere guards, but ordained cultists!

INITIATIVE - Round 1
Cultists (orange -18, red, blue, purple)
Cats (28/45) *Aid (+1 bless, +11 temp hp) 29 rounds
Mariner (77/88) *shield of faith 37 rnds
Brother Butterfly (46/53) *expeditious retreat 28 rounds
Fearless (40/40)

Seeing the cultists surrounding Cats Fearless shifts to the side and studies the man in purple. Seeing all he needs Fearless stabs at the man's ribs.

MA: Studied Combat
SA: Attack
FA: Use 2 inspiration to add 1d6 to attack roll
FA: Use studied Strike to expend Studied Combat and add 1d6 to damage.

+1 Returning Dagger: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 2 + (4) = 20
Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (3) = 7

"Hey A*#+~##! Over here!"

Round 1, Init 12

Cats takes some gashings and slashings, unhappily getting cursed and cut for the affront of doing nothing.

He drops his bow, draws his elven curveblade as he steps into flank with Fearless.

"Good job, Catless! Just hold them there!" He slashes at purple.

Melee:
1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 27 to hit; (aid)
1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 31 to hit; (reroll)
1d10 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + (5, 5) = 19 slashing damage.

Ah, the evil cultist gives his long winded speech as the forces of good breech the doors! How utterly DROLL.

With the flair of a Pianist-Bard pushing his coat tails out and sitting down at the piano stool, Jasper continues,

First, *I* am the crowned royalty of "Long Speeches". Your speech was pathetic.
Secondly, Desna likes me, she really, really likes me.
Lastly, The King in Yellow - DOESN'T HAVE A MARINER

As he sees the warm effects of his prayer to Desna settle on the combatants.
Everyone affected with a Prayer Spell. +1 to attack rolls and damage. Enemies get -1 on attack and damage. Fearless does one more point because of the spell.
You may know about my past, and while I am intrigued to learn more, I will not learn from you - as you will be dead. I'll have to capture someone else or learn it from the halls of this Villa. For I SHALL Mark this place for all to know that DESNA has reclaimed it with her sheer might of will!

and he thinks,
See, now THAT is a masterful long winded speech.

lol Brother,  reminds me of this

The Mariner pulls back and focuses on taking down one at a time.

@orange:power prayer, highground: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 22>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 5>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 4 = 14

Chaos

@orange:power prayer, highground: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 21>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 4 = 14

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 14>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 = 13

@ Mariner --- EXACTLY! I've got a Donk. Mariner is so awesome to rely upon. He's this fierce tank with guns pointing in all directions.

I also just love it at how Brother is agitated at how the evil guy did his evil exposition..... like that's his jam (That's my jam- but for good).

The Mariner raises his sword to strike down the cultist to his right, but his sword tangles in a chandelier above at the last second and he misses. Trying to recover for another slash he steps in a bowl of pudding and nearly slips off the table. Butterfly’s prayer went into effect after your action.

Brother Butterfly counter-monologues and raises the game with a powerful prayer to Desna.

Cats stumbles on a planter and sees double for a moment, yet still somehow manages to wound the cultist in front of him. Working with a partner in a flanking position Fearless puts everything into a stab that penetrates chain armor and draws more blood.

Touch vs Mariner AC 16: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
*Touch of chaos: For the next round, anytime the target rolls a d20, he must roll twice and take the less favorable result.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

The red-headed cultist touches the Marine. His partner steps back to cast a healing spell.

Rapier flanking vs Cats AC 20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Touch vs Cats AC 16: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

The two cultists outside continue to focus on Cats, dogging his steps to keep in flanking positions. But Cats is ready now and easily avoids both enemies. Frustrated by their lack of success the cultist that traded words with Brother Butterfly seems fresh out of comebacks. ”Oh shut up, you babbling fool!”

INITIATIVE - Round 2
Cultists (orange -12, red, blue, purple -27)
Cats (39/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 28 rnds
Mariner (77/88) *shield of faith 36 rnds
Brother Butterfly (46/53) *expeditious retreat 27 rounds
Fearless (40/40)

Round 2, Init 12

Cats waits (delay) for Fearless, hoping the halfling continues his distraction. "Good job, Catless! Keep doing cat." He slashes again at purple once Fearless is in position.

Melee:
1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 32 to hit; (flank, aid)
1d10 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + (1, 1) = 11 slashing damage.

Pot crit:
1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 17 to hit; (flank, aid)
1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 slashing damage.

After his attack, Cats 5' steps out of flank

Unable to get into a flanking position with Cats, Fearless instead cuts one of the men off from reaching him again so soon. He drives his dagger down into the man's hip.

MA: Studied Combat
FA: 5 foot step
SA: Attack
FA: Use studied Strike to expend Studied Combat and add 1d6 to damage.

+1 Returning Dagger; Studied Combat; Prayer: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (1) + 1 = 6

These guys are right! I'm the clown here! the Mariner stumbles around plates and silverware for a better position to strike.

@orange:power prayer, highground: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 19 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 4 = 11

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 6>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 = 8

Chaos effect...

@orange:power prayer, highground: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 11 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 = 8

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 8>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 = 8

Oh shut up, you babbling fool!”

Like the aforementioned Pianist finishing his piece, with his fingers splayed down upon the ebony and ivory, holding them down so that the last note resonates in a musical exclamation point. Jasper smiles.

channel energy omit everyone but Blue: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 2) = 14

*- Borrowed from Conan of course

The Mariner yanks his sword from the chandelier, pulling it free from the ceiling as he does. Bits of glass and candle wax fly everywhere as he struggles against the chaos brought about by the cultit’s touch.

Brother Butterfly channels energy, healing his allies. Adjusting your selective channeling targets to omit the two injured (Blue was unharmed at the time).

Cats tries to maneuver for advantage against the cultists, but Fearless isn’t able to coordinate with him and instead focuses on taking out the injured cultist.

Though he doesn’t gain assistance directly from Fearless Cats finds himself opposite Butterfly, who provides just enough distraction for him to slash the blue-eyed cultist across the belly. Delaying removed you from being flanked and provided a different flanking partner in Butterfly, so I left you in place.

Rapier flanking vs Mariner AC 20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage + Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + (1, 3) = 5
Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 5) + 3 = 16

The cultist that stepped back from the Mariner drinks a potion and closes in to distract him while the second stabs at his side.

The cultist outside steps back into the doorway. ”Look, that guy was crazy. Let’s talk this out, ok?”

The cultist obviously seems only interested in getting Cats to lower his guard. epic fail on bluff to feint.

INITIATIVE - Round 3
Cultists (orange, red, blue -11)
Mariner (72/88) *shield of faith 35 rnds
Brother Butterfly (46/53) *expeditious retreat 26 rounds
Fearless (40/40)
Cats (39/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 27 rnds

Round 3, Init 12

Cats startles for a moment, thinking about what the man had said.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Sense Motive Another bad thing GCP teaches is that a nat one on a skill check is a fail. It's not. Still needs an opposed check. Cats, however, isn't fooled.

He moves in to slash at blue.

Melee:
1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 = 28 to hit; (flank, aid)
1d10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 slashing damage.

Feinting in combat is not an opposed check.
Feint: You can use Bluff to feint in combat, causing your opponent to be denied his Dexterity bonus to his AC against your next attack. The DC of this check is equal to 10 + your opponent's base attack bonus + your opponent's Wisdom modifier. If your opponent is trained in Sense Motive, the DC is instead equal to 10 + your opponent's Sense Motive bonus, if higher.

@orange:power,prayer,flank: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 24 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15
iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 16>>1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 4 = 9

The Mariner drops down between the two thugees and slashes at the same cultist.

Prayer is +1 to hit and +1 to damage rolls. PLUS skills and saves. Minus to the enemies- including skills (Cough Mr. Fumble Feint-er) I think Mariner and Cats are not including damage.

Seeing Mariner shove his sword into the blue eyed guy that BB is threatening with a mace, Brother at first wants to try and brain him too - but he just likes talking more than swinging an 8 lb piece of heavy metal.
Intimidation prayer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
demoralize opponents. does this work on all living enemies in the room?

We outnumber you. You are bleeding, and we are not. Even YOU- with the red hair are forced to get your 8 ounces of desperate healing from a bottle. Just as I once did-I once was a drunkard and a disgrace. Surrender. Drop your weapons. NOW

Fearless moves beside Cats. "You alright?" Looking past the door he tosses the dagger into the room at the blue eyed boy.

+1 Returning Dagger; PBS; Prayer: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 6

The Mariner finally breaks free from the curse of chaos inflicted by the cultist’s touch and cuts deeply into one of them in retribution.

Brother Butterfly demands surrender, and though his words leave the closest cultist shaken, none of them give up. Intimidate to demoralize is one target unless you have the dazzling display feat, which lets you target all enemies within 30’.

Fearless and Cats focus on the blue-eyed cultist, stabbing him twice and leaving him bleeding badly.

Rapier flanking vs Mariner AC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Rapier flanking (shaken) vs Mariner AC 20: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Touch vs Mariner: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
*Touch of chaos: For the next round, anytime the target rolls a d20, he must roll twice and take the less favorable result.

The cultists shift around the room, two flanking the Mariner as a third lunges forward to infect his mind again with their ill fated chaos.

INITIATIVE - Round 4
Cultists (orange -15, red, blue -25 *shaken 2 rnds)
Mariner (77/88) *shield of faith 34 rnds
Brother Butterfly (46/53) *expeditious retreat 25 rounds
Fearless (40/40)
Cats (39/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 26 rnds

Through the mind chaos, the Mariner maneuvers south of the bloodied cultist to finish him off.

@orange:power prayer, highground: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 28 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 12

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 16>>1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 13

Chaos effect...

@orange:power prayer, highground: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 25 >>1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 12

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 8>>1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 9

Your chance to surrender and survive has ended.
Brother moves in 5 feet and attacks the one with red hair.
attack prayer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

With his dagger reappearing in his hands Fearless steps into the doorway and drives it into the cultist, wearing his red pants, back as he is distracted by Brother Butterfly's ramblings.

"It is too late for that Shapeshifter. These insane extremists are relentless."

MA: Studied Combat
FA: 5 foot step
SA: Attack
FA: Use studied Strike to expend Studied Combat and add 1d6 to damage.

+1 Returning Dagger; Studied Combat; Prayer: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (4) + 1 = 7

Round 5, Init 12

Cats delays for others to get into position, then moves to strike...except everyone has taken any good place for him to fight. Instead, he sheathes his sword and draws his bow. He does this out of sight of others, because piddlespot them.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 Stealth

Butterfly: I forgot to update hp for your channel. Fixed now.

The orange-haired cultist takes a deep wound from the Mariner’s sword. Brother Butterfly’s mace and Fearless’ flying dagger crack bone and stab another.

Without a clear target Cats slips out of sight and readies his bow.

Rapier flanking vs Mariner AC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage + Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + (5, 1) = 12
Rapier flanking vs Butterfly AC 17 (shaken): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Rapier flanking vs Butterfly AC 17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
I’m not certain, but I’m guessing BB is using his shield? If he does have it up he will get stabbed once.

Though the situation looks bad for the cultists they don’t give up. The orange haired man sticks the Mariner in the leg while the other two focus on Brother Butterfly. ”Get him!” The one with a blue coat cries in distress, but he hesitates, still demoralized by Brother Butterfly’s presence, and his attack is timid.

INITIATIVE - Round 5
Cultists (orange -27, red -10, blue -25)
Mariner (76/88) *shield of faith 33 rnds
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *expeditious retreat 24 rounds
Fearless (40/40)
Cats (45/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 25 rnds

The Mariner continues to press the attack. He sees Brother flanked by two cultists but holding his ground, They must have really pissed him off.

@orange:power,prayer: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 22 >> 1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 13

iterative: 1d20 + 4 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 2 + 1 = 21 >> 1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 14

Fearless continues to shank the cultist in his ribs as he gets in close to him. "You see, bad luck tends to follow us already-" He nods to the Shapeshifter. "-So trying to jinx us with your weird religious touching isn't going to help you much."

MA: Studied Combat
SA: Attack
FA: Use studied Strike to expend Studied Combat and add 1d6 to damage.

+1 Returning Dagger; Studied Combat; Prayer: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (2) + 1 = 7

Round 6, Init 12

Cats steps out from around the corner to pepper the room with arrows that some weren't expecting. 5' step and full attack @ Red.

1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 - 4 + 1 = 24 to hit; (+PBS,+aid,-cover)
1d8 + 8 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + (4, 5) + 1 = 25 damage.

1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 - 4 + 1 = 18 to hit; (+PBS,+aid,-cover)
1d8 + 8 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + (2, 1) + 1 = 13 damage.

Edit to add prayer because I suck.

BB moves to a very unadvantaged position. Possibly a spot that would leave him normally exposed to lots of flanking opponents. But BB trusts his allies to do their jobs and clear the room. Trust, a feeling he certainly didn't know greater than three weeks ago.

attack + prayer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 24 Blue Eyed guy.
damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6
Press the advantage!
The one with blue eyes was right to fear BB, as Jasper will certainly be the end of him. Cracking him in the rapier arm with his mace.

*Squilch!!*
”Ghrrgle!”
The Mariner shoves his sword through a cultist’s throat!

*Shulk!!*
”AAaaeeii!”
Then takes off an arm!

*Crunch!!*
”No no no! Ugh!”
Brother Butterfly breaks a collarbone.

*Shnk!!*
”Wait! Argh!!”
Fearless stabs a kidney.

*Vrrip!!*
”I... Grk!”
Cats sends an arrow straight through the heart.

The Watchmen suddenly find themselves the last men standing in the dining hall. Dead and dying cultists bleeding out at their feet.

STATUS
Mariner (76/88) *shield of faith 32 rnds
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 23 rnds
Fearless (40/40)
Cats (45/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 24 rnds

The Mariner turns to join the fray on the other side of the room, only to find it over. Seeing no more standing, "Maybe we should save one of these sods for questioning fellas", although have no skill to do so himself. "Gonna need a big tourniquet...", he flips the bodies to find someone saveable.

A quick assessment determines all four of the cultists suffered mortal wounds.

You guys really killed the crap of them, especially in the last round. Not one miss.

The Mariner lifts the wrist of a cultist to check for pulse, puckers his lips, then drops the arm with a thud. "Brother - you animal."

Cats is slow to lower his bow, but is happy when the fight is over. He drags the corpses outside so they don't bleed too much inside.

"You okay, Catiner? These jerks sure were jerky, that's for cat."

Cats will loot the bodies, destroying any unholy symbols that he finds.

Brother - you animal.

Seeing that they are all dead, BB feels the need to be spiritual.

He gave them chances, but their minds -hearts- spirits were misguided.
They, and probably more within these walls , have been mislead. It's like they are seeing a mirage.
It Is Written: You have filled your canteen with dust and sand. Guzzling it down in a vane attempt to quench your thirst. Only making yourself more parched than before- until you BECOME the dust and sand of Galorian.

He begs the others to hurry, asking Fearless to see if he can help look for magic while BB uses the wand on Mariner.
Kerfuffle
CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Kerfuffle
CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Brother Butterfly heals the Mariner again and the Watchmen take a minute to quickly search and gather the cultists belongings. Fearless detects magic upon their chain shirts, but it is going to take a couple minutes longer to strip them from the bodies, and your spells won’t last that long. What has already been gathered is the follwing:

Treasure:
3 potions of cure moderate wounds
2 potions of vanish
4 mwk daggers
4 mwk rapiers
4 silver unholy symbol of Hastur
1600 gp worth of jewelry and fine clothing

STATUS
Mariner (86/88) *shield of faith 22 rnds
Brother Butterfly (53/53) *exp retreat 13 rnds
Cats (45/45) *Aid (+1 bless bonus) 14 rnds
Fearless (40/40)

Mariner, please open the door. Fearless, watch our backs as there's stairs that could be used to pin us in.

Moved Mariner and BB into position at the door.

Cats nods at Butterfly and gets into position atop the table, ready to shoot over Mariner's head.

"Now we're catting this right. Uh huh, sure."

Cats takes one of the potions of CMW and Vanish.

Spellcraft Chain Shirt: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Fearless tries to identify the chain shirts for what they are as he drops one of the symbols of Hastur. "More of this crap again." He shoves the items in the bag and meets BB at the door. "We should come back for the chain shirts. They are magical and can't let them stay in their hands."

The Mariner stows the battleaxe away then opens the door, leading in with the magical sword to shed some light.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

The Mariner opens the western door.

Down a short passage is a greeting hall. The walls here are clad with fine wood paneling, and many items and art objects are on display on small tables, in vitrines, and on benches. Dozens of paintings and tapestries of various sizes hang from the walls and muffle the echoes that would normally be present in this marble-floored chamber.

There are portraits in various artistic styles of the counts, their wives, and a few relatives and domestics wearing all kinds of expressions and outfits.

Marble busts of scholars from the Sincomakti School of Sciences sit on small plinths. Three sculptures bearing the Lowls name on their bases have been smashed against the floor.

Small-town perspectives of Thrushmoor and a half-dozen large paintings of the surrounding landscape hang here. The large pictures include a historic piece, in which the first settlers of Thrushmoor are shown living in two clusters of huts on low hills, hard at work to reclaim the surrounding land from the swamps. The Star Stelae have been depicted almost as an afterthought.

Statuettes of dragons, giants, and strange beasts litter the shelves. Among these is a poorly executed, 1-foot-tall, clay figurine of an elephant-legged, multi-mawed, tentacled aberration.

Set on an ebony pedestal is a strange skull that has been marked with elaborate carvings of geometric shapes and lines. Small, worked garnets are set in the teeth, and a thin line of silver rings the eye sockets.

Porcelain and ceramic dishes, jugs, teapots, and vases, some of which are of excellent quality, are kept in a glass showcase. A small ceramic vial contains a glittering silvery metallic dust.

Bizarre, and sometimes grotesque souvenirs from across Ustalav and beyond are displayed in cabinets: coffee cups made from uncapped monkey skulls; a stuffed three-eyed bat; multicolor-dyed freshwater sponges; a mummified ogre’s ear; and more.

In one corner of the room stands man dressed in a fine noble’s outfit who appears frozen in a shimmering field of amber.

Knowledge Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

The Mariner looks past the wall clutter across the long floor. Spotting the shimmering man, he nods a warning to the others, then approaches cautiously behind his shield.

AC 22

@ GM, The man and Amber. Is that an arcane spell or divine spell? If Divine, here's a roll: knowledge religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Brother quickly casts detect magic and concentrates on the man in shimmering amber first, then on the skull.
Found a piece of paper inside this skull on the ebony pedestal.
Let's not touch anything until this place is checked for dangers. While we need to keep up our pace, we do have time to be cautious.

If the skull isn't magical , he asks Cats to check if there are traps or magical sigils protecting the skull.
He also calls out what he sees about the man in Amber. Hoping that his "notchblock" of information can snap together with another's to make a cornerstone of understanding.

The Mariner approaches the man in amber. He does not move. Brother Butterfly detects magic upon the man in amber, but nowhere else in the room.

@BB: knowledge religion doesnt apply to spells (even divine spells). You would need Knowledge Arcane or Spellcraft.

Knowledge Dungeoneering DC 24: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Knowledge Local DC 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Fearless sees the piece of paper just as BB grabs it from the skull. He picks up one of the mummified ogre ear's and drops it to the floor as he sees the man frozen in amber. "The hells is this?"

He scans the man for further magic to try and see what is going on.

Detect Magic

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Cats, do you want to grab the paper? There's no magics on it. But you need to first check for mundane traps.

He also waits for what Fearless finds out about AmberMan.

I must make a mental note to study the paintings, and their painting styles for my own development in the practiced arts. Gentlemen, please remind me -when we rest for the day - to study the art in this room and the destroyed sculptures. I bet it's the last three Lowl's. Destroyed by Melissan.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Know (Local)
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Perception

Cats would answer Butterfly Brother, but his gaze is focused on a portrait on a small tea table. Cats seems transfixed on the image that features a child posing near a kitten at the foot of a luminous window. The boy wears an expression of terror.

"What the cattlespot? Do you guys see cat?" Cats looks again at the portrait, then goes to pick it up. He looks around for something to wrap around it before stowing it away. He's very disconcerted by the image, but can't explain why...yet.

He gazes at the portrait for several moments (at least two BB speeches length) before snapping out of it.

Cats, do you want to grab the paper? There's no magics on it. But you need to first check for mundane traps.

"What was that, Brother? Oh...that? One cat," Cats goes to examine the skull for traps as requested by BB.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Perception

"Say, Brother? Did you know that the designs on the skull are common to some nomads from the deserts of Casmaron. I doubt you knew cat...but I did."

He will then take and read the note.