DM Wellards Jade Regent

Game Master Wellard

Seconded

I agree....a rest at some point might be needed as well...Runa is running low on magic!

Cinder agrees with the others.

As do I.

Choosing the door in the NE quadrant of the Ballroom you find an open area obviously a garden of some sort now sadly neglected and overgrown. A pond is the main feature of this area .

Zal will step up next to Omara (who I assume opened the door) and will hold a hand up the others know to wait a second. Standing in the doorway Zal will cast "Sift" at the main portion of the pond.

Perception -5!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Just want to make sure something isn't just sitting n the center of the pond ready to grab us...

There is something in the pond waiting to grab you. A large bug of some sort.

Úlf rocks back and forth, putting his weight on his front foot, then his back, as he waits with rapt anticipation for Zaladrel to give whatever signal he intends to give.

Can the rest of us see this, or just Zal?

Just Zal with that incredible perception roll I'm sure he would point it out to the rest off you though.

Runa will have her crossbow ready...in case Ulf does not kill it in one hit...lol

Zal lets his magic fade and keeps his voice low, an insect of some sort lurks in the water, sure to attack. How should we proceed?

Úlf hesitates at that news. An insect? It must have been some bug, for Zaladrel to question how they should proceed. He looks around the garden, hoping to see a fairly sizable stone or rock nearby, something with a good heft that he could throw. If he finds one, he hefts it, double-checks his aim with Zaladrel, and attempts to heave the thing as hard as he can, hoping to hit the bug with it as it waits in the pond and "encourage" it to reveal itself.

Even as the rock flies through the air, Úlf takes up his axe again, wanting to be ready in case his attempt is successful at drawing the bug out.

Ranged Attack (Thrown Rock): 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 4 = 18
Built in the -4 for an improvised weapon, if it should apply. Also not sure of the damage it would do, should it hit.

Cinder peels back its scaly lips as Úlf hefts the rock. The saurian creature positions itself by the bank and raises its blade, ready to strike the moment the creature comes out.

In game terms, ready action to attack when the bug comes in sight and range.

Omara stands aside for the chargers and looks for another exit from the garden area.

Ulf's rock throw bounces off something just under the waters surface. The pond swirls agitatedly and a ugly beetle like creature bursts from the water.

damage from rock 1d2 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ulf 27
Omara 16
Runa 10
Cinder 9
Bug 8
Zaladrel 3

Since Cinder readied an attack, do I get to make that now?

ok I'll give you guys a surprise round starting with Ulf throwing the rock.

one action apiece plase.

Runa takes a shot at the creature with her crossbow

Attack-Ranged: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Runa's bolt bounces off the thick carapace.

Cinder's blade falls in a lethal arc as the large insect bursts from the water.

Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Well poo...

Despite the ferocity of the attack, the sword glances off the monster's thick carapace with an audible *thunk*. The falling droplets of water from the beetle's dramatic eruption from the pond sizzle off Cinder's smouldering essence. Its attack looked impressive but actually accomplished little.

I was so aware of the bug that I was caught by absolute surprise that it got made at being smashed with a rock! Silly init dice.

I look at it as Zal being so involved in trying to classify the creature that Ulfs direct approach caught him by surprise

Omara hurls her starknife at the bug.
Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
...and into the bushes.

It would seem that we killed the Quickling so hard that we all forgot how to fight...

Zal?

Just to let y'all know, after Christmas I'm going to be out of town for an anniversary/Christmas trip with my wife and likely won't be able to post again until Saturday or Sunday. Feel free to DMPC me, DM Wellard. Úlf isn't exactly a really complex character! Y'all have a Merry Christmas!

Arrow, Knock, Loose!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage!: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Zal will step into the area and around the edge of the garden trying to pull a god line of sight but getting out of the melee monsters' way.

Man I need to get me a magical bow and stat! *chuckle* Take that bug!

Zaladrels arrow actually manages to penetrate slightly.

Short Xmas break..

Don't know how long of a break we're talking, but ready when everyone else is.

Me too me too

All ready here to continue as well

Fourth'ed!

Ok Round one

Ulf 27
Omara 16
Runa 10
Cinder 9
Bug 8
Zaladrel 3

Omara moves around to Ulf's right to flank the creature and attacks with her rapier.

Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
I don't think that hits, but we'll see.

Úlf, as eager for combat as ever, charges into the fray, hoping his axe will finish the job that the rock he threw started as he brings the edge of the weapon down hard at the beetle's head, clearly imagining that the creature's carapace will be no more effective than a piece of paper beneath his axe.

Charging Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 - 1 = 12
Damage: 1d12 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 3 = 13
Aaaand for once, the guided missile that is Úlf will likely miss his target. At least it's not a Nat-1!

Cinder snarls. Keeping its serpentine body low to the ground, it moves, sword raised, cautiously around the creature. When Úlf barrels towards it, Cinder makes its move, its sword striking like a scorpion's stinger.

Move to flank with Úlf and Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 2 = 24
Longsword Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Whoo! Cinder finally remembered which end of the sword to stick in the bad guys. I'm pretty sure that'll hit, which would make this the first damage this thing has taken from a real weapon, lol.

We'll let runa post then I'll see what is happening.

Runa will try her sleep hex against the bug (She really need to rest to gain back her spells and such lol)

Sleep Hex: Will save DC-14, 3 rounds

Save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The bug slumps to the ground seemingly asleep.

That gives Cinder the option of changing 'his' action to a coup de grace

Cinder thinks that would be a wonderful idea. We shall do that.

Its so sad that Wellard had to twist Cinder's arm so hard to change his action, ha ha. I am getting scared by the fire demon thing inhabiting Lissa's body. :-)

Retcon last post. Cinder slowly slithers up to the now slumbering creature's front. It bares its teeth , but whether in a snarl or smile is unclear. It lines up the lethal edge of its sword against the exposed flesh between the layers of the thing's chitin before spinning around and delivering a reverse over-hand chop.

Since a coup de grace automatically hits and deals critical damage, I'll re-roll damage.

Coup de Grace: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 3) + 8 = 19
If it survives that, DC: 29 Fort or die.

I like the idea of Cinder being a very different being than Lissa. Or is it that they are both the same with different aspects of their personalities magnified? Something that I think will be fun to develop as this continues.

The Creature perishes

Well, I'm glad my instincts served us.

Zal will look about the garden to see if the foliage has claimed anything of interest. Perception!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Smoke hisses off Cinder's body. With the creature dispatched Cinder flicks its blade quickly to its side with a quick whip of its wrist, sending blood flying. Its sword now cleaned, Cinder sheathes the blade with a flourish.

There is no treasure conceled here as far as you can make out.Doors lead to one of the storerooms you found earlier and to another one of the wall towers.

"Hmm..where do we want to go now?? To the tower, or back the way we came in? I vote for back into the main building."

Zal nods in agreement with Runa's proposal.