Destined for Minkai - A Jade Regent Adventure

Game Master GM Cello

Perception : 1d20 ⇒ 17

Sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Aldel drew his sword and made an attempt to step between Walthus and Cally. That he was lying to them was clear enough, but seeing the halfling's skin ripple as it had was too much to set aside. Something was very very wrong.

"Speak the truth, or meet the fate Pharasma has for you! What caused your injuries, and what is wrong with your skin?"

It occurred to Aldel that this creature might not actually be a halfling, but some other manner of beast he'd been taught about but only half remembered. He struggled to remember a creature with traits similar to what he'd just seen.

Monster Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 thanks to monster lore, all of his knowledges are at +3, except nature, which I rather doubt applies.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

He saw it too? But he must have seen something more than me, or drawing weapons would be a bit much...

"What do you know Aldel? Do you sense danger?"
Unlike before, Ruhk's voice is now business like, although he glances at Cally, wondering how she will react.
While not drawing it, his hand rests on the haft of his battle axe.

I'm still not sure the halfling is the danger, but Aldel must have seen SOMETHING...and if we are to travel together, I need to trust him.

"Did you not see his skin move, as though something was crawling beneath it? I also suspect that there is something inside the house he does not wish us to see, something far worse than a dead snake or a mess." Aldel began to feel foolish as he mentioned the house. What if Walthus was being held captive, instructed to send the group away under pain of death? Still, he had seen the man's skin move in a most unnatural way, and that was something, wasn't it? He resolved to remain steadfast, a decision had been reached, there was no use in wavering now. He would either be vindicated, or he would owe the strange halfling an apology.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Cally gives a little yelp of disgust when she notices Walther's skin rippling and shifting like water, and jumps back from the halfling warder, scuttling behind Aldel and now gripping her sling-staff defensively in front of her. "I saw it too! Is that some kind of spell or curse?"

Peering suspiciously now from behind the inquisitor, she scowls at Proudstump. "Just what are you mister? You speak like a halfling, you look like a halfling... and I was all ready to defend you a minute ago from the biggun here when I thought he was being heavy handed!" She looks up at Aldel and wrinkles her nose, not in disgust but in embarrassment. "Seems that I owe you another apology." As she speaks Cally reaches into the pouch at her waist and removes a lead bullet, placing it in the leather cup of her sling-staff.

Ruhk lets his hand caress the haft of his axe before drawing it forth.
"The game is up, might as well reveal yourself and tell us what you did with the real warden. What about it skin thief? Bloody or casual conversation?"
We're raw, not seasoned; if we were able to spot the skin thing then it wouldn't have gone past the sheriff. Only reasonable explanation is that this isn't the real guy.

"I think you are right Aldel, animals are hard to fool, the snake probably smelled this one wasn't his true master and attacked him."

Walthus makes a hissing sound. "You! Stop there," Walthus calls to Terflynn. "Stupid intrudersss...Thisss isss my home now...Leave me alonesss!"

Round 1
Initiative Order: Walthus, Terflynn, Ruhk, Caerwyn, Aldel, Cally

Walthus' face ripples and melts away to reveal a mottled brown-and-red flesh and a spherical head with no true face. You see a rasplike tongue lash out from a barely visible slit where his mouth would be. The creature makes a sound similar to a cough before saying, "You will die for thisss intrusssion." He lunges towards Aldel with his body.

Slam Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Though Aldel is startled by the attack, the creature merely bounces off of the inquisitor's scale mail.

Terflynn - you've been spotted by "Walthus" and aren't hidden.

Current Map

Somewhat taken aback at the sudden transformation Caerwyn hesitates slightly as the creature slams into Aldel. Regainig his composure the rogue draws his sword and steps up to attack the shapeshifter Caerwyn takes a 5' step to square G-8
Attack roll: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Oho! Now the fun begins! And if you took it, we can take it back you know."

Ruhk twirls his axe as he approaches "Walthus" and suddenly an azure glow forms around the edge.

Swift action to use arcane pool to make weapon +1, move to F9.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Nice dodge!" Ruhk comments with a friendly smile.

Terflynn moves up behind the group and forcefully speaks an arcane command at the creature.
Move to within 30ft. Daze, DC 14. Assuming it's humanoid.

Aldel swung his greatsword, as he'd been readying himself to do. He aimed for the creature's neck, looking to end the fight as soon as possible.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13

Cally scuttles back quickly away from Aldel, Caerwyn and brings her sling-staff arcing around her head in a swift movement, but doesn't loose the bullet at the creature yet. Instead she sings out a curse at the thing... "Shelyn damn you for a misbegotten liar, you miscegenated, faceless whore-son!"

Move action - move to D12 and turn

Standard action - Jinx the creature, DC14 Will negates; -1 to all initiative, attack and saving throws for 24 hours if successful

"Miscegenated? That's a good word, I might use that myself sometime, what does it mean?"

Terflynn's magic works its way towards "Walthus'" mind, attempting to daze the fake halfling.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

The creature laughs cruelly. "Leave your magicssss to yourssself." It seems unfazed by the attempt. He seems equally unfazed by the attack from Ruhk, which he easily avoids. Caerwyn, however, manages to catch the creature with his dagger, opening a small gash in the creature's arm. It hisses in pain. As it recoils in pain, Aldel just barely misses lopping its head off.

Cally's spell flies towards the creature.

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Again, the creature is able to fight off the effects of the spell.

Round 2
Initiative Order: Walthus, Terflynn, Ruhk, Caerwyn, Aldel, Cally

Seeing that it's about to be surrounded, the creature hisses and lashes out at Caerwyn in anger.

Slam: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Critical Confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 x2 = 6

The creature slams into the rogue and then grabs onto him. Take 6 points of damage and you're now grappled.

Updated Map

Terflynn glares at the monster in a hideous way, making it harder for the thing to focus on dodging.
-2 AC for 7 rounds. Will save reduces it to 1 round.

"THAT'S your brilliant plan? No offence here "Walthus" but I liked you better when you were TRYING to be a challange.
Did you take the name because t reminds you off Walnuts? You know, since you're nuts?"

Ruhk twirls his axes, waits for an opening and...Grabs the haft with both hands and swings.
Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Caerwyn attempts to wriggle free of the creatures grasp, to no avail.
Escape Artisit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Aldel stepped sideways, taking advantage of the beasts exposed back Moving to E8, giving Caerwyn his flanking buddy, if the fight lasts long enough. and then brought his sword down in the direction of the monster.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 6) + 4 = 12