Doug M's Way of the Wicked (Inactive)

Game Master Douglas Muir 406

Lol - I keep forgetting that you hate dogs. Will try to remember to summon a frog or rat or something next time.

Bref doesn't actually have to open the door, I don't think. I'm pretty sure you can summon your creatures anywhere within range that you have line-of-sight.

Never think about that. In that case, I will summon it within the cage and see what happens.

Jax

The dog appears among the beetles.

It doesn't like it! The beetles immediately start crawling up its legs and running all over its bodies, waving their antennae and rushing back and forth. The dog yips and squirms. Clearly it's not enjoying itself.

However, after a few moments it is clear that the dog is not taking any actual harm.

Ok, let's go through.

I assume Bref opens the door and then heads through.

Is there any indication of how to open the door on the other side?

Get rid of Dog!!!

Once the dog is gone Bref will unlock the door.

1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

And then because I assume there is a trap Reflex1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Or you could use the second rolls to open to door on the other side of the bugs.

As the dog appears unaffected by the bugs, Tohram will dismiss it and being the nauseating process of recalling Morsum. Takes 1 minute which I assume will be mostly consumed with Bref opening the door and bugging out.

The door is not locked and opens without difficulty. You can proceed without difficulty.

Well, without difficulty except for being really disgusted. The bugs are, in fact, harmless. But they crawl ALL OVER you, tickling and tasting. They crunch under your feet. They get into your hair. They poke their little heads into your ear canals, checking to see if there's anything maybe rotting in there. Everyone but Bref has to bend over and move slowly because of the low ceiling, which makes it even worse; there are bugs on the ceiling and they drop right on to you. (Poor Grumblejack has to crawl, and in just a few seconds he's literally covered with a blanket of bugs.) They are fast and they are shiny and they have hairy little legs. Depending on how you feel about bugs, the whole thing is somewhere between "pretty gross" and AAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAA AAAAAAAAAAAAAAA.

But you are able to cross the room. The door at the opposite end isn't locked either; it opens easily, and you can step out and stand up. You're in the small 20' x 10' chamber at the far end of this room; there is yet another door, through which you can proceed.

The wolf has been watching all this through the glass, with every appearance of intent interest.

Bref walks along non plussed. He pops a few bugs in his mouth and chews them up.

As the last of you are stepping out of the bug chamber into the other end of the room, the wolf suddenly begins to change. Its appearance ripples and boils, and it seems to somehow just bloom upward. In a moment it is gone. In its place stands a new creature: it has the body of a tall, well-muscled human, but the head of a rather wolflike dog.

The dog-headed creature wears a loose-looking shirt and a kilt. (Its clothes were once quite fine but now are bloodstained and rather disheveled.) It carries a large, recurved greatsword of an unfamiliar but strangely lovely design. It is still wearing the collar with the inward-pointing spikes; trickles of blood run down its neck. Nonetheless, it carries itself with confidence and dignity.

It points with its sword at Sir Edmin and speaks. "Okay," it says, "I know which side Dirtbag there is on. But what about the rest of you?"

Goblin not bag of dirt fundament face!

Tohram looks at the dog-man, then at the others.

Our assignment is not to talk with those in here, it is to find the pendant.

He then ignores the former wolf and heads to the door with Morsum right behind.

Ok Toothpick, is this door safe?

per 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 and dd 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Edmin grins at the hound headed man and gives him a one finger salute. "Enjoy your cell icehole."

What side are we on? Well I'd like to think I'm on my own side, although current contracts imply otherwise. I do bid you good day. Perhaps we could have a chat over a cup of tea later?
The tiefling moves on but complains the whole way.

Do we need to go this way? Can't we talk with the dog man instead? Ugh, we just got these clothes tailored!

The Judge looks back at Jax: In the land we are assisting the Cardinal to create, there are two kinds of people. Those who control and those who are controlled. I choose to be part of the former. Should you wish to become one of the latter, you are free to choose so. Just recognize that I will not help you when Tiadora shows you how enjoyable being controlled is.

Jax hisses at the Judge. I'd rather cut my way through the entrails of a shapeshifting beast than crawl through bugs like a pauper. Necessary? Absolutely. Enjoyable? Not so much. The only thing Tiadora will be enjoying is torturing the worshippers of Mitra that try and stop us. Perhaps she can make a theater performance out of it. Besides, weren't you curious what that beast's blood might taste like?

Well, without difficulty except for being really disgusted.

Le yuck

As the last of you are stepping out of the bug chamber into the other end of the room, the wolf suddenly begins to change. Its appearance ripples and boils, and it seems to somehow just bloom upward. In a moment it is gone. In its place stands a new creature: it has the body of a tall, well-muscled human, but the head of a rather wolflike dog.

I told you guys it was not a poodle.

The tall dog-man rolls his eyes. "Well, no surprises there."

"Still, it's a soldier's duty to escape. So I'll make you a deal." He points to Sir Edmin. "Him, me, alone. He wins, I tell you everything I know about this place. I win, you let me walk out."

"Yeah, Tiadora will probably catch me and put me down. But maybe I'll get to go down swinging. And maybe -- " here a snarl curls his lip -- "maybe I'll catch that frickin' dwarf first. 'Experimental subject', my ass..."

"What do you say, Dirtbag? Think you've got what it takes to tangle with a foot soldier of the Host? Tell you what... you can bring your ratdog along. You two and me." He grins a big doggy grin. "I'm guessing you'll beg off, myself... you look more like officer material to me."

You no fight Kanight alone. Goblin will devour your eyes DOG.

"Three to one? Really, Dirtbag?" The dog-man shrugs. "Sure, why not. I was thinking we could do this up proper... challenge, exchange of names, the whole thing... but if you need to bring ratdog and Bugeater along in order to feel, you know, confident... what the hey. I'm easy."

Goblin fight if we fight! Eat DOG eyes.

Then Bref smiles wide enough to split his scar open. On the other hand maybe we leave you in cage to rot Dog.

Bref drops trou and lays a deuce on the floor.

I bet puppy hungry in his little kennel. DOG's eat poo. Have some!

Bref throws it at him.

1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 4 = 19

Edmin laughs and shakes his head. "Let see, let you out and kill you, you go to your home with all the fairies, or release you and you win then go home to the fairies, or I leave you here and you rot."

Edmin shakes his head again and turns towards the exit. "Like I said, enjoy your cell Focker. Hey Toothpick, draw him a picture and make it one of your best. He is going to enjoy it for a long, long time."

Good points. Nicely done Edmin.

Tee Hee.

Bref obliges and uses the smears left to draw a picture of the beast locked in the cage as an old beast man.

Craft poo painting 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 1 = 17 minus for limited materials

What if he is here to distract us and slow us down? You are playing right into this inferior creatures game.
Bref, you should already be in the other room scouting, not wasting our time with your antics! Perhaps if you can't handle the job, I will scout ahead with Morsum...

Dren moves ahead to scout with the creature but gives Bref one last chance to jump back in...

Bref shrugs. Kanight say draw I draw. Shadowshanks want scout? Scout.

Since the dog-man is basically in a big glass box, you just get a brown splatter on the side. The glass is rather slick, so Bref will have to do his drawing on the floor.

"As I thought. Hey, I notice your axe is still shiny. Guess you're not using it all that much, leading from behind." He shrugs. "Good luck with what's ahead. Hey, maybe I can make that better for you! Here's something to remember me by, kids." He frowns and seems to concentrate for a moment.

EVERYONE MUST MAKE A DC 16 WILL SAVE NOW.

Grumblejack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Grumblejack fails.

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Tohram continues to ignore the man in the box and is examining the next door.

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

I would like to point out I did not do anything to provoke the poodle.

Some of us are self righteous in their evil [looking at you Judge :) ], or like to practice monologging for the day they become the big bad, I get it.

Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Knowledge Aracana or Planes to see how to remove the effects 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

I am sure Cуровую has never made her will save so far.

Wil sv: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Will sv: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Just call us the company of Broken Men.

I Will not save. I Will not save. I Will not save.
.
Hmmm, I think I have heard this song before.

Wow, seven fails. Okay, now what?

Hopefully Dren and Jax save.

I said don't stop and don't talk. We were specifically told to avoid unnecessary combat.

Oh well. I think we need to fight or we are going to be in big trouble going forward.

I said don't stop and don't talk. We were specifically told to avoid unnecessary combat.

Well, it's a final exam. Says so right on the label. Follow all instructions and use a #2 pencil.

Oh well. I think we need to fight or we are going to be in big trouble going forward.

Note that you stay debuffed until/unless you actually get a hit in.

The dog-man grins happily at you and casts on himself -- +1 to hit and 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 extra hp.

He raises his sword and faces the door.

"Ready when you are."

Willpower Save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

The dog man finally gets his attention and his head swings around....the cowl drops from his face his alien eyes piercing the mans brain, So you wish to peer into the darkness for eternity? You will not be going to a better place, I will see to it.

intimidate expend guidance 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 bah, two crap rolls...

I said don't stop and don't talk. We were specifically told to avoid unnecessary combat.

Crazy thing about writing stuff down is it can be used against you later.

Before we open the door, Tohram walks over to the wolf and talks to it through the door.

Does that collar hurt you? If you lie down, perhaps we can remove it.

Will->1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Initiative->1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

I said lets talk to the dog. I said, sure, let's not crawl over the swarms of disgusting bugs and take oh, I don't know, five minutes to speak to the creepy smart-dog guy, I said. But no, that wasn't good enough. Enough's enough. Someone open that door and let's beat that thing up.

Well, if we are going to have to fight this thing, so be it. Would you all like me to drop a few animals for him to play with inside the cell first?

Do it...

initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Wow, EVERYONE failed their save -- all six PCs, Morsum, Grumblejack and the dog! What are the odds?

Well, here's the Init for dogman: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8. So, everyone who beats an 8 can go before him once you open the door. (Though someone will still have to burn a move action for that.)