Dungeon Master S's "Among the Living" (Inactive)

Game Master Chris Marsh

Dinner's spell finishes what Kyra starts and incinerated three of the zombies.

Chusynd

-Posted with Wayfinder

Dinner? :D

Stupid autocorrect! (Incidentally autocorrect keeps trying to switch to autoworkers)

With a smirk at Jal, Chusynd nods and begins to speak. I had no idea ba iad na marbh lucht leanúna den sórt sin na n-ealaíon, fíneáil! Nó b'fhéidir an ceoldráma dhúisigh orthu as a n-chodladh marbh...

Seeing none of his companions hurt, Chusynd channels to harm undead!
3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 6) = 15
DC 16 Will for half

he then moves behind Dioneo, drawing his longspear.

Black: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Bugbear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

The remaining regular zombie explodes after the second channel. The bugbear zombie pushes on though. He drops a massive fist on Hamilton ATK: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12, but the man is ready for the blow.

Good guys!

Jal gives the strange Chelaxian a blank look. Then—with a muttering shake of his head—he steps forward to go to work on the remaining monster-undead-thing.

"Was that gibberish to everyone else?"

5' step forward, Studied Target the thing, and power attack it.
Katana: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 4 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 6 + 1 = 16

Jal steps up an delivers a killing blow to the now twice-dead bugbear.

Out of combat.

Looking about you see that in those few precious seconds, you see that the theater is now nearly empty. Bodies litter the ground. You each look to the other to confirm that you're unharmed, but that's when a new series of screams breaks the temporary calm. From nearby the screams a voice cries out, “For Father Grim, for Fel Bustrani, consume them and multiply!” Source on the map.

Jal flings guts from his blade and looks back in the direction of the shouting. "Fel Pastrami? That sounds delicious."

Then he sets off to scout towards the shouting.

Take 10 on Perception/Stealth to cit through the auditorium and make our way to be shouting.

Trash says, "Quickly check the bodies, especially those of you that can detect and identify magic."

He sheaths his nodachi, quickly assesses the scene. perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 he then follows Vaduva, drawing The Executioner. take 10 on stealth for 1 - token not moved 6

The bodies here look like they were hastily looted. There are some valuables, easy to scoop up, but no magic.

Once you move towards the center of the theater you can see the source. A man in bone armor with an equally wicked looking pick stands over a cowering group of theater-going nobles. Protecting the door are another pair of zombies.

Baddies: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15
Jal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Hamilton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Chusynd: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Dioneo: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Initiative Repost:

Jal: Go!
Hamilton: Go!
Chusynd: Go!
Dioneo: Go!
Kyra: Go!
BADDIES: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

If by any chance a zombie moves up next to Trask, he will take his AoO (has combat reflexes, and reach). He always power attacks, unless otherwise stated. However, in this case, I think he cannot declare the power attack.

Trask AoO w/ Executioner: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 slashing: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Save your channels, folks. I have a feeling there will be a lot of these creatures. Nothing that The Executioner cannot handle."

With a groan of distress, Chusynd drops to one of the fallen bodies at once to see if he can be of any assistance. Oh, no...oh no...oh, you poor souls. May Aroden take you into his embrace...

Presuming Jal is taking off toward the bad guy...
At the screams, Chusynd is back on his feet in a trice, whirling about to see from where they've come. Seeing the new arrival on the map, he frowns, then gasps as Jal lunges forward. Wait! Jal! You ní féidir dul go dtí go bhfaighidh mé leat teagmháil Aroden ar!

Standard action to life link with Jal, Move action up behind him, Swift to release wand from spring-loaded wrist sheath.

Jal: Go!
Hamilton: Go ahead and move your token.
Chusynd: Life link and move
Dioneo: Go!
Kyra: Go!
BADDIES: TBD
Hamilton: TBD

Moved him 20' forward -- just a single move (or a stealthed double-move)

Jal, only slightly uncomfortable with the connection he now feels to the crazy Chelaxian in the back of his mind, keeps pace with Trask, blade held ready.

Move to stand next to Trask (I believe I have the movement for it even if those seats are difficult terrain). Then ready an action to slice the first opponent to come in range.

I'm assuming they just entered the room, and weren't affected by our earlier channels?

Kyra grumbles as she retrieves a scroll from her pack. "Light-addled fool might have mentioned he was touched by a curse!" Unraveling the scroll, she mutters over the contents, triggering it’s magic.

Retrieve & activate scroll of Comprehend Languages    –     40 minute duration

Yes, They weren't in the room at the time.

Kyra opens her mind to the words being spouted. Meanwhile a very pompous sounding voice adds from within, “I outrank everyone in the room, your Emperor requires you to save me!”

Dioneo then baddies.

Dioneo moves forward and looks deep in the eyes of the leader with the scythe, his eyes burning like hellfire. He shouts with a predatory smile "Τα πεαυ φονδ παθωρε ερε!"

The leader has now fire weakness until the end of my next round. I'm using the "Flame Curse".

The evil cleric spits at Dioneo's curse. Rather than order the zombies to their likely deaths, he gives them no new orders. They stay between him and you.

"FOOL! My lord will accept your death as an accident of your stupidity!" He targets Dioneo with a spell. Will Save DC 13. If you pass you are merely Shakened.

Good guys go!

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Dioneo shakes most of the spell off and steps boldly forward, unleashing flames again.

Burning hands, Ref DC 17 halves: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 1, 3, 3) = 12

1.5 damage against the leader.

Chusynd has a slightly perplexed look on his face.
Liom a dhéanamh ionas go mbeadh daoine a mian a labhairt go soiléir. Ní féidir liom a thuiscint focal sé ag rá. He shakes his head as he waves the wand about. Osna. Mar sin féin,, a chairde, taitneamh a bhaint as bronntanas Aróden ar!

Standard to cast bless from the wand, Move to draw longspear.

Clearly, Dioneo isn't that impressed. He steps forth boldly and:

Leader: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Blue: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
Red: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

...blasts them with fire. The leader is in agony, and much of the vitriol vanishes. The zombies burn and melt, but stay put. Once Chusynd adds his bless to the mix the other Pathfinders.... go!

Jal awkwardly jump/stumbles over the seats to strike at the nearest undead.

Attacking Red (including Power Attack & Bless)
Katana: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 6 = 11

Jal cleaves the zombie in 2.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Kyra moves around to the opposite side, intent on preventing the shambling corpses from harming escaping to cause more harm.

Double move

Trask moves up, and then attacks the leader and the zombie.
Reach with the weapon, using cleave, power attack
Attack vs Zombie - PA, Cleave, Bless: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26 slashing damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
attack vs leader: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 10 slashing damage: 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 And that's why I attacked the zombie first!

AC at 20 until his next turn

Hamilton drops the second zombie!

The leader, expecting melee to happen, moves to prepare. He slides so that only Kyra has a completely clear shot and cures himself of some of his wounds, CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Good guys Round 3

Jal dives through the door in pursuit, dodging under the man’s guard to roll up onto his feet at his back. His blade darts out once more.

Tumbling past the man.
Acro to avoid AoO’s: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
if that’s not good enough, Mobility gives Jal a 22 AC vs AoO’s from movement.
.
then power attack him
Katana: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 - 2 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 6 = 11

Jal's attack isn't high art, but it's exactly what the cleric ordered. His slash across the cleric's face, cutting into skull and sinew.

Out of combat.

For the moment, the chaos is calmed. The cowering nobles try to act nonchalant, but it doesn't work. The one who admonished you before does so again, "By the Order of the Grand Prince I demand that you become my private body guards and guide me to safety."

At the moment there are no threats, so you can catch your breath, talk, explore etc.

This works well. We are on a speed run, but I don't want to detract from the experience. I have open house at school until 2000 EST, so my posting will be spotty.

+1 Scimitar, Attack, Bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21
Additional Crit Damage, +2 fire: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 8

EDIT: Awwww... I got a crit... oh, well.

Kyra's reflexes are spot on, and her flourishing finish only solidifies the impressive nature of your victory.

Kyra checks her allies for wounds, and bestows Sarenrae’s Guidance upon each of them.

Roll heals if you need them. I have a Wand of CLW with x50 charges.

Jal plants a boot on the dying man to yank his blade free. While cleaning his blade, he searches the body.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

As he does so, he gives the hysterical Taldan noble a ’you’ve got to be kidding me’ look. ”By the order of my pale ass I command you shut the hells up, *fear saibhir.”

*fear saibhir = “rich guy” in Varisian

”Anyway,” he says, looking over at his teammates. ”Don’t we need to go find Wuthers? If this place was built over the temple, then we need to find some stairs down. Back stage?”

Trask realizes that this nobleman will continue to bother them until they acquiesce to his demands. So, he responds to the sycophant in the way that he would an officer.
"Sir! How should we address you, Sir?!"

He thinks about it a moment, and then continues. "If you wish to accompany us on saving the others in this madhouse, then you should stick close by me. I am no hero, so I will make sure to protect your important life. Are you properly armed, Sir?"

Internally, he chuckles. "Sir! It is good of you to make sure that the other patrons of the opera are saved! On your orders, where are we to go next?"

Seeing Kyra piercing with flames the already dead cleric, Dioneo claps slowly.

"Bravo. Bravo, my dear! That's what it's about!"

He then looks with a shrug at the noble man who dared speak up against him, he quickly casts a spell before speaking. Enhanced Diplomacy

"Well, what do you expect? Is that how opera are made in Taldor?" he says, bursting in laugh.

"The first part was pretty boring but the second part is becoming more and more interesting! Are you part of it? Hahaha, I'm joking, don't make such a long face!"

Dioneo, still oblivious to what the noble asked, presents his hand, showing the ring with the sceal of his house.

"I am Prince Dioneo the second, of House Starnon. You sure know my house's influence in Westcrown, in Cheliax."

When he says the word "Cheliax", his eyes burn with fire and his hair catch on fire.

Intimidate + enhanced diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 = 17 Oh, well...

While Dioneo entertains the Taldan nobles — and hopefully hands out some of Chusynd's leaflets, which the Chelaxian "helpfully" shoved into his hands just as he was stepping forward to speak — Chusynd wanders over by the stage, climbing up and looking about.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

The magistrate looks at each speaking Pathfinder. Shockingly he crumbles instantly, "Magistros Hustavan... is my name. I... ugh.... Yes, carry on. He gets his imperious tone back. "Carry on and get back to your mission. I, afterall, have my own mission here to heroically take care of." He looks at Dioneo, Hamilton, and Jal briefly before turning to the other cowering folk. "Follow me, and I MAGISTRATE Magistros Hustavan, will save you from a horrible fate!'

Meanwhile Jal finds a couple of interesting bits. The man wears a rather unusual unholy symbol, a pair of light blue potions of CLW, and a rather interesting note:

Loyalists of the Grim Harvestman, our time
has come! My plan to recover the stone, blessed by our beloved Harbinger of Unexpected Tragedy Himself, has succeeded beyond my wildest hopes. The fool Pathfinder I convinced to journey here has fed the strength of our Lord by encountering an unexpected tragedy of his own. His hard work for Grim was not in vain! Come to me at once, at the appointed hour and place, and we shall lay out a bounty before mighty Zyphus that He won’t soon forget. When Pharasma, hated cretin, lies slain in the bowels of hell and our mighty harbinger rules the afterlife, He will reward His faithful few with everlasting life and power of unspeakable might! Come to me, brothers and sisters, come to me! --Fel

Once Jal shares the contents, someone outside the party clears their throat. You turn to see the Magistrate... alone. "Um the commoners left. I mean I sent them away. I shall accept your protection! I shall not leave your side. No, I have no weapon, but with you fine folks protecting me with your lives, it shouldn't be an issue."

The magistrate waffles back and forth between extremely pompous, and scared. He isn't kidding though, he sticks with you no matter what.

As Chusynd wanders by the stage, he hears some muffled voices on the other side of the double doors. They don't seem to notice anything untoward as they keep talking away.... On map

Jal tosses one of the potions to Trask before pocketing the second.

When the team is done circulating and reading the note, Jal shrugs. "Sounds like Wuthers is likely dead. Don't suppose the means our job here is done, eh?" When the team doesn't immediately agree, he frowns, "I thought not. Ah well. I guess we'll just—"

Whatever else he was saying is forgotten as he looks over at Chusynd. Noting the strange man's behavior, Jal comes over to investigate.

So check out the voices?

Jal motions the group to step back. Then, blade ready, he opens the door.

Chusynd pauses at the double doors — he'll note the voices, if anyone's alongside him — and continue to the stage if not one suggests otherwise.

Trask grabs the potion, and shoves it into his beltpouch. "Magistrate, we would be remiss to leave you in such a state of... not being armed. Are you skilled in blades?"

He looks around him, to see if there are any fallen nobles. Perhaps a blade could be found on one of them.

The magistrate answers that he's OF COURSE skilled in all manner of blades, but when Hamilton hands him the blade of a fallen noble, the magistrate has the basket-hilt rapier backwards in his grip.

Chusynd gets to the stage, and doesn't hear much else. Just the two voices he passed. He pushes the curtain aside to find an empty backstage, and a pair of closed double doors. The oracle takes a moment to look out into the empty theater and is struck by the juxtaposition of an elegant massacre...

'Children. Nobles are nothing but children.'

Suppressing a sigh, Trask instructs the fop on the proper stances for a rapier, "...yes, exactly, sir. No, I believe that the sharp pointy part works better when you point it at the enemy. See how the leather strappings and the filigreed basket protects your hand! Yes, your manicure is top rate.

"Now, please stay behind me, and try not to stab me with your rapier."

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Fine. You'll come with us." says Dioneo to the noble man.

Then, examining the corpse of the fallen cleric he states casually "Oh, interesting, that's an unholy symbol of Zyphus, nemesis of Pharasma and god of accidental death. I wonder if eaten by zombies is considered accidental? Well, at least burnt by fire and cleaved in half doesn't qualifies... Poor souls." he says, with a sarcastic tone.

Jal barks a laugh, "Oh, poor guy .. accidentally fell on my blade after sneezing himself with fire."

Otherwise, he seems happy to wait until the team is ready to move through the door with the voices.

"Let's get ready, and open those doors!" Trask moves up, and prepares to fight again.

Yes! Chusynd says, overcome with the scene before him. He spreads his arms wide and strides toward the front of the stage. Lay down your misgivings, as these good people have lain down their lives! Together we shall move toward a resolution in this matter!

After a moment, he drops his arms and moves toward the double doors, heavy crossbow in hand. Ah, I do so love a good performance of Dreadnought, he says to no one in particular. One of my favorite plays, don't you know.

The doors open wide to a scene befitting the theater. On the marble floor lie the entwined bodies of multiple combatants. The hands of noble corpses grip daggers, makeshift clubs, and even a gem-encrusted rapier. Mixed in are the twice-dead bodies of zombies, their gray skin fetid and rotting. Atop them stands a pair of men listening intently to a warrior-woman in the garb of the Cult of Zephus. She is extolling the glory of the murder they just committed. Indeed the woman's pick is slick with ichor.

"Fresh sacrifices for the harvest!"

Baddies: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Jal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Hamilton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15
Chusynd: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Dioneo: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Anyone figure out why I recommended this one for the speed run? ;-)