GM Bold Strider's Rise of the Runelords - Flaxseed Lodge (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

Glaucus then picks a passage at random and makes his way down, marking it with chalk first to make sure they don't get confused later.

"Should we just back up through that portal? She just got here ahead of us and she's already gone. She must know this area like the back of her hand. Maybe we need to rethink this and leave her be. Hopefully the goblins will fall apart since we ran her off!"

"Maybe you're right," Glaucus grumbles. "She already killed one of us and disrupting the goblin threat was our main goal after all. My main goal, at least. My pack misses me, I can feel it."

Jace lowers his shoulders in defeat. Perhaps you are right..... I am afraid that is not the last we will hear of Nualia. She will have my head for this.

Jace begins to make his way back to the portal. We should see if your friend is well.

"Jace, you are with friends now. Real friends. Stay with us. Help us defend the town, and you'll not stand against her by yourself if she ever shows up again. We have plenty of goblins we need to make sure are cleared out of the area."

1d7 ⇒ 7

Glaucus steps down a hallway as Elena calls out to him that retreat might be a better option.

Don't feel like you have to retreat for gameplay purposes. Jim will get reincluded on his own small side storyline as you explore. I have the near future planned out if you go down a tunnel. Also, if you wanted to find Nualia, perhaps tracking her could be useful. I doubt there isn't a trail of blood from all those attacks you gave her.

Lets see if Glaucus can track her first, then we can figure out what to do.

Survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Glaucus looks for any drops of blood to follow and leads the party in that direction.

The wildsman looks around and definitely sees a trail of blood leading down a hallway nearest to the ranseur in the statue. From the distance between splatters, it appears to Glaucus that she is moving at a fast clip.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 (+2 enchantments)

"Quick then, let's follow her."

Ellena nods and falls in line. "Quickly then, before she heals!"

Jace takes after Glaucus as fast as his leg will let him.

Hmm. It seems my battle with this group has left me with a gimped leg that even my blessings will not heal.

The trio moves quickly down the hallway, much quicker than they could otherwise. As you move, you feel a deep welling pit of anger in the bottom of their stomach. The thought of Nualia escaping is beginning to make you irate, if not downright vengeful.

DC 24 Will Saves for Enchantments (no subtype).

As you move down the hallway, it seemingly stretches on for miles in front of you and you occasionally pass a doorway. Each doorway has a closed door in its frame, but the doors themselves are different each time. The blood splatter leads on father, if you wish to follow.

---

Jim begins to come around as his natural alchemical healing kicks in. He awakes to find himself in a pitch-black room. A hint of light can be seen in the ceiling of the room about 10' up. It looks like a crack. Something is poking him in the ribs.

Will 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"Keep up!" Glaucus growls at the others as he leads the way, following the blood trail.

Jim awakens as his flesh repairs itself, a result of his alchemical self-experimentation. He opens his eyes, straining to see anything around him besides the sliver of light from above. Most notably, he tries to see what is poking him.
Does low-light vision cut it here?

Will save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Jace does the best that he can to keep up with Glaucus but his leg pains him.

Nodding at Elena he thinks.

Can they truly be a group set out to do good? Have I been led astray?

Will Save - Glaucus: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 25

The group moves quickly through the tunnel, passing innumerable doors with their speed, tracking the blood on the floor and, arguably, leaving their own behind as well.

The group reaches a doorway made of rich mahogany with gilded filigree etched into the wood. The door stands slightly ajar. Not enough to see in, but enough to see that someone has passed through. It also appears that the blood trail ends here.

---

Jim's low-light vision doesn't seem to help him distinguish much beyond the edges of the room and his special eyes are the only things that caught the glimmer of light in the first place. He feels around the thing poking into him and it feels extremely smooth.

Jim checks to make sure he isn't impaled on something, then tries to speak. "Um... hello?"
Am I being actively poked, or is it just something statically jabbed into me?

It is like you are laying on something uncomfortable.

Nothing responds to Jim's question.

Jace slams the door open. Nualia! Stop this madness.

Jim sighs, realizing the others aren't around. "Well, it's not the first time I've been left for dead." He tries to identify what he's laying on, though there's not enough light for visual recognition.
Appraise(untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

"Well boys, you two get in there, and I'm after you. We have to finish off this evil monster now, before she escapes and does more harm! She can't be allowed to muster more evil!"

Jim feels on the item and its smooth surface and hard exterior remind him very much of a rib bone. A rib bone of a very long dead person or beast.

---

Jace kicks open the door as Glaucus and Elena leap through. Looking back, the doorway shows the hallway from whence they came, but it seems that they are back in the Material Plane as their movements significantly slow down. As they stumble into the room, they see an opulent bedroom and the door looks to have been towards a closet. The trail leads farther into the manor through another open door.

It does not appear that there are any servants or residents in the house and everything has a light sheen of dust.

"What is this place? Where did she go?" Glaucus halts everyone as he looks for signs in the dust.

Survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Know. Local 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"These trappings remind me of the city of Magnimar. She might have teleported us there, or someone here might just really enjoy the asthetic. But push on, we have to find her!"

No Knowledge Local for me yet.

I am unsure. Jace begins to look around for more signs of Nualia.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Jim tries to pull the rib out from under himself as he attempts to sit up. "I hope this isn't mine..." he thinks, remembering some of his past failed alchemical experiments.

The trio moves around the corner to find Tsuto and Nualia, recovering from their wounds, much in the same condition as the pursuers. "You followed me?!" she says aghast as she draws her bastard sword.

"Tch." comments Tsuto as he clutches his ribs and tries to assume his martial arts pose.

Initiative:
Glaucus: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Jace: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Elena: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Nualia/Tsuto: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Their eyes burn with vengeance, but they don't react with violence. They remain hunched over and injured about 15' feet from you.

Initiative:
1st: Tsuto; Nualia
2nd: Glaucus; Elena; Jace

Status:
Glaucus @ 23/27 HP
Elena @ 21/21
Jace @ 29/29 HP
Nualia @ 31 damage
Tsuto @ 14 damage

"Surrender now and come with us."

If they don't surrender:

Glaucus rushes up to punch Nualia in the face!

unarmed strike: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

If they do surrender he will of course retrieve some rope and tie their hands behind their backs to escort them to the authorities.

Confused by the strange actions of the two, Elena readies an action to blast Nualia with the wand if they respond with violence.

Readied action damage, if triggered 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

If they hold, Elena joins Glaucus's demand. "He's right. If you surrender now, we can end the violence. We've no need to bring your corpses back...we just need to disrupt all those evil goblins and see justice done."

If they seem willing to listen, Diplomacy 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

-Posted with Wayfinder

DM

Jace hold forth his holy symbol.

See us through this day. a small blessing to his gods is seemingly answered.

Cast bless on the group.

Jim pulls on the rib and finds that it is still attached to a pretty clean skeleton by bits and pieces of dried tendon and flesh. He sits up pretty easily and locates his weapons in the dark with ease.

---

Glaucus tries to reason with the half-elf and aasimar, but Elena steps forward and blasts Nualia with her newly acquired, but oft used wand of Magic Missile. Elena's vengeance is palpable in the room.

"I see the hallway got to your friend..." Nualia comments blithely as she spits blood on to the carpet.

Jace Blesses the group to aid in the impeding combat.

"Kneel!" the corrupted aasimar yells out of nowhere as Tsuto immediately falls to his knees. Nualia incants in a carnal tongue.

After her few short words, she slams the palm of her corrupted claw into Tsuto's head as he looks onward at her with love, devotion and fanaticism. As her hand hits him, his body begins to convulse and contort. His insides seem to jut and dance under his flesh as he bulges and bends.

Nualia flees into the next room as Tsuto, or what he once was, stands. His body seems to blur as his innate speed and guile seems to have amplified in his transformation. This insane, twisted, humanoid-shaped tangle of limbs and gnashing teeth thrashes and howls, all too eager to wreak havoc. He now has four claws that seem to thirst for blood.

Elena has heard stories of this beast: a warped one.

Initiative:
1st: Tsuto; Nualia (Fled)
2nd: Glaucus; Elena; Jace

Status:
Glaucus @ 23/27 HP
Elena @ 21/21
Jace @ 29/29 HP
Tsuto @ 14 damage
--
Nualia @ 33 damage
--
Jim @ 1/31 HP

Jace swings his bastards sword at the warped man.

Tsuto......... You poor man...

With a grim look he proceeds to help the man in the only way he knows.

Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Forgot to address Glaucus' ready action.

While Nualia transforms Tsuto, Glaucus charges forward and strikes out at the woman, but his fist glances off her armor without a second thought from her.

Relevant because now Glaucus is next to Tsuto for a Flurry.

Jace moves forward and tries to cut down the aberration, but his blade passes harmlessly through the creature as it seems to bend around his sword.

Initiative:
1st: Tsuto
2nd: Glaucus; Elena; Jace

Status:
Glaucus @ 23/27 HP
Elena @ 21/21
Jace @ 29/29 HP
Tsuto @ 14 damage
--
Nualia @ 33 damage
--
Jim @ 1/31 HP

Elena quickly tells the others in her group what she knew about the transformation they were witnessing! "She's turned him into a warped one! We have to strike him down now. As he gets used to the magic, he will get much stronger! Kill him and then we can kill her!"

Elena blasts him with the wand.

Damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"I'm trying!" Glaucus shouts at Elena as he kicks and flails his arms.

flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"It's just been one of those weeks." Jim thinks to himself. He feels around the floor first, hoping the skeleton might have been carrying something useful, like a sunrod.

Jim feels around and carefully finds his weapons. As he searches in the dark, he feels more bones. Perhaps trying to break free from where the light is coming from might provide more help or at least more light.

---

1d8 ⇒ 6

Blur - High is Good: 2d100 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

Glaucus steps up to the beast and launches into a full on assault, but Tsuto seems to warp around the woodsman's fists as the man punches. The group sees that Tsuto's face seems to grow nearly fifty more eyes all around what used to be called his head. They all stare unblinkingly at Jace as Elena blasts him with some arcane magic.

Tsuto roars in pure anger as he leaps onto Jace, lashing out in a whirl of claw and bile.

Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

The man hunkers down behind his shield and absorbs most of the attacks, letting not a single nail touch his flesh.

Initiative:
1st: Tsuto
2nd: Glaucus; Elena; Jace

Status:
Glaucus @ 23/27 HP
Elena @ 21/21
Jace @ 29/29 HP
Tsuto @ 16 damage
--
Nualia @ 33 damage
--
Jim @ 1/31 HP

Jace launches out once again with his Bastard sword.

Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Stop this madness Tsuto. Whatever Nualia has done to you we can reverse.

Bless

Bluff? :D You can't possibly know that.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jim frowns as he finds only bones. He begins searching the walls for some kind of lever, rope, handhold, doorway, or something else he can use or climb. He scowls in the darkness. "Adventuring: the less glamorous side."

I have no clue if I can or not hehe. It was more just hopeful thinking on Jace's part

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Ellena blasts away yet again. "We need to kill this damned abomination before he can do the same to us!"

Magic Missile 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

DM, I don't think that I ever saw you state how many charges this wand has. Can Elena tell?

Glaucus keeps kicking!

flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Confirm:
flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The light only looks to be about 10' above his head and, as Jim feels the walls, he thinks he can climb the rough walls if he can open the ceiling.

---

Gaarm steps into Tsuto and unleashes a one-two combo that lands the first punch with a brutal accuracy, but the second misses him.

1d100 ⇒ 85

Jace follows up with a slash from his bastard sword, that cuts into the disfigured half-elf as he shrieks in pain.

1d100 ⇒ 67

Elena looks at her new wand and blasts Tsuto, thinking she only has less than half of a traditional wand's charges left.

Charges Left: 1d10 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

1d8 ⇒ 4

His head quickly sheds most of the excess eyes as they plop to the ground with sickening thuds as the creature grows multi-hued scales all over his body. They shimmer across the spectrum of colors as Tsuto's body throbs and hums, growing in size slightly.

Tsuto leaps on Jace once more, trying to claw his eyes out.

Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Claw @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Claw Confirmation @ Jace-20 AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Two claws make it past Jace's shield and through his armor, rending deep into Jace's flesh as the man howls out. "AaaaaaaOoooooooooooo!" The second claw seems to strike a vital spot and Jace doubles over in pain.

Damage: 3d4 + 12 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) + 12 = 20

Initiative:
1st: Tsuto
2nd: Glaucus; Elena; Jace

Status:
Glaucus @ 23/27 HP
Elena @ 21/21
Jace @ 9/29 HP
Tsuto @ 40 damage
--
Nualia @ 33 damage
--
Jim @ 1/31 HP

"Ha! We've got you now!"

flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

flurry of blows: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Glaucus then frowns as the monster dodges his kicks.

Jace swings his bastard sword one more time.

We need to end this quickly or we will all perish...

Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8