GM Brunoreturns' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master brunoreturns

Squint and Ulyi head back towards the boats.

"This place is just odd. Like, a relic out of time." The halfling looks about helplessly. "I can't help but think that we're being toyed with, even if that combat with the giant went our way."

"Your judgment matches mine. I suppose you will captain that boat." Deric points to his least favorite vessel. They appear to be identical in every regard.

Barkot unfolds his traveler's any-tool into an oar again. "Ready. Surprised you guys were rushing outta there. That smell wasn't that bad once you gave it minute."

She cocks her head a little at Deric now, and her smile morphs into a bit of a smirk. "I must seem like a terrible prude to you. Would it surprise you to learn that I was raised in a temple of Calistria? My father sold me to them when I was quite young, and I was raised to be a devadasi and eventually became a hetairai in her service. I was quite good too…”

As Paëral comes back out of the room, still trying to purge the smell that had seemingly been permanently embedded into his sinuses, he catches the last part of Deric and Kylee’s conversation. Caught off guard by her revelation and blushing a bit, he turns away silently to hide it, acting as if he’d heard nothing…but he found his thoughts going back to the Calistrian temple he had visited once, many long years ago…

"Any luck? Or are we ready to move on in the boats?"

He turns and shakes his head. ”No…I found no other door. We can leave when everyone’s ready…but not sure how long it’ll take before this sickness from the foul smell will leave me. My aim and senses may be distracted for a while…”

Closing the door, the party waits a few minutes for the air to clear and the queasiness in their bellies to subside.

Boarding the boats in their previous order, the party grabs the oars and starts rowing, following the flowing water to the west.

The lake constricts here to a width of thirty feet or so, the cave walls narrowing down to form a tunnel. The ceiling is thirty feet above, while numerous ledges line the walls at varying heights. Several of these ledges contain manacled humanoid bodies. The remains are in advanced stages of decomposition, and in many cases are no more than skeletons.

Anything the party would like to do here or keep rowing?

Squint casts detect magic, hoping these walls don't emanate radiant dweomers like within the Crow. He clambers up on top of Ulyi inside the boat, trying to peer at the remains of the poor unfortunate souls.

In pain, in need.

The walls do radiate magic like in the Crow, but Squint is able to filter that known aura out of his vision.

The glow makes the skeletons stand out, as they are distinctly non-magicak and stick out as areas of black within the otherworldly glow.

Squint also notes a series of magically glowing runes right at water level that radiate strong conjuration magic. The runes appear to stretch around the entire lake.

Squint groans.

"Uh-oh...."

He points out what he can see of the runes.

"Those are conjuration runes....I'm not sure what they do. Be on guard."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Stop the boats. We should study them. Most likely they are some sort of ward against unwanted intruders -- those poor souls above are also a warning, no doubt."

"Conjuration magic... it might summon some guardian to defend the passage-- or it might perhaps summon water to push us back or swamp the boats. Hmmm..." she mutters to herself as she casts her own detection spell.

Kylee casts Detect Magic and tries to study the magic of the runes.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Deric plows his paddle into the water and begins back strokes bringing the vessel to a halt.

Squint is very familiar with summoning magic, and these runes seem familiar, but they are odd. It feels like summoning runes, but seen in a mirror.

Ulyi is also familiar with summoning runes, but he thinks they look correct.

"Perhaps we should exit this area as quickly as possible. Some things do not deserve study. We are in an area encircled with conjuration Doubting this is good in any way. "

Deric stands at the ready to leave Dodge as quickly as possible.

"Much of the magic we've encountered here so far has decayed over the millennia." says Kylee offhandedly as she tries to study the runes. After another minute or so, she shakes her head and pinches her eyes, letting her detection spell drop. "Bah. I have no skill for analyzing magic. It's bewildering to me."

Barkot decides he may as well take a look at the runes, too. "Hang on a sec. Let's see what we got here." He casts detect magic and stares at the ancient runes.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Knowing nothing of magic, Paëral scans the waters for any sign of danger...

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Barkot watches the runes and notices one flare as a gate opens. The gate is tiny and closes almost immediately.

Water splashes toward the gate as if a small amount of water no longer exists.

It appears you have identified the drainage system.

Definitely worth three nat 1s in a row during combat to get that 19 to identify the drains (not joking - this is the kind of thing the authors put in that the players almost never learn)!

"So I guess we know why this place ain't been flooded after ten thousand years."

Barkot turns back to paddling.

Deric resumes paddling forward.

"So I guess we know why this place ain't been flooded after ten thousand years."

Kylee is clearly relieved at the apparently benign nature of the runes.

"I had assumed all this water just ran off into the sea." she says quietly, returning her attention to the corpses hanging along the walls.

"Those bodies have been there a long time, but not ten thousand years." she observes.

The party continues on, emerging into another large lake lit by phosphorescent lichens and mosses attached to the stalactites far above.

This lake smells rather briny, highlighting the fact that the rest of the water to this point has been fresh water and very clean.

As the party enters the lake, each member begins hearing whispers. At first, they are low and indistinct, they get a bit louder as everyone hears a seductive voice in their own native language promising pleasure, wealth, glory, and whatever else the individual might desire above all else.

Everyone make a Will Save

Will Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Deric responds to the voice that beckons him. "What a wicked thing to do, to make me feel this way. What a wicked game you play."

Deric takes advantage of his alone time with Paeral. "Paeral, do you prefer your women untouched and wholesome or experienced in the art?"

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 (That's a 27 if it's a fear effect.)

Ulyi as well

Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 That’s 25 if it’s poison, petrification, or enchantment, if it matters.

”Do you hear that annoying sound?”

Deric takes advantage of his alone time with Paeral. "Paeral, do you prefer your women untouched and wholesome or experienced in the art?"

Paëral doesn't hesitate in answering. "Makes no difference to me...if I care for a woman, the things she did, or didn't do, before she met me matter less to me than what she does after...if she's kind and she cares for me, that matters much more than how sexually experienced she may or may not be. But that's just me, my friend, all folk are different..."

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 (+2 for an 18 if it's an enchantment)

"Interesting. At least I know where you stand, friend"

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
+2 vs illusion spells

Barkot becomes entranced, stands up, and begins removing his armor.

Now I have to go look up how long it takes to remove a breastplate

Putting us in "Initiative" for now, though I won't roll unless something else starts happening

Barkot was rowing the boat with Kylee in it. The other two boats are ~10 feet away

Round 1
BOLD may act

Barkot
Squint
Ulyi
Paeral
Deric
Kylee

Deric stands and eases into the water while maintaining a grip on the gunnel.

Paëral frowns as he watches Barkot. ”Bark, what’s wrong, dude? Kylee, do you know what’s going on?”

Then seeing Deric, he queries. ”Deric, why are you getting in the water?”

Knowing they’re exposed on these boats in the middle of the lake, he draws his bow and stays alert…

"Helping Barkot out of his armor." Deric winks at Paeral. "Thanks for the cover."

Paëral shakes his head at Deric. ”I’d not recommend swimming in full plate, my friend…”

Anyone else planning to take an action?

Apologies. I could’ve sworn that I posted, but it didn’t show.

Squint uses his time as a sailor to try to bring the boats closer together, piloting the non-Barkot vessel.

Profession Sailor check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

”Hold on, Barkot!”

Deric slips into the water, attempting to get closer to Barkot. As Paeral wryly cautions the warrior, he gets a glimpse of enormous shadows emerging from the depths of the water.

Deric feels a rush of water disturbed from underneath him, then suddenly three great sets of jaws strike at him. The first two go for the same leg and interfere, but the last jaw latches on, and Deric is help firmly.

Bite vs FFAC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Bite vs FFAC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 Bite vs FFAC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Grab: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (1, 6) + 9 = 16

Barkot continues removing his armor. 1 minute to remove a breastplate by rule. If needed, we will consider the armor to be hastily donned until it is removed

Round 2
BOLD may act

Barkot
Squint
Ulyi
Paeral
Deric -16Swimming 5ft, on surface - Grappled
Kylee
Eel (Blue) Swimming 15ft deep
Eel (Green) Swimming 15ft deep
Eel (Yellow) Swimming 15ft deep - Grappling

"Agreed, Pae. Umph."

Deric tries to break free of the jaws and climb back into the boat.

cmb: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

strength: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Strength: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The eel ends up getting moved adjacent to Deric (so that one is 10ft deep). Deric attempts to break out of the eel's jaw, but is unable to kick his leg free.

Paeral, a large man in full plate and a 10ft long eel are pulling straight down on the side of the boat. I need an Acrobatics check to avoid getting thrown in the water.

Kylee had been distracted by the strange, sinister and insinuating voices roiling through the cavern and had closed her eyes, lowered her head and covered her ears trying to drown them out.

But suddenly she becomes aware of Barkot standing up and ripping off his armor. She looks around in confusion, sure that there must be a good reason for this, and a moment later she sees Deric leap into the water and becomes aware of the dark shadows moving underneath.

She holds her holy symbol before her face and attempts to clear her mind and drown out the chaos for a moment.

"I am a servant of the Fire. I am a servant of the Light. Nothing shall touch me. Nothing shall touch me. Nothing shall touch me." She seems to fade a little from view, as if her colors are washed out and her edges less defined, or as if she were no longer entirely in this world.

Then she stands and moves to help Barkot with removing his armor. "What are they? Can you see them?" she asks.

Casting Sanctuary (DC 14 Will Save)

Sense Motive (to tell that Barkot is entranced): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Kylee notices that Barkot is staring straight ahead toward the far bend where the lake continues out of view. He makes no response and hardly seems to notice that Kylee is helping him.

Yes, you can tell he is entranced

"Barkot? Barkot, can you hear me?" says Kylee as she realizes that the half-orc is... not himself. Then it clicks.

"The voices..." she says, looking around the cavern again. She goes to try and cover Barkot's ears. "Don't listen to them! Don't listen to them!" she shouts, even as she fights off their influence over herself.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Hopefully maintaining his balance as the boat rocks, Paëral draws his rapier, calling out to Deric and the others, ”Eels! Can’t fire…you need a thrusting weapon. Squint, can you summon more aquatic creatures to help Deric?”

I think I still have an action left, but it depends on Deric, I could pass Deric my short sword to thrust with…or if he tries to break free again and succeeds, I could try to assist in getting him back in the ship…or I could ready an attack if the eels break surface…

"What?" Squint calls out from where he's trying to pilot the boat. "Oh! Eels? Yeah!" His non-specific comments seem to be a reply to Paeral's request.

"Sorry, Ulyi. AWAY!"

The eidolon winks out of existence.

"Two ticks!" Squint says, still pulling at the steering pole of the boat.

Profession Sailor: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Standard action to dismiss Ulyi. Move action to Pilot the boat.

Paeral stays in the boat (and has an action remaining)

Sure, I will let Paeral aid the escape attempt by grabbing on to Deric's arm, but I think it would be a Strength check. A CMB would be more appropriate if Paeral were adjacent to the eel

Paëral grabs Deric’s arm in an attempt to help him break free and get in the boat…

Aid Another (Strength): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

"Thank you friend. Suddenly I feel more stupid that usual. But I have a plan if I can avoid becoming sustenance."