Gorf, while investigating the statues that were clearly foo dogs, discovers a small gray humanoid with a hooked nose and big ears hiding between the rubble. And he’s casting a spell! And he has art!
Yes, it’s a Wayang, a small humanoid said to have some connection to the plane of shadow. They have ghost sound, ventriloquism, and pass without trace as SLAs. Once per day they may choose to treat positive energy as negative energy or vice versa. They have no inherent DR or SR. This one looks to have class levels...
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
rolloff!:1d20 ⇒ 8
Estra ponders the unoccupied ceremonial weapon racks before leaving The Artist Known As Cudak Tanagak to his musings. She and Honaire join the others outside.
Gorf readies to non-lethally pistol-whip this wayang should they target him or one of his allies with their spell. Gorf has no spellcraft, so can't tell what they're casting. It seems like he's still be able to tell if he were being targeted with a spell, but I can change this if you think otherwise.
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
"Now, now!" Estra takes cover behind a statue. She feels the rigid stone beneath one hand; Honaire limbs twist and shimmer. Casting ghoul touch, and Honaire has deliver touch spells!
”Honaire” | N Medium outsider (phantom) 7 | HP 45/51 | AC 22, T 14, FF 20 | CMD 21 | F +6 R +10 W +9 | Init +1 | darkvision | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: spiritualist's call (+2 Str/Dex/Cha, 10 minutes)
Honaire advances on the wayang and thrusts a phantasmal hand towards them.
Also, Daisley and Gorf get +2 to AC, CMD, and saves while within 10 ft' of Honaire.
Estra has +4 to AC, +2 to CMD, and +4 to saves while adjacent to him. Touch attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
If it hits:
Spell Resistance yes
DC 16 Fortitude save or they're paralyzed for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 rounds!
Gorf and Honaire also have to pass a DC 16 Fort save or be sickened.
Honaire's save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Ghoul Touch wrote:
Imbuing you with negative energy, this spell allows you to paralyze a single living humanoid for the duration of the spell with a successful melee touch attack.
A paralyzed subject exudes a carrion stench that causes all living creatures (except you) in a 10-foot-radius spread to become sickened (Fortitude negates). A neutralize poison spell removes the effect from a sickened creature, and creatures immune to poison are unaffected by the stench. This is a poison effect.
Honair’s touch attack doesn’t quite touch.
Estra tries to spellcraft the spell, and at first thinks it’s mage armor, and then summon monster III, and then maybe fireball, before realizing:
Estra:
That wayang’s an illusion!
Suddenly, great magical hailstones pound down upon the balcony, dealing:
To everyone in the area! For the duration of this spell, creatures inside this area take a –4 penalty on Perception skill checks and the entire area is treated as difficult terrain.
And another wayang appears, flying above the cliff!
Gorf, seeing the wayang before him disappear and another fly over the roof, slings his musket over his shoulder and climbs up the wall. "Hey, come back here feller! I wanna talk to you!"
Move action to stow musket, second move action to take-10 for 28 climb check (climb speed 20ft) up the wall to the roof.
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
Estra grumbles as the wayang disappears over the roof. "Can't climb a wall with a cane. Best of luck, Gorf!" Nothing I can do for the moment, so total defense for both of Estra and Honaire, I guess!
Sounds good Gorf. The ceilings are described as 12 feet on all levels, and the roof is two stories up, so we’ll say it’s 24 feet high, which is an odd number for the grid. But with another move you can get there next turn.
Oh, wait, Gorf, you’re climbing up that inside wall? So you’ll have to climb along the underside of the roof as well, since it shelters the area (I just reviewed the description.). But it looks like you can get to the edge and over with 20’ of movement from where you are, once you get all the way up. So, it may take 2 moves next round. Does that make sense? If you want to redo your turn that’s fine too.
Maybe I'm not understanding. I was outside on the balcony, I didn't go back inside. Is there a roof over the balcony as well? Or maybe i'm misunderstanding which part of that map is inside and which is outside.
Yes, there is a roof over the balcony. “This area is open to the outside but sheltered by the roof two stories above.” Sorry, I think I confused things when I referred to the wall you’re climbing as an inside wall.
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
Just to check in: we dispelled an illusion of a wayang, but a (presumably) flesh-and-blood wayang shouted "trespassers!" at us and flew over the roof.
I'm good with waiting for Gorf to climb up there and report what he sees.
Yes, that’s essentially right. I’m not sure dispelled is the right word, but attacking it got rid of it. The party is welcome to wait for Gorf, but the wayang ain’t gonna!
The wayang flies back down and a silent bolt of lightning shoots from his finger tips!
Daisley and Honaire should make reflex saves (DC 19) for half damage, otherwise:
Zap!:8d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 2, 1, 3, 4, 3) + 4 = 29
Tian:
”Nagura will pay for your curiosity!”
The wayang is 15’ from the balcony, flying above the cliff, but level with Daisley and the rest of the party!
Cudak has a standard left. The thing on the balcony disappeared when Daisley grappled it, so it’s no longer there for you to study. I’ll let you use that nat 20 on the longbow, and the 22 will confirm! My poor tricksy wayang!
Gorf I moved you on the map. You are actually on the roof, which is shaped exactly like the balcony, but you can get there with 20’. The wayang is 25’ below you so he’s within your range and both of your shots touch!
From the edge of the roof Gorf fires off a shot with his musket that echoes through the night air and The... Cudak readies his longbow for a well-aligned shot!
Gorf
Estra
Cudak
?? - 41
Daisley
Estra is up! Also. I think Honaire still needs to make a reflex save (DC 19) for half damage from the lightning bolt!
”Honaire” | N Medium outsider (phantom) 7 | HP 45/51 | AC 22, T 14, FF 20 | CMD 21 | F +6 R +10 W +9 | Init +1 | darkvision | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: spiritualist's call (+2 Str/Dex/Cha, 10 minutes)
Reflex:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Honaire steps sinuously forward to put himself between Daisley and Gorf. If they get attacked, he'll use Bodyguard to add +2 to their AC. He's also still charged with ghoul touch!
Bodyguard attack rolls, if necessary:
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 vs. AC 10
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 vs. AC 10
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 vs. AC 10
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 vs. AC 10
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
Estra grumbles, fishes around in a belt pouch, then hums triumphantly when she extracts a thin reed wand.
"Worth a try..."
She spins the wand between knobby fingers, then points it skywards with a flourish; the air around the device—and the flying wayang—ripples outwards in concentric circles. Wand of dispel magic! I'm hoping to strip his fly, but we'll see... Targeted dispel:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22, see spoiler for full details~
Dispel magic:
Targeted Dispel: One object, creature, or spell is the target of the dispel magic spell. You make one dispel check (1d20 + your caster level) and compare that to the spell with highest caster level (DC = 11 + the spell’s caster level). If successful, that spell ends. If not, compare the same result to the spell with the next highest caster level. Repeat this process until you have dispelled one spell affecting the target, or you have failed to dispel every spell.
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
"Thank you, Gorf. I find that as I age, I look for solutions that are both direct and expedient." Estra smiles and deposits the wand back in its pouch.
She taps a finger against her chin. "They mentioned a disguised journal—I can't imagine they'd leave it lying about the porch. Probably hidden inside somewhere. I wonder, do you think they exsanguinated that hanging gentleman? Hmm."
”Honaire” | N Medium outsider (phantom) 7 | HP 45/51 | AC 22, T 14, FF 20 | CMD 21 | F +6 R +10 W +9 | Init +1 | darkvision | Speed 30ft | Active Conditions: spiritualist's call (+2 Str/Dex/Cha, 10 minutes)
Honaire stands at the portico's edge. His blank eyes and swirling face move in stop motion time lapse as he tracks the fleeing figure's path.
His muted, indistinct voice drifts towards the others. "I don't think they'll return. Nor am I certain they had a hand in the spirits we've seen." His outline flickers, and he is suddenly facing the group and striding towards the door. "We should find this journal."
”Estra” | Female N Medium Human Spiritualist 7 | HP 38/52 | AC 20, T 10, FF 20 | CMD 14 | F +8 R +5 W +11; +2 vs illusions | Init +3 | Perc: +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 4/5, 2nd 2/4, 3rd 1/2 | Active Conditions: comp. languages, shield
Brief look around the porch before we leave, searching for anything hidden or interesting: Estra's Perception:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 Honaire's Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
"T'be honest, once they loosed that lightnin' at y'all, I'da preferred to put a bullet between their eyes. I'd hate for them ta get the drop on us again."
OK folks, thanks for your patience. You investigate the balcony but don’t find much of interest. The telescope, when pointed down, can easily be used to spy on the villagers, and perhaps even on the party as they ventured toward the house... I’m going to send you through the door on the left, combining several rooms into one post. That will finish up the western side of the house.
The door slides opens to what appears to have been a scribe’s quarters.
Paper, brushes, and dried ink stains cover a monk's writing desk; all blanketed in a thin layer of dust. A chest containing clothes and carefully folded bedding sits in the corner.
Faded, musty remains of blankets and clothing are heaped in a corner. Assorted books litter the floor.
A smear of rusty-brown dried blood runs from under the door in the opposite wall, across the floor, to the center of the room where it abruptly stops. A window provides a view to the north.
The air smells of death and decay.
(Estra doesn’t detect any undead. Honaire looks into the next room and finds it empty.)
Sliding open the door to the next room reveals a few piles of rotted bedding and empty storage chests, but no objects of significant interest or value. Ancient bloodstains mar the floor and the smell in this room is rank and foul.
A secret door sits in the room's western wall, its outline rendered visible by the curling and chipping of the lacquer covering the wooden wall...
(Estra doesn’t detect any undead. Honaire looks into the next room and finds it empty.)
Piles of bedding and storage chests fill this secret room, as well as a low table and several cushions, and a writing desk with a shelf of books above it. The room hasn't seen use in many years but otherwise appears to be in good repair.
Daisley follows the trail of blood with the calm air of someone who's visited crime scenes. The smells don't seem to concern her much. She steps carefully, trying not to make additional footprints, and she pokes carefully at the bedding. She pulls a book down from the shelf and pages through it.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
"Hmmmm. This is styled as a military history, but, isn't this the symbol of the Way of the Kirin? I think this book might be what Amara Li was after."
