GM Endless Forms' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Karnhousk doesn't notice any tracks, mostly because it is a perfectly flat stone pedestal with no dust or anything that could leave tracks.

Same Swim or Prof (sailor) checks as before to move about the water, although I think Brelar can still just swim everyone else across by pulling the boats.

Fishman Brelar will do that!

Fishy Brelar swims the boats over to the beach. The sand of this beach slopes up toward a door in the cave wall. To the south, two seven-foot-long mounds of sand break the otherwise smooth contours of the beach. A long oval shield painted with a strange symbol sits atop each mound.

The symbol is recognizable as the symbol of lust (not really sure what that is. . . and maybe I don't want to know) and the shields are heavy steel shields.

What is with the shields? Are these burial mounds? Argust will ask the party. Strange way to bury a fella isn't it?

"I don't know--there might be magic here." The halfling casts detect magic.

Nope. Bert detects no magic.

"Nope, nothing like that here. Weird. Well, let me check the door." Bert takes back the lens and searches for traps before trying to open the door.

Perception check: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37

ETA: Does Bert have any relevant knowledge about the mounds? With Lore Master, he's got 19 checks in Nobility and Local, or a 28 in History. With a bit of time he can consult the proper Chronicle to get +2 to Local or History.

Nothing special about them. Just burial mounds. I suppose looking at the sand a simple DC 10 Survival is enough to tell that these are recent burials.

Bert finds nothing wrong with the door and heads through. The walls of this room are covered by detailed murals depicting wanton acts involving otherworldly beings of every description. The murals cover every vertical surface, but stop abruptly after turning down the hallway to the south, as though abandoned by the artist.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Brelar, ever heard of this fella here, umm, Ammyvadeeyouuhs? Argust doesn't really get all this other stuff.

With +18 Perception, that's a gimme.

Bert points to the corner of one mural. "Amivadeus Yasrin--does that name sound at all familiar to any of you? I'm guessing he or she didn't think much of the Runelord."

From Bert's previous recollection of the Gray Maidens, do those look like the shields they use?

"Amivadeus Yasrin, hmmm." Brelar tries to place the name. Finally shaking his head in frustration, "Don't believe so."

The fresh burial mounds had heavy shields with a rune of lust on them?

@Bert: yep.

"The Gray Maidens are here ahead of us. I'm guessing they lost two to that golem, but it didn't chase them and they took the time to bury their dead."

"Very strange that the golem did not pursue them." Brelar ponders. "Wounded animals are the worst kind to deal with, do you think these Gray Maidens will be open to talking to us Bert?"

The halfling shakes his head. "I bet we wouldn't be able to take what we're after without them, you know, objecting violently."

Fine by me! Our quest is the noble cause, is it not? I will fight to the end for you, my friends! Men, women, strange glass creatures... I don't care who we fight!

"We should be on our way then, yes?"

Karnhousk directs the party past the lascivious mural down a winding hallway which eventually ends in a barred gate that is locked. A larger room lies beyond.

On our way, yes! Who knows what we'll end up seein' next. The dwarf wonders aloud. Hopefully the way has been cleared by these Grey Maiden women. Either that or we'll find more of their burials.

Grinning, Bert pulls out his lockpicks.

Perception check for traps: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

If no traps, start by taking 10 on the lockpick attempt for a 27.

disable: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

On his second try Bert is able to unlock the gate. The stone walls, floor, and ceiling of this hall are polished to an almost mirrorlike sheen. The arching ceiling is supported by twin rows of columns, all of which have been carved to resemble the same beautiful woman dressed in revealing robes.

Moving out from behind one of these columns is a deathly pale man with long, bone-white hair woven into a long braid, dark eyes, and well-fitting and revealing clothes. "Greetings, friends or foes," he says with an almost otherworldly calm. "Which be you? I'll gladly speak more with you if you be the former, but fear I must prevent your passage if you be the latter. Would you speak the pass phrase for me?"

Amivadeus Yasrin? Karnhousk thinks to himself, while glancing at his companions.

Argust raises his weapon but holds his ground then immediately turns toward Brelar, then Bert, then to Karn. I hope one of these fellas knows what they're doin', otherwise I'll haveta go take a hack at this guy.

What language is he using?

He's speaking in Common.

"Well. . . are you friend or foe? What is the password?"

Brelar gestures to one of the carvings.

Bother, if the Gray Maidens got by him they probably found the password somewhere in Korvosa. "Sorry, you should really put up signs or something. Before we go, who's Amivadeus Yasrin?"

Argust looks at Brelar as he speaks some strange language. Is it a devil?

"I'm sorry?" the man looks quizically at Brelar. "I'm afraid I am not familiar with that tongue."

The man, who you may recognize as a dhampir, shrugs at Bert's question and looks confused by it.

Assuming Brelar repeats it in Common:

The pale man shakes his head sadly and responds, "Ah that may be true but I am afraid that is not the correct passphrase. I apologize, but I have no choice but to stop you."

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk
2. Gnaeus Gnaru
3. Argust

Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk are up!

The halfling's fingers dance through a complex conjuration as he intones mystic syllables, and in response a cloud of golden motes flashes into being around the pale man. Casting glitterdust; DC 15 Will save or blinded.

Karnkousk casts a spell, causing a intangible trident to appear next to the dhampir and attack him.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Bert blinds the dhampir! Karnhousk calls forth a spiritual trident once again, which hits the unarmored dhampir.

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk
2. Gnaeus Gnaru
3. Argust

Gnaeus: 3 dmg, blind

Brelar is up!

Brelar moves up slightly and cast scorching ray.

Ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 1) = 12

Brelar hits with his ray of fire!

The dhampir casts a spell and his form seems to shift a bit.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk
2. Gnaeus Gnaru
3. Argust

Gnaeus: 15 dmg, blind, 50% miss chance against

You guys are up!

Bert doesn't recognize the spell; he calls on his luck and fires at the now-blinded foe.

Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Arrow to dhampir, incl. PBS and luck: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 21
Arrow damage, incl. PBS and luck: 1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

ETA: Miss chance, 51-100=miss: 1d100 ⇒ 8

Argust will double move and accost the man. Seeing this "shift" Argust becomes wary of what may happen next.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Brelar calls to his friends, "He's put a displacement effect on himself. It'll make him much harder to actually hit. " Taunting to the dhampir, "Clever boy, how do you feel about this?"

Cast magic missile.
Damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) + 3 = 8

Bert his the dhampir with an arrow!

Argust moves up to the dhampir.

Brelar sends several magic missiles which hit the man in the chest.

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk
2. Gnaeus Gnaru
3. Argust

Gnaeus: 29 dmg, blind, 50% miss chance against

Karnhousk is up!

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 77

Can't see map atm, not sure if this is possible.

Karn charges the dhampir with his longspear.

Charge Attack: 1d8 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 46

Karnhousk's trident bites into the dhampir but he does not have as much luck with his spear.

DC 17 Defensive Casting: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Gnaeus casts a spell as his rapier begins to light up with electricity and then stabs blindly at Argust with his rapier!

silverfang attack 1, arcane accuracy, spell combat: 1d20 + 12 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 - 2 = 25
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 49
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

silverfang attack 2, arcane accuracy, spell combat: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 17
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 86
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

silverfang free attack, arcane accuracy, spell combat: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 - 2 = 9
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 63
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The dhampir misses with all three of his attacks but his blade still continues to crackle with electricity.

DC 15 Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk
2. Gnaeus Gnaru
3. Argust

Gnaeus: 32 dmg, blind, 50% miss chance against

You guys are up!

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 76

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 81

Karn and his divine weapon continue to strike at the man.

That is one neat trick! However I do it the ol' fashioned way! Seeing that the man is blind, Argust is smart enough to try and flank his opponent with his friend! The player might not be smart enough though. I believe he can't take an AoO while blinded and I think I can flank from where I'm at with Karn and his reach weapon, right?

First: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 2 = 28 for Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 6) + 10 = 17 high hits!: 1d100 ⇒ 38

If I can't move without provoking I'll stay there and do a full attack, Second: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 for Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17 high hits!: 1d100 ⇒ 16

Meh, stupid miss chance.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Brelar again cast magic missile sending them at the dhampir!

Damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) + 3 = 15

Bert puts an arrow with great precision into the displaced image of the dhampir.

Arrow to dhampir, incl. PBS and lingering luck: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 + 2 = 25

Miss chance, 51-100=miss: 1d100 ⇒ 57

Hey JW, I don't see a damage roll in your post.

That sounds right about being blind and not taking AoO. I'll go with it because I don't feel like looking it up right now. Also, Bert didn't roll damage because it missed. I'm just a dice waster and roll everything at once even if its not needed (even in real life, I just grab all the dice I need at once and toss them, with different colors to designate each hit if I have more than one attack. Sooo much quicker.)

Karnhousk's spear and trident both cut open the dhampir's pale skin.

Argust swings at misses, being put off by the man's shimmery appearance. Shimmery because of displacement, not sparkly because he's a lame Twilight vampire. Ugh, I hate myself for even knowing that reference.

Brelar's magic missiles fail to miss!

Bert's arrow misses.

The dhampir continues to stab blindly at Argust!

silverfang first attack, arcane accuracy: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 = 34
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 49
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

silverfang second attack, arcane accuracy: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 = 22
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 84
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

silverfang free attack, arcane accuracy: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 27
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

As the dhampir lands his rapier in Argust's side, the electricity is discharged!

(empowered) electricity damage: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 3, 2) = 14 + 50% more = 21 electricity damage total

DC 15 Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Initiative:

1. Brelar, Bert, and Karnhousk
2. Gnaeus Gnaru
3. Argust

Gnaeus: 61 dmg, blind, 50% miss chance against

You guys are up!

You've nearly broken my glass canon! If he hadn't been blinded this would have been much scarier.

Bah! I even saw that and failed to comprehend that 57 is within the range of 51-100. Go me. So much for trying to be helpful. Oh, and I always want to be fair:

Wow, 33 points. I assume Karn takes what, 20 of that?

Argust takes two big swings against the Glass Cannon! Full Attack!

First: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 = 26 Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 5) + 10 = 18 Miss chance, high hits!: 1d100 ⇒ 97

Second: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 2 = 31 Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1) + 10 = 12 Miss chance, high hits!: 1d100 ⇒ 59

Crit Threat!: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 = 20 Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 6) + 10 = 21 Miss chance, high hits!: 1d100 ⇒ 79

You've nearly broken my glass canon! If he hadn't been blinded this would have been much scarier.

I was originally going to just start shooting, but figured that opening with glitterdust was a better option. It helps that your save dice went cold, because Bert's CHA isn't the highest.

If it makes you feel any better, you hit him back for 51? :)