GM Endless Forms' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

That was only for one additional round; she stopped singing after the first round. You can act normally now.

As if waking from a dream Brelar looks around, looking up at the harpy he begins to cast scorching ray!

Ranged touch (ray 1): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Ranged touch (ray 2): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Damage 1: 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 3) + 1 = 13
Damage 2: 4d6 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 4) + 1 = 10

Brelar shakes off his captivation and fires two rays of fire at the harpy but misses.

Herifax then continues flying about 20 feet above you and begins to pelt Brelar with arrows!

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 28
damage (manyshot): 2d8 + 6 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (2, 7) + 6 + 12 + 4 = 31

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 32
damage (manyshot): 1d8 + 3 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 6 + 2 = 17

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 13 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 15
damage (manyshot): 1d8 + 3 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 6 + 2 = 13

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 23
damage (manyshot): 1d8 + 3 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 6 + 2 = 19

The harpy laughs evilly as Brelar falls.

Initiative:

1. Herifax and Kanya
2. Argust, Brelar, Karnhousk, and Bert

H: 32 dmg

You guys are up!

"Brelar! Argust, deal with her! I've got this." The halfling continues to conjure healing energy into the fallen oracle.

CLW on Karn: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

hp: -9/58

You've got time yet--I wanted to get Karn up so he could start channeling and give Bert the chance to return fire. Fortunately, the harpy doesn't seem to have dwarves or halflings as favored enemies.

No worries :)

But I can't reach it! It flies! Argust will move back to where he had dropped his bow so that he can retrieve it and fire next round. Its a move action to pick it up, right? If its a minor I could still fire with my standard.

As a standard action I will go Total Defense, AC is now 29.

After Bert second healing, Karn regains consciousness. Looking around, he sees Brelar laying on the ground in a pool of blood. Standing up, he channels healing energy to the party.

Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) = 12

Bert brings Karn back to consciousness so that the oracle can channel, also healing his fallen Kellid comrade. Argust runs back to pick up his dropped bow to return fire against the harpy.

---

Seeing the dwarf again armed with a ranged weapon, the harpy focuses her attacks on him for the moment.

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 - 3 - 2 = 21
damage, manyshot: 2d8 + 6 + 12 ⇒ (8, 2) + 6 + 12 = 28

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 18 - 3 - 2 = 32
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 6 = 14

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 13 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 3 - 2 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 6 = 16

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 6 = 17

Initiative:

1. Herifax
2. Argust, Brelar, Karnhousk, and Bert

H: 32 dmg

You guys are up!

Karn moves toward Brelar and channels again.

Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3) = 9

I assume the life link is not active so I'll take the full 14, then get healed 9.

Argust tries his best to hit the harpy with arrows!

One: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
One: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Bert moves up behind Argust, calls on his luck, and fires at the harpy. His arrow goes sailing away in another direction entirely, inadvertently loosed while only partially drawn and pointing upward.

DA Arrow to harpy, incl. PBS and luck: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 14

hp 12/58

Brelar casts vanish and then stands up.

Karn channels again while Argust puts a single arrow into the harpy, the second bouncing off her armor. Bert's arrow follows suit and misses its target while Brelar disappears.

---

Herifax continues to rain down arrows upon the party, trying to take out the better archer of the group now, aiming all of her arrows at Argust.

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 3 - 2 = 23
damage (manyshot): 2d8 + 6 + 12 ⇒ (6, 8) + 6 + 12 = 32

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 18 - 3 - 2 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 6 = 15

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 13 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 3 - 2 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 6 = 12

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot: 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 6 = 13

Initiative:

1. Herifax
2. Argust, Brelar, Karnhousk, and Bert

H: 41 dmg

You guys are up!

Bert sends a pair of arrows up at the harpy; the first actually gets within a couple of feet of her, and the second is on target (and may even get through her armor).

DA Arrow #1, incl. lingering luck and PBS: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 16
DA Arrow #2, incl. lingering luck and PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 25

DA Arrow #2 damage, if applicable, incl. lingering luck and PBS: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 13

The dwarf displays some nimble feet and he manages to avoid the rain of arrows from the harpy. He then tries to return fire!

Bow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Bow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"How injured are you Argust? Brelar, come near."

Unless Argust is in need of immediate healing, Karn conjures another trident of force to attack the harpy.

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

I'm doin' just fine, thanks! I'm only down 5 as your previous healing has been magnificent.

Bert puts an arrow into the harpy's leg!

Argust follows suit with an arrow of his own!

Karn's trident also cuts into her, but she remains flying above the party raining down death from above.

Initiative:

1. Herifax
2. Argust, Brelar, Karnhousk, and Bert

H: 69 dmg

Brelar is up!

Invis-o Brelar moves around the corner, and takes out the shard of pride using it's power to create and look and sound of a handsome human archer coming out of the door, taking aim and firing at the harpy!

The harpy fires at the newcomer!

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 23
Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

She shrieks in frustration as her first arrow flies through the image. She turns her rage upon Karn, tired of him healing up the wounds she has been causing.

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 18 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 26
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 6 + 2 = 15

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 13 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 30
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 6 + 2 = 18
I believe that puts Karn at -1

With Karn down, the harpy turns to Bert, whose arrows seem more damaging than the dwarf's.

+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 8 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 3 - 2 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 6 = 12

Confirm:
+1 composite longbow, deadly aim, rapid shot, favored enemy: 1d20 + 13 - 3 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 3 - 2 + 2 = 16
damage: 2d8 + 6 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (8, 1) + 6 + 12 + 4 = 31
Phew. That would have hurt.

Initiative:

1. Herifax
2. Argust, Brelar, Karnhousk, and Bert

H: 69 dmg

[oco]You guys are up![/ooc]

With the way I'm dropping you guys this fight you'd think it was a Shel adventure!

Lol

Momma....?

Not being able to reach this thing reduces Argust's effectiveness significantly.

Argust grows increasingly frustrated that he is unable to reach the harpy and continues to fire his bow! He recalls that he has new boots and activates them! Haste!

One: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Two: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Haste: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 for Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Does she have favored enemy (halfling)?

"Missed me!" Bert nimbly gets out of the way of the incoming arrow and returns fire. Again, one arrow gets through the harpy's defenses.

DA arrow#1, incl. PBS and lingering luck: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 32
DA arrow#2, incl. PBS and lingering luck: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 19

DA arrow damage, incl. PBS and lingering luck: 1d6 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 11

No, she does not. I took out the +2 from the rolls, I just forgot to delete the text.

With a trio of arrows from Argust and Bert, the harpy falls from the sky and lands with a thud! on the catwalk!

Out of combat!

"Search the bodies, Argust. I know Karn's got a cure wand here somewhere...." After locating the wand, Bert gives it a couple of shakes and applies it to the fallen oracle. "Up and at 'em! Daylight in the swamp!"

CLW from wand on Karn: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

OK! Argust will do as he is told, making sure he has all of his weapons first.

Karn comes to after a moment. "Wh...what happened? Are we all dead?" He asks, looking around. "This isn't quite what I pictured the Boneyard looking like."

Fading back into sight, Brelar joins his companions. "That was certainly much more than we were expecting. We have not yet reached the Boneyard, my brother. Perhaps tomorrow."

Bert grins. "Oh, that's right--I didn't tell you about that part, did I?"

Tell us about what, Bert? Argust asks simply as he continues to search the bodies.

Karn grins and rolls up to his knees, then stands slowly, obviously in pain. He begins searching the bodies of the harpy and catfolk. "I hope we're resting after this...."

"I don't think we have time, Karn. If we leave now, they might move the troll, or get reinforcements." The halfling pauses to reload his pistol and stow his bow.

Karn nods. "Of course. As always, you are correct Master Bert."

Which tower/door?

"Let's take the keys. If they had any healing I'd say take that, too, but they don't. I think we should start right across from where we came up."

Perception check to notice traps on any of the three doors on the west tower: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

Bert opens the first door to find a small chamber with a smaller shrine made out of interlocking gears, topped with an artistic mask of a female face formed from metal plates. The two walls to either side hold long tapestries, one of a naked clockwork woman reaching down from a cloud to lift up a young man in robes, and another showing the same man standing triumphantly on the shoulders of an enormous humanoid machine as it stomps across a crowded marketplace. A mat sits on the floor before the shrine, a bowl of incense overturned in front of it. Both the tapestries are ripped and askew, and the shrine itself is dented.

The incense in the bowl is invense of meditation.

---

Moving along to the next door, the party finds the air of the room a heavy mix of perfume and animal stink. In one corner lies a mass of fine blankets and pillows that have been slashed and raked into a crude nest. In another stands a vanity with a tall mirror and an impressive array of crystal perfume bottles. Between the two, a wooden trunk sits against the wall. Feathers and streaks of white litter the floor.

[ooc]The perfumes are woth 50 gp. The key unlocks the trunk, which houses a human skull, a masterwork ukulele, a golembane scarab wrapped in a cloth, and a leather-bound journal. The journal is filled primarily with mundane thoughts and rants. You can tell by flipping through it that the harpy mostly took the job of majordomo of the residence primarily to be near Kanya (the catfolk), with whom she's hopelessly infatuated an wants to become "nest mates".

The final room on that side is a small office with a window looking out over the garden and district. A desk holds stacks of documents, blank paper, and other writing materials. A large silver mirror hangs on one wall.

There is a locked cash box, opened with key carried by Kanya, which contains 500 gp. The mirror looks out through the eye on the door in the foyer and is worth 2500 gp.

Automatically make the Knowledge (Religion) check.

"Nice shrine! Well, let's leave this stuff here. We can always come back for it later, if that's OK. East tower?"

The composite longbow +1, does it have a strength rating? I'll take it anyway since in this game Argust could simply have Adaptive but on it, right?

Anything you say, Bert.

+2 Strength rating. But yes, you could always get adaptive put on it so that it gives whatever your current Str rating is added to damage.

---

Bert leads the party to the eastern tower, where a large and airy bedroom with thick, expensive rugs and windows overlook the district below. A massive bed sits against the northeastern wall, next to a wardrobe and a metal staircase that twists up through a hole in the ceiling. In an entryway to the southeast, one door stands ajar, while in the southeastern wall, a lever protrudes from a mechanical box by another door.

Why does a bedroom need a box with a lever in it, Brelar?

Bert glances over the room. "Say, Karn, how about I give you the lens for a bit and you look for tracks? Figure out how people come and go through here, like that."

Karn nods and takes the lens. "I still need to heal myself. I think we should use the wand and save my spells."

2/70 HP Do we have any potions? I'm seeing a couple CMW's and the wand of CCW. There is still about 30+ charges on the wand. Might as well use it?

Survival: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32

There are not any discernible tracks in the room; any tracks seem to go every direction. The lever seems to control the catwalk in some way.

Connected in the bedroom is a small room serving as a large and elaborately tiled bathroom. In addition to two immaculate porcelain privy seats, the room contains a standing washbasin and a claw-foot tub big enough for several people at once, both with copper spigots and drains for running water. A large silver mirror takes up most of the eastern wall.

I don't have any potions. There's a CCW wand with 10 charges left in the group loot, though.

ETA: And four CSW potions.

Ok, I'm back! At least until my thesis defense next week! Ready to go upstairs?

Once Karn heals up (and I could take a tap on a CLW wand) I think we're good to go.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

CLW: 13d8 + 13 ⇒ (1, 4, 6, 3, 3, 6, 7, 4, 4, 5, 3, 4, 7) + 13 = 70

Karn uses the wand on himself and nods his readiness.

Saving the CSW wand for later?

Bert takes back the lens. "Let's go!"