GM Faelyn's Strange Aeon AP

Game Master Faelyn

Carter continues throwing sharp things from the table.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Knowing that Nova was their best weapon against the vile doppelganger, Dhamiskeanus kept trying to help by awkwardly stabbing at the crazed shapeshifter.

Aid Another to Nova's AC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Round 6 Recap

Nova scores two more solid hits to the doppelganger, which causes her to start foaming in fury. Carter throws another of the implements, but he misses by a wide margin... Dhamis continues his tactic of keeping the doppelganger off balance. After Nova's claws open up several more wounds, the doppelganger screams in frustration, throwing her blade to the ground and trying her own claws against Nova; however, once again the invisible energy keeps the blood-covered digits away!

Attack #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Attack #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Round 7 Actions!

I'll cover Drafton's actions in the recap so I don't lose track!

Nova continues the catfight, but she's really starting to get emotionally drained. Thankfully the big guy is trying to help her out, but the other one in the back, well she hopes she doesn't find a stray knife in her back.

Claw1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Claw2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Claw1 crit confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Aid Another to Nova's AC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Locked into mortal combat with such an alien creature was at first exciting to Dhamiskeanus, but as the fight wore on and his adrenaline depleted, he found himself beginning to panic. How much more could this vile creature withstand? How much could this miraculous woman who stood between him and the shapeshifter? He continued almost blindly stabbing around the corner at their vicious tormenter, too terrified to strike at the creature directly.

I screwed up last turn. Firing into melee carries pretty big penalties. I'm going to ready an action to throw something at her if she breaks combat and runs away again.

Round 7 Recap

Nova continues her ferocious assault upon the strange woman, opening up two more brutal gashes along her stomach. The white doctor's coat is now thoroughly soaking with blood and shredded near to tatters. Dhamis continues stabbing around the corner to keep the doppelganger off balance and succeeds, while Carter prepares to hurl another sharp object should the creature seek to run... Fleeing, however, does not seem to be in the doppelganger's mind.

After Nova's recent attacks, something seems to snap inside the woman/doppelganger and she suddenly grabs Nova around the throat! She leaves herself open to a counter-attack, that Nova makes good on, but the creature's grip is tight and she does not let go! Her eyes nearly bulge from their sockets as she seeks to strangle the life out of Nova!

Grapple: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Claw AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Round 8, Actions Go!

Nova - 4/9 HP

Drafton confronts the two guards pointing weapons at him with a commanding tone, despite his size. "Don't come any closer and we won't fire on you! Just stay back!" Drafton can hear the obvious fear in the voices, but can also tell they mean absolute business.

CMB: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Nova tried to thwart the grapple by wrestling for control...

Don't forget you can still full attack with natural and one-handed weapons while grappled.

Drafton nodded more than he realized he should have. His breathing had become rapid as adrenaline pumped through his veins, preparing him to run the other direction. He forcibly took a deep breath.

Okay, they're jumpy but they aren't killing you either. This is the best place to be as long as you don't appear threatening.

"Fine, I won't come any closer, but you have to listen to me. I woke up in a cell, down below. I have no idea how I got there, and barely managed to escape by climbing up through a furnace shaft. There's a maddened woman who was killing people down there.

Where is this place? What happened here? And who are you two?" he said, glancing behind himself to make sure nothing was coming up behind him.

Perception roll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 Clearly he's too distracted in his own story and more worried about those guards killing him to give anything more than a mild glance.

He's literally doing nothing else this round except talking. It's all coming out about as fast as he can reasonably manage to speak. He's trying to distract the guards from killing him and convincing them that he's not a threat. If you'd like, I'll also use another round of bardic performance to actually distract one of them.

"LEAVE HER ALONE YOU MURDERER!" Dhamiskeanus shouted. He reached out and tried to grab the doppelganger but between Nova and the creature wrestling around, he only managed to brush the flesh of the beast and not actually grab a hold.

Grave Touch: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

As a standard action, you can make a melee touch attack that causes a living creature to become shaken for a number of rounds equal to 1/2 your wizard level (minimum 1).

Shaken - A shaken character takes a –2 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, skill checks, and ability checks. Shaken is a less severe state of fear than frightened or panicked.

Grave Touch: 3 of 6 remaining

Carter tried to help, but he wasn't much of a grappler.

Aid Another (aiding Nova's grapple check): 1d20 ⇒ 11

Round 8 Recap!

Nova struggles in vain to get away from the vice-like grip of the doppelganger while Carter rushes forward in an attempt to help free her... it's not until Dhamis reaches around the corner and instills a sense of fear into the creature that 'she' falters. The blood coating her hands causes them to slip free of Nova's throat and Nova is able to push the creature's arms off her neck, but she is unable to connect with a swipe of her claws.

Nova AoO: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 2 = 9
Maintain Grapple: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 2 = 11

Doppleganger fails her grapple check, Nova loses the Grappled condition!

The guards exchange nervous glances at Drafton's rushed story. "Likely story! You just want us to let you in so you can rip out our throats, monster!"

Drafton suddenly makes out a different voice from behind the barricade, speaking to the two guards. "Who is it?" The female guard keeps her eyes upon Drafton, but quickly relies your story... A third face appears. "Begone! We don't want to shoot you, stranger, but I don't know you're not one of them!"

Round 9 Actions

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Drafton glares at the guards.

"Cowards, all of you! I don't know what you mean by one of them but I'm tired of speaking with you now."

He tsks, and looks at the door with the scratching sounds on the other side.

"Fine, I'll force you to help." he muttered under his breath.

"Get ready there's going to be big rats on the other side of this door!"

With a deep breath and without waiting for a response, Drafton huddles down and pulls open the door to the rats.

Fine the guards don't want to help, I'm forcing an encounter on them. Taking a Full Defense and opening the door to let the rats out. If I can I'd like Drafton to try and hold himself on the open door to make it harder for the Rats to find him. Or at the very least not be able to get to him by opening the door mostly on himself.

Still slashing

Claw1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Claw2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Dhamiskeanus continues trying to terrify the doppelganger but his rotund stature is just not suited for physical combat.

Grave Touch: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

If one of you guys were interested in flanking, that'd probably help.

Just waiting on Carter's actions.

If one of you guys were interested in flanking, that'd probably help.

*Cough*Or maybe Aid Another on Nova's attack? I'd allow a redo of actions this round if anyone is interested...*Cough*

Carter moved to flank, hoping to help.

Moving to flank, then Aid Another

Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 9

failed to aid. :(

Round 9 Recap

Furnace Room

AoO vs Carter: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Claw Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Nova continues trying to cut the doppelganger to pieces, but she just cannot seem to get through the creature's tough hide. Dhamis fails at his attempt to put the fear of death into it. Carter slips past the doppelganger, which lashes out with a clawed fist and cuts several deep gashes across his torso; however, he sets Nova up with a flank!

As if suddenly realizing it had claws all along, the doppelganger attempts to claw out Nova's eyes; however, the invisible force fields keep up their solid protection!

Claw #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Claw #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Nova: 4/9 HP, Flanking, (Shield +4, Mage Armor +4 = AC 21)
Carter: 2/8 HP, Flanking
Dhamis: 9/13 HP

Upstairs Hallway

Drafton suddenly shouts his warning, causing the guards to look at him in confusion, but tense up all the same. He then yanks the door open and pulls it behind him, using it as improvised cover against the guards and the rats. He hears the Captain yelling to his companions followed by the sounds of squeaking and the scrambling of claws on tile. "I knew it he's one of---What the Hells are those?! Open fire!"

Drafton hears the sharp snap of crossbows being discharged followed by the sound of one bolt impacting the door and ricocheting off it! One of the rats lets out a hideous squeal of pain. There's more squeaking and he then hears claws scrambling along the tile as the rats chase off towards the guards and the barricade. He then hears the sounds of sniffing around the door frame... and spots the glow of the creature from earlier as it moves around towards his side of the door...

Teal Guard: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Yellow Guard: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23
Crit vs. Blue: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4

Drafton: 8/8 HP, Full Defense +4, Total Cover

Round 10 Actions!

Oh man, sad critical.

Drafton was almost pleased with his action, feeling a sense of justification as he heard the guards start to fight the monsters. Then he heard the sniffing.

"No. No!" He yelled in denial as he saw the creature round the side of the door.

Adrenaline starting to rise within him he stops holding the door, instead he shoves out past the tentacle faced monster and attempts to leap past, hoping to get somewhere else entirely. Seeing at the two closest doors he chooses the further one to attempt to desperately open.

Acrobatics/jump: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Aid Another to Nova's attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Fed up with his own lack of success, Dhamiskeanus flipped the dagger around in his hand and tried to stab at the shapeshifter's eyes.

Nova puts everything on the line to dig her nails as deeply into the creature's flesh as possible. If she could rip out the creature's still beating heart, she would.

Claw1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Claw2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Round 10 Recap

With Dhamis' and Carter's assistance, Nova finally brings down the doppelganger in a spray of arterial blood when her claws rip out the throat of the murderous psychopath! She creature reverts to its grey form, clutching at her throat futilely, gurgling and choking upon the blood that freely flows from the jagged wound. Her wide eyes seek out Nova's as she falls to her knees and then to the stone floor in a splattered of crimson. A large pool of blood quickly spreads and eventually the doppelganger stops gurgling, her legs twitching occasionally...

Combat for Dhamis, Carter, and Nova is over! We will continue to move in Rounds for now until Combat has concluded with Drafton. Carter you may still make a post for this round.

Drafton Round 10

Yes... very sad critical...

Drafton easily leaps over the tiny critter, getting a first real look at it; an amalgam of beast parts has luminous eyes, a rat’s tail, simian appendages, and tendrils extending from a mole-like nose. He rushes towards the far door and yanks it open to reveal a small, dark storage room that reeks of chlorine and heaped with fallen shelves and broken containers. A large, deep, dark crack is clearly visible near the rear of the room...

The strange little critter turns and charges after Drafton! Its tiny teeth nip at the exposed skin on his ankle, but do nothing more than leave a red mark that will likely bruise. 1 nonlethal damage...

Charge!: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24
Bite: 1d3 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

Just as Drafton prepares to dart into the room he hears shouting from the guards. "Reload and fire!" He hears numerous squeals of pain from the rats as the guards make quick work of dispatching them with ease. "Well done. Now reload again! Prepare yourselves for another wave!"

Teal Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Yellow Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Captain York Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Party Condition
Nova: 4/9 HP
Carter: 2/8 HP
Dhamis: 9/13 HP
Drafton: 8/8 HP, 1 NDL

Round 11 Actions!

Tears stream down Nova's blood soaked face as she stares blankly at the horrified visage of her prey.

Goood. says the beast within her mind.

"Gah! Come on, kill it!" he shouted desperately at the guards as he kicked his leg away from the horrible little creature. Realizing his words were not likely to get any sort of helpful response rushed into the room but instead of rushing immediately into the back he grabbed onto the door and waited to pull it closed onto the critter.

Drafton is moving into the room, provoking an attack of opportunity from the thing and is readying an action to try and slam the door closed on it when it tries to follow him in.

Carter backs up and leans against the bars of the cell, looking down at his blood like he wasn't sure it was real. He touched it, then went white as a sheet and finally winced as the pain hit him.

"I... ah... Ow."

His breath came in quick bursts as he fought to control himself. "My thanks, both of you. I think we should leave. The smaller gentleman crawled up the heating duct to the floor above. He has not returned."

"Beyond the door over there, the one in which the doppelganger tried to flee through, is a tremendous pile of...dead bodies. There is also a set of stairs going up, but they do not look very sturdy." The big man looked down towards the ground.

"Perhaps one of you should climb them first."

"Maybe later. I'm going to purge this terrible feeling from my mind before it devours me."

Nova storms off to a nearby corner and stares it down.

Beast. Get the hell out of my body.

I thought you'd never ask. Hehehe

A swirling of energy coalesces around Nova, slowly taking shape.

AoO vs Drafton: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d3 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1 1 Nonlethal damage.

Round 11 Recap

The creature nips Drafton's leg again, leaving yet nothing more than another painful welt. He prepares to slam down the shut as soon as the little creature begins to rush towards him, which it does! Drafton make a Melee Touch Attack w/ 1d3+Str damage and then make a Grapple maneuver check to pin the creature!

Yellow Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Yellow Crit!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Yellow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Captain Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Captain Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Teal Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Teal Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Did I understand your intent correctly, Drafton? Or were you more wanting to shut the door before it could get into the room?

"You'll pay for that" he growled at the thing.

"Naagh!" Door Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

"Ah ha ha! Drafton cried out in exhilaration as he smashed the door in on the strange little creature which had bitten him a second time. But he did not do more than keep a hand at the door.

Grapple: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Oh no, you got it. My intention was very much to try and smash in in the doorway.

Simply because you only missed by 1 on the CMD check and I love the idea you have going... I'm going to grant you the damage roll as a bonus on your Maneuver check for this round and subsequent rounds! The creature is Pinned between the door and the door frame!

Round 11 Recap (Again)

Drafton slams the door onto the nasty little creature and pins it between the doorway. It lets loose a squeal of pain and then Drafton hears the snap of crossbows and the sickening sound of three bolts slamming into the creature's rear half. It suddenly screams in a strange language and them slumps, blood beginning to slowly trickle out of its nose and mouth...

Combat is now over!

Okay, so a quick recap of the situation... Carter, Dhamis, and Nova are still in the basement area with a dead doppelganger and one area the hasn't quite been fully explored yet. There are four bags sitting next to the door leading into the chute room that Dhamis explained. Nova is dealing with the strange entity that is speaking to her mind...

Drafton is inside a dark storage room with a dead monstrous creature pinned in the doorway and several armed guards that know of his location and appear to be pretty handy with crossbows. He can imagine they are not too keen on him at the moment...

What do you all want to do???

Breathing heavily, Drafton's surge of energy left him swiftly. He was definitely not cut out for this level of work.

He stared at the creatures now strange dead yellow eyes.

"Did it... just talk? he said to himself before looking around the darkened room. It was hard to see more than a few feet in.

He took a moment to examine the creature more closely, now that it wasn't moving. "Strange little thing. It was the glow that attracted me to you in the first place. It would be better if your eyes would give off some more of that light so I could see with." he said waving his hand in front of it.

Casting light. I know that it usually needs a Firefly to cast the spell but could the Zoog's spell sight work as a catalyst for the spell instead. I'm trying to have all of Drafton's spells make sense as he casts them, especially as he's a spontaneous caster.

Yes, that could definitely work as a catalyst. I like that idea.

From the swirling dust forms the shape of a sleek panther with blood red eyes.

Nova sighs with relief "From the murky depths I have been set free."

Addressing the two, she says "Thank you for your aid in killing this creature. If not for you, we would have likely died. My last spell may be used for some healing. I offer it to you in peace."

"Use the healing on yourself. These pawns aren't reliable." The panther growls.

Carter backed up against the wall, staring in wide eyed worry at the giant smokey cat.

"Uuuhhhh.... what is... that?"

"Your worst nightmare."

Nova ponders for a good long while. This beast is both new and old, like I have always known it, but have forgotten. But what is it?

Suddenly Drafton's hand illuminates with a strange, magical light! The small storage room lights up and he is able to see perfectly within the room.

Carter blinked, registering the cat was talking. "I... uh..." he looked down at the dead crazed shapeshifter. "... no. No, I am fairly certain of what my nightmares are going to revolve around for the near future, thank you."

Carter's dirty prisoner's clothes were covered in blood from the shapeshifter's claws and blood loss was making him light headed. "Perhaps leaving?" he said pushing himself back to his feet with a wince.

Beast looks to Nova "Do we hunt these ones?"

"No beast, these are our allies."

She casts a spell over Carter, healing his wounds

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Here, that should help."

Carter's brows rose. "Yes. Thank you, that feels much better."

"I am... Carter. I think. Yes, Carter."

"Huh!?" Drafton said as he shielded his eyes at the surprise light appearing in his hand.

He blinked several times as he looked down to his hand and back at the dead creature.
"Well what do you know, you are more useful, now that your dead." he blinked after a moment from the strange comment he'd given to the creature who'd been trying to kill him just seconds before. He glanced at the crossbow bolts in it's backside.

"Guess I might have to thank them later."

Still he did not want to be shot at immediately, so he decided to take a look around in the room he was in.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"Oh no no no. I do not respond well to...healing. I am Dhamiskeanus, a dhampir, and librarian and historian extraordinaire. I...you are very brave, and an excellent fighter. Doppelgangers are no easy foes, let me tell you."

The large man looked uneasily around the room. His chest heaved with the exertion of such a lengthy ordeal and sweat rolled down his face. "Should we?" he asked, motioning towards the exit.

Drafton takes a moment to look around the room when it lights up and while doing so he notices something that doesn't quite seem right... Two somethings, actually. He spots two different pairs of brown and black banded antennae poking up near the far corner of the room near the large crack in the ground... His eyes follow the antennae and he then finds the two massive centipedes to which the antennae connect. They seem to be trying to hide amidst the wrecked room, but they are looking directly at you...

Map updated.

Drafton froze, staring at the two oversized centipedes.

How are they so big?

Glancing at the cracked wall they were near, he looked at the rubble and back at the the creatures.

"I need something, a rock, yes that'll do." he whispered.

As he spoke a rock flew across the room to his hand hand.

Casting mage hand to get a rock.

Carter nodded. "Yes. Though... can we send the cat first?"