Party Status Cerin hp 31/31; 2 Hero Points
Gwyn hp 16/16; 1 Hero Point
Helena hp 31/31; 2 Hero Points
Kyrian hp 20/20; 2 Hero Points
Orik hp 44/44; 2 Hero Points
Female Human Oracle (life) 4 | AC 19, T 11, FF 18 | hp 8/31 | CMD 16 | F +4, R +3, W +4 | Init +2| Perc +4 | low-light vision, darkvision 30 ft | Channel Positive Energy 3/5 | 1st-level spells 6/7 | 2nd-level spells 1/4
Orik and Gwyn each heal another 5; I take another 10.
Feeling faint and bloody, Helena shifts her spear to one hand and presses the other against her chest.
Cure moderate wounds:2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 1) + 4 = 11
"I'm coming, Cerin," she mutters, half-staggering around the dog.
Smirking a little at Orik's comment, he shifts his aim to the demonclad woman. "What, were you expecting a white horse as well?" as he lets loose the arrow.
Thanks GM! I'll have to wait until next round since I need to help Cerin out.
Round 3
Move: Draw +1 mithral shortsword
Standard: Attack the demon doggy
Swift: Keep up the commentary. :D
Free: 5ft step next to the bookcase
There's a pause as Gwyn draws her sword and pops back into existence as she stabs at the demonic dog.
Attack (Flank, vs. Flatfooted, Bless):1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 13Thank you Helena!
That would have missed without bless. Damage (Sneak attack!):1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (6) = 10
After stabbing the fiendish pooch, she picks up where she left off as she takes a step back towards the bookcase.
"Oh, what's this? I thought Professor Verrochi was the only one screwed up enough to collect all the volumes in the Lusty Nocticulan Maiden series. And what the heck is Fifty Scales of Monsters," Gwyn asks as she reaches out to grab the book in question.
Gwyn blinks back into existence, stabbing the Yeth hound with the magic sword that had once been Ripnugget's. The blade's path is true, and it sinks deep into the beast's haunches, causing black ichor to bubble and froth from the wound.
Orik's blade comes down hard on Tsuto's left shoulder, cracking bone and cutting an artery. Tsuto grimaces in pain, clutching his shoulder as red blood pours from the wound. He grows deathly pale and collapses to the ground, still bleeding.
After his dramatic entrance, both of Kyrian's arrows are deflected by the swirling motes of color surrounding Nualia.
Helena casts a spell healing some of the damage she'd absorbed from her friends.
Still on the ground, Cerin slashes desperately at the beast, but its supernatural toughness seems to absorb much of the impact.
Shalelu lets fly an arrow at the hound, and it finds its mark. The beast seems mortally wounded, but its death throes, it continues to try to maul Cerin.
Round 4
The statue's glaive swishes dangerously close above Cerin's head again, as the demonic beast again clamps its jaws on Cerin's shield arm, tearing into flesh. Cerin: Take another 10 hp damage.
Continuing to ignore Gwyn's critique of her literary choices, Nualia chants a prayer to the Demon Queen. The symbol of a bestial face appears in midair at the foot of the steps to her left, which opens a tear in the fabric of reality. Out of it steps a disgusting evil-looking bloated beast with a mouth full of snaggled teeth and fingers tipped with blood-caked talons. It hisses evilly and attacks Shalelu, a mass of teeth and claws. But the agile elf manages to dodge the attacks.
Round 4
Move: Grab the book.
Free: Five foot behind the demon doggy, unless she needs to move, then she'll forgo grabbing the book and just move.
Standard: Stab this mutt until it's dead! Attack (Flank, Bless):1d20 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 10
Gwyn sees the demonic mutt savage Cerin and frowns.
"Hey! I know I called him Cerinibun once, but that doesn't mean you can eat him like he's a cini-bun," she says as she tries to stab the monster again.
We aren't using Hero points, are we? If we are, I'd like to spend one to get a a reroll.
Round 4
Move: Grab the book.
Free: Five foot behind the demon doggy, unless she needs to move, then she'll forgo grabbing the book and just move.
Standard: Stab this mutt until it's dead! Attack (Flank, Bless):1d20 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 23
Gwyn sees the demonic mutt savage Cerin and frowns.
"Hey! I know I called him Cerinibun once, but that doesn't mean you can eat him like he's a cini-bun," she says as she tries to stab the monster again.
We aren't using Hero points, are we? If we are, I'd like to spend one to get a reroll.
HP 59/59 | AC 22 | T 12 | FF 20 | CMD 17 | Fort +8 | Ref +3 | Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +0 | Sense Motive +0
Orik sneers at Tsuto's still form as he falls to the ground, raising his sword again to finish the man off. Finally..., he thinks, positioning his blade to stab his hated foe in the throat, ending his life. Cerin's scream, however, halts his thrust, and once again, Orik has a decision to make.
Vengeance? Or valor?
Followed by one more thought.
Dammit.
He turns from Tsuto, advancing upon the demon hound. "HEY, UGLY!", he shouts at it. "I'm putting you down!" He slashes at the creature with another powerful overhand strike, hoping to end it swiftly.
Gwyn: We hadn't been using Hero Points in this campaign, but what the hell... Everyone has 1 Hero Point! It looks like you double-posted, so let's consider the second post to be your re-roll from spending the Hero Point.
What does it take to kill this thing? Cerin wonders as he continues slashing at the mutt. His spirits rise as he catches sight of Kyrian, and he breathes a quick sigh of relief as everyone comes to his aid.
Female Human Oracle (life) 4 | AC 19, T 11, FF 18 | hp 8/31 | CMD 16 | F +4, R +3, W +4 | Init +2| Perc +4 | low-light vision, darkvision 30 ft | Channel Positive Energy 3/5 | 1st-level spells 6/7 | 2nd-level spells 1/4
Sorry for disappearing yet again. RL has been kind of crazy the past few weeks, and what little time I've had for gaming-related activities, I've been using to read my PDF of the Starfinder Core Rulebook. It looks really good so far!
Gwyn picks up the penny-dreadful from the table as she moves behind the demonic dog. The beast seems to be concentrating on killing Cerin and doesn't react... until Gwyn stabs the thing with Ripnugget's mithril blade! The sword cuts deeply into the demon-dog's rear haunch, and it howls disturbingly in pain as it staggers around to snap at Gwyn.
Orik then moves in, and in a powerful overhand swing, separates the beast's head from its shoulder. The head continues to snap mindlessly as the body flails madly around like a headless chicken, pouring sticky black ichor on the floor. The ichor bubbles, exuding a foul-smelling vapor. After a few seconds, both the body and the head stop moving.
From the back of the chamber, Kyrian continues to pelt Nualia with arrows, which deflect harmlessly from the chaotically-swirling motes of light that surround her.
Helena calls to the spirits of life to restore much of her own vigor that she'd sacrificed to her friend. From the floor of the chamber, she draws warm energy like the grass of a spring day into herself, and she feels much stronger. Helena heals 15 hp
Cerin: Your declared action was to attack the Yeth hound, but it's dead. I'm going to assume you want to fight Nualia. Getting to your feet will be a move action, and you can attack her from here. From where you stand, she's above you, with the wall of the staircase providing cover, so she's got a +4 cover bonus to her AC. There's also the animated statue's glaive swinging around the marked area, and standing up will subject you to that attack...
The Yeth hound dead, Cerin times standing up just right with the swinging of the statue's glaive. He slashes at Nualia's ankles, above him on the dias, but cannot quite get close enough. He then ducks again as the mechanical glaive sweeps past him on the way back down.
Shalelu backs away from the summoned demon, and shoots it in the shoulder with a blue-fletched arrow. The creature snarls but shambles toward her.
Round 5
The dretch follows Shalely, trying to claw her eyes out, but the attack is clumsy and the ranger easily evades.
Seeing both Tsuto and her Yeth hound both fall, Nualia's heartbreakingly beautiful face turns to a mask of fury. "You shall all pay for that with your souls! YEEEAAAHHHH!!"
Holding her sword in front of her, she steps back, then runs toward the edge of the dais, leaping over the fountain and over the heads of Helena and Orik. She twists in midair, then, catlike, lands on her feet behind Orik, slashing down on him with her sword. Yet, despite the dramatic stunt, Orik manages to deflect her blow with his shield.
I'll admit I took a little bit of cinematic liberty with that scene...
For whatever reason, I pictured Nualia sticking her tongue out like Gene Simmons during that "YEAH!"
Oh, and apologies if this is too crude. I've spoilered it just in case.
Rated R, Just in case:
Round 5 Actions!
- Free: 5' step to the west.
- Full Round: Roast Nualia!
Cerin alright for now, and the others managing to handle themselves well enough, Gyn takes a look at the book, trying to see if it offered her any material for her to resume her campaign to drive Nualia into a frothing fit and keel over from sheer rage.
"Nah, way too easy," she says after reading the first paragraph. She tosses the book at the trap to see if it would slash it to ribbon.
"I could make fun of your taste in reading material all week, but I'm afraid that might dull my wit. I think I got a little dumber just looking at that book," she says to Nualia, motioning back to where she'd thrown the rightfully dreadful pennydreadful.
"Oh, come now, Anger is not a good look for you. Keep that up and even Lamashtu is going to scream in horror whenever she sees you. Is it because we broke your half-wit boytoy over there? Honestly, if I was a guy, I'd be terrified that I'd lose my pecker to that monster of a hand you've got. What is up with it anyway. I understand that you've got a theme going, but bright red? Really? It makes it look like you overdid with Mr. Two-Finger." Gwyn grimaces as she looks at the claws. "Are you sure you're not a closet Kuthite? I hear they get off on pain. I'm sure one of them would love to know where you did your nails."
Gwyn the Fool, Round 1 (Intimidate, no bonuses):1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9That's alright. Gwyn's just getting started. >:P
HP 59/59 | AC 22 | T 12 | FF 20 | CMD 17 | Fort +8 | Ref +3 | Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +0 | Sense Motive +0
Damn, that girl has a mouth on her, Orik thinks to himself as he half-listens to Gwyn's patter. He really doesn't have much to say to Nualia anymore, having spent the better part of his ire against Tsuto. He bats her blade away with his shield, seizing the opportunity to follow through with a slice at her chest.
No Power Attack this time: no idea how good her AC is.
Taking a moment to gather his focus once more, Kyrian closes his eyes, and takes a breath. Opening his eyes, he lines his target up once again. "Not this time you demon loving hag..." as he lets loose another arrow.
Cerin ducks underneath the statue's swinging blade and charges toward Nualia, a snarl on his face. He starts to change as he moves, his tiny frame growing larger and more muscular. Black fur sprouts all over his body as his weapons and armor fade into his skin, his face elongates into a muzzle filled with sharp teeth, and huge razor claws burst from his fingertips. When he reaches the fallen aasimar, the huge black bear he has become roars in her face, ready to tear her apart!
Move action: 10ft south near Orik (can't adjust the map atm)
Standard action: wild shape into black bear.
Gwyn continues to taunt Nualia, who still seems not to be fazed by the insults.
Orik presses the attack, slamming his sword hard onto Nualia's spaulder. While the blade doesn't pierce the armor itself, she winces in pain from the blow. Orik: That hit.
Kyrian fires an arrow that Nualia seems not to notice at all, and it seems to be flying straight for a gap in her armor... but one of the colored motes randomly swirling around her just happens to deflect it. Sorry! Her entropic shield negates the hit.
Helena backs away from the summoned demon, whips her longspear over Orik's head, and jabs at Nualia. The unexpected attack jabs her in her uncovered abdomen, adding a bleeding wound to the scars on her belly.
Cerin assumes the form of a black bear, and barges past Helena, attempting to maul the fallen aasimar.
Shalelu tries to stab Nualia in the back, but her blow does not get through her armor.
Round 6
The summoned demon moves behind Orik and tries to maul him. One of its claws rakes under an armor plate, scratching him, but the other attacks don't get through his armor.
Nualia presses her attack on Orik, but he easily anticipates her attacks, deflecting blow after blow with his heavy shield.
Gwyn the Fool, Round 2 (Intimidate, +1 for 1 previous round):1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 = 16Better, but pretty sure that is not beat Nualia's CMD. Also, I hope you don't mind me taking some liberties here with the Prestidigitation Spell and casting it as part of her taunting since it's a cantrip.
"I'd be surprised if you thought that through though. I mean," Gwyn flicks her hands up as if tossing something in the air and silly-looking puppet versions of Nualia and Tsuto pop into existence along with a mannequin with a silly-looking puppet version of Nualia's current armor on it. As she continues, she begins speaking in caricatures of their voices, with the puppet's voices flapping in time with her words.
"You did get the armor that left your belly exposed. There's a lot of squishy bits there that don't like getting cut or stabbed. What happened? Something like this?"
"Oh Tsuto! My mantoy, what armor shall I get?"
"I say we get the one that shows the most of you sexy skin!"
"But I hate my sexy skin."
"But think of the cool scars you'd get to add to your collection!"
"Oh Tsuto! Who cares about gut wounds when you can look like you lost a fight with a bunch of mad barbers!"
In her normal voice.
"It was something like that, wasn't it? How's that working out?"
Cerin: Your claw 1 is a critical threat. Please roll to confirm. You are correct that you don't get Grab: Your Wild Shape currently duplicates beast shape I. Grab isn't included until beast shape II, which your Wild Shape will allow when you're a druid 6.
Cerin: Your claw 1 is a critical threat. Please roll to confirm. You are correct that you don't get Grab: Your Wild Shape currently duplicates beast shape I. Grab isn't included until beast shape II, which your Wild Shape will allow when you're a druid 6.
I included the crit confirm roll at the bottom of my previous post. I don't think it confirmed with a 16, though...
HP 59/59 | AC 22 | T 12 | FF 20 | CMD 17 | Fort +8 | Ref +3 | Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +0 | Sense Motive +0
+I'm back from GenCon now! Let's finish this!!!
Orik maneuvers himself into a better position to finish off Nualia, placing her between his blade and Shalelu's. He swings his blade in a wide, powerful arc, hoping to fell her before she can find a way past his defenses.
Power Attacking! Shalelu attacked her in melee, but didn't move up, so I took an educated guess on where she actually is. If I'm not actually in flank, then go ahead and remove that +2 from the roll.
Gwyn continues to taunt Nualia. Nualia glares back and shouts, "I'll keep you alive, elf, so you can know the joy of bearing the Mother's children!"
Flanking with Shalelu, Orik slashes Nualia across her bare midriff, adding another scar to her collection. Her lips curl into a smile. "Join me once again, Orik! You could be the sire of such beautiful monsters..."
Cursing under his breath that Nualia's spell deflected such a perfect shot, Kyrian storms in, standing over Tsuto's unconscious body. "Shut it, demon-lady, and just die already!" He lets fly another volley.
The shot grazes the side of her head, and blood streams down her face.
Green tendrils of life-energy arch between Helena and Gwym, and also between Helena and Orik. Life link: Orik and Gwyn heal 5 hp each; Helena takes 10 damage. Realizing that there's still a demon loose that everyone else seems to be ignoring, Helena backs up and skewers it through the head with her pike. Black ichor gushes and bubbles from the wound. The demon thrashes mindlessly for a moment before collapsing to the floor. It disolves into a pool of ichor which bubbles and quickly evaporates into a foul-smelling mist.
Nualia kicks the table away and edges past Orik, apparently originally intending to flank him wtih the now-destroyed demon. She grins with a madness evident in her strikingly beautiful eyes, and she utters guttural words that drip with vileness. The scars of her wounds glow with a demonic red luminence, and begin to knit back toghether. She then attacks Orik with redoubled fury, smashing past his shield and cutting upward, slashing through the weaker armor guarding his armpit. She nicks his brachial artery, spraying herself in the face with his blood, which gushes in pulses from the wound. Orik: Take 20 hp damage. I rolled max. Sorry!
HP 59/59 | AC 22 | T 12 | FF 20 | CMD 17 | Fort +8 | Ref +3 | Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +0 | Sense Motive +0
It was bound to happen sometime!
Orik howls in pain as Nualia's wicked sword cuts deep, and he staggers back a step. "F**K me! Just f**king DIE!!" In desperation he continues to swing for the fences, hoping to end her life before she can end his.
"Mmm, you see, that just lends further support to my theory that you're either insanely stupid, or stupidly insane," Gwyn replies as she lets the illusion fall and she takes a seat in the chair.
"Although, I have to say this chair is pretty comfy," she admits before getting back on track.
"Oh, and I can't forget the bad literary taste! I mean, why didn't you say," her voice gets much rougher and darker, more of a caricature than a serious impression, "'I will show you the true meaning of pain as you birth monsters!' I'd think only psychos who'd truly gone chasing and howling after Groetus would think having a monster eat their way out would be 'joyful.' Oh, wait, I forgot you're Lamashtan," she slaps her forehead as she crosses her legs and leans back in the chair.
"I'm flattered," she says, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "but you see, you're psycho-crazy, while I'm fun-crazy. It'd never work out. I'd be more likely to sleep with halvesies over there, if it wasn't for the fact he's pretty much in half right now," she says gesturing to where Tsuto lay bleeding out. "He did sleep with you though, right? Well, if he's that stupid, nevermind. The pillowtalk wouldn't be any good."
Female Human Oracle (life) 4 | AC 19, T 11, FF 18 | hp 8/31 | CMD 16 | F +4, R +3, W +4 | Init +2| Perc +4 | low-light vision, darkvision 30 ft | Channel Positive Energy 3/5 | 1st-level spells 6/7 | 2nd-level spells 1/4
Dropping all life links as an immediate action just before my turn.
Red mist creeps into the corners of Helena's vision as she looks over to Nualia and sees her cut Orik's side open. Biting on her tongue as she does so, she reaches to the mystical thread that connects them and severs it, feeling life force flow back into her as she does so. "Sorry, but I need to live," she gasps, doubling over and clutching at her forehead.
Cure moderate wounds:2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 = 12
She lets out a shuddering sigh as her wounds start to slowly close, before gripping her spear again and closing in on the woman.
The past week has been crazy busy for me, and I've had scant little time for online gaming. I think things are calming down a bit, and I'll be able to resume regular posting. (Hopefully daily, or nearly so, but multiple times a week certainly.)
GMPC for Kyrian
GM screen:
Stabilization roll for Tsuto (DC 15):1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Monster Stats
Nualia: AC 20, hp 36/73
Tsuto: AC 19, hp (-6)/52, unconscious, dying
Gwyn continues taunting Nualia. The demon-priest glares and bares her teeth at her... and Orik uses the distraction to smash his sword into her side, hard. The blade doesn't break through her breastplate, but she winces in pain... that had to leave a severe bruise!
Kyrian also taunts her: "You'd be a real looker if it weren't for that demon-arm. Hey Orik: Why don't you remove it for her! It'd be an improvement!" He then lets fly an arrow.
Her own life-energy ebbing, Helena breaks the Life Link with Gwyn and Orik, and then beseeches the spirits of life to aid her. Green healing energy rises from the earth beneath her, and many of her wounds knit back together.
In the form of a bear, Cerin attacks with tooth and claw. Yet, perhaps due to Lamashtu's power over feral beasts, he is unable to penetrate Nualia's defenses.
Shalelu deadpans all of your feelings and fires another arrow. This one grazes her bare midriff, drawing a streak of blood.
Round 8
GM screen:
Negative energy:3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 3) = 12
Still fighting, Nualia switches to a one-handed grip on her bastard sword as she sidesteps onto the stairs leading up to the dais.
Perception DC 25:
Nualia avoided the first step of the stairs, and placed her right foot somewhat awkwardly on the second... almost as if she was trying to step in a very particular place.
Standing on the steps, she raises her red-skinned, taloned hand. Branded into the palm is a three-eyed canine face. She shouts, "Taste Lamashtu's fury! હું તમને પીડાદાયક મૃત્યુ સાથે તમામ શાપ!"
Abyssal:
"I curse you all with agonizing death!"
A wave of reddish energy pulses through the room from her outstretched demon-hand. As it passes over, you all feel an intangible force rip at your bodies and souls... the twisted demonic power of unfathomable evil.
That was a Channel Negative Energy. Everyone take 12 hp negative energy damage. Will save DC 16 for half.
Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 Bluff:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10Nevermind, Fluff just got killed. Nualia's about to die. Gwyn the Fool, Round 4 (Intimidate, +3 for 3 previous round):1d20 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 3 = 17See above. Fluff Will:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8Farewell little Fluff. I'll miss you. :(
Fluff was gone. Helena and Gwyn felt it as the little bird breathed her last. Helena could feel the beat of the tiny heart stop in the breast of the bird that had hidden in her scarves. One moment she was there, doing her best not to get in the way, and the next she's gone.
Gwyn screams as the arcane backlash from the broken connection with her familiar crackles in her mind. Fluff had been with her for several years and the bond was strong. Summoning a familiar was one of the first things her master had taught her, and now, Fluff, her first and only familiar, is gone.
Just gone.
Her master had died, and now, the first and most amazing gift he'd given her is gone as well. The pain from the blast of unholy fire is dulled into an ache as Gwyn stares at where Fluff had been hiding. She has no memory of how she wound up on her hands and knees. She barely feels the blood from her nose and a nasty gash on her forehead or any of the numerous small wounds Nualia's death curse had left on her. For what feels like an eternity, she just looks in shock at where she knows Fluff has to be.
Fluff can't be gone! She can't! It's just some cruel joke! Any second, she'll move and Gwyn will see it.
Any second.
Please.
Please don't go.
Anger, burning and white-hot flares to life and Gwyn drank deeply of that fire. Nualia had already hurt those who had never wronged her, had sought to snuff out Sandpoint and all of the people living there, and now her list of crimes included the death of one of the two closest friends Gwyn had.
The normally graceful elf rises heavily to her feet, drawing enchanted mithral blade as she stands.
"I think we got off on the wrong foot, Nualia," the elven wizard says in a calm, cold, and deadly voice, "Why don't we start over. My name is Gwynethiel, and I'll be putting out your eyes, you b%+#%."
With that, Gwyn disappears from view.
Actions:
Move to stand and draw +1 mithral shortsword.
Standard to cast Vanish
HP 59/59 | AC 22 | T 12 | FF 20 | CMD 17 | Fort +8 | Ref +3 | Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +0 | Sense Motive +0
Will:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Orik grits his teeth from the pain, remaining standing despite the agony. "Dammit! Archers! Light this b*tch up!" He staggers away from Nualia, dropping his blade to retrieve a potion and quaff it, sighing as his wounds begin to heal.
5' step, drop my bastard sword, pull a potion, and heal.
Cringing after feeling like he was just about killed, Kyrian is hardly able to line up a shot as he lets loose another arrow towards the woman.
Or, just in case because I don't recall talking about it... Massive Damage:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 If using that rule, Kyrian is now dead anyways with no action after failing his Will Save. I'll let Haladir make the decision before I make an update to health.
Hey, folks. Just a reminder about death and dying...
At exactly 0 hit points, you are disabled. While disabled, you may make a single move or standard action, but not both. You may take immediate, swift, and free actions as normal. Taking a standard action inficts 1 hp on yourself, causing you to lose consciousness and start dying. (See below).
If your hit points are below zero, and your negative hit point total is less than your CON score, you are clinging to life, but unconscious and dying. You lose 1 hp per round unless you make a stabilization roll: Make a CON check, DC = 10+(negative hp total). Success indicates that you stabilize and stop losing hp.
A successful Heal check (DC 15) stabilizes a dying character, as does any amount of magical healing. A character may administer potions of cure wounds to another unconscious and/or dying character.
If your negative hp total drops below your CON score, you are dead.
Gwyn: I believe that Fluff had been uninjured prior to the channeled negative energy. According to Gwyn's profile, Fluff has 8 hp and a 6 CON. That means that after the negative energy, the bird is at (-4) hp and is dying; she'll die if she drops below (-6) hp. So, she's down, but not quite out! You have 2 rounds to save her!
Feel free to retcon your post... unless you feel it would be dramatically better for the stryline to have Fluff die and you react appropriately. Your call.
Cerin: I see that you're at 12 hp. If you miss the saving throw, you'll be at 0 hp and disabled.
Kyrian: the death from massive damge rule is optional, and doesn't come into play unless you take 50 hp or more from a single attack or effect. I prefer not to use that rule, anyway.
And, remember that you all now have Hero Points! Anyone can use a Hero Point to add +8 to a d20 roll before the die is cast, or +4 after it's rolled. You can also use a Hero Point to cast a spell that you know but don't have prepared (or have already cast). You can also use a Hero Point to try cast a spell you don't know but that's on your spell list with a successful Spellcraft or Knowldege check (depending on where you get your magic), DC 10 + spell level. Or, you can use a Hero Point to try to do something else that's normally not allowed... like keep fighting at negative hp; spontaneously heal; cast a spell at a higher caster level; etc. In general, I hate to have a Hero Point not do something good, even if you don't succeed on the roll.
Fluff CON DC 10:1d20 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) - 2 - 4 = 14She lives!
Sorry, I hadn't updated Fluff's HP because I completely missed it. I think I'll leave everything as is because I am liking the vicious side this fight is bringing out of Gwyn. and I think the moment Fluff comes back from the brink would be a rather sweet one.
I do have some questions about the fountain in the middle of the two sets of stairs. Can Gwyn clamber over that and get behind Nualia and still attack next turn? Also, what would she need to roll to slash out Nualia's eyes?
I don't normally like them, but we can use the optional called shots rules from Ultimate Combat if you would like to specifically try to put out one of Nualia's eyes.
Let's say it's a DC 12 Climb check, and a move action to scramble up the 5-foot wall... Scratch that, I think it's better for the story if you succeed, so no roll is required. The square with the fountain is difficult terrain. So, this round, you could vanish and climb the wall; next round move and attack.
Yeesh, a -10 penalty pretty much means I need a nat 20 to hit. As much as I love the imagery, I think I'll just settle for a normal Sneak Attack. Thanks for entertaining the idea though.
Female Human Oracle (life) 4 | AC 19, T 11, FF 18 | hp 8/31 | CMD 16 | F +4, R +3, W +4 | Init +2| Perc +4 | low-light vision, darkvision 30 ft | Channel Positive Energy 3/5 | 1st-level spells 6/7 | 2nd-level spells 1/4
Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Helena feels the tiny bird in her scarves shudder and go limp. In a blind panic, even as she shakes off the wracking pain that covers her, she fumbles around in the layers and presses two fingers over Fluff's breast. "Fluff?" she asks with too much hope, feeling a tiny, fluttering heartbeat - weak and barely noticeable, but there.
After looking at her spear, she looks back to Nualia. Without any way to reach her in the stairwell, she steps forward, pressing a hand to Orik's shoulder. "Good luck."
Cerin-bear lumbers forward to roar at Nualia again and tries to maul her legs as she rushes up the stairs.
Cerin was at 17hp, -6 for the channel, so now down to 11hp. Did you see that Helena healed Cerin on the previous page? It seemed at the time you thought she was healing herself.
Cerin: I did indeed misread Helena's action in Round 4, and thought that she was healing herself... Let's just say that Pharasma smiled upon her and the healing that round affected both of you. Cerin is at 11 hp at the start of his turn.
Gwyn buries her grief at the death of her familiar in pure, unbridled fury. She states he threat to Nualia, and then turns invisible. She then climbs the wall, standing next to the basin on the platform at the front of the room, her knees roughly even wtih Nualia's head. Nualia makes no sign of noticing the invisible menace above her.
I've switched Gwyn's token's color scheme to B&W to indicate invisibility. Also scratch what I said about taking a move next round to attack Nualia: She's in an adjacent square now.
Orik drops his sword, takes a step back, fumbles through his pack for a potion bottle, and swigs it. The elixir restores some of his sapped strength.
Kyrian fires at Nualia, but his arrow deflects harmlessly off her armor.
Helena casts a spell, healing Orik.
In his ursine form, Cerin continues to try to maul Nualia, but cannot get past her defenses.
Shalelu curses Nualia and lets an arrow fly. Her aim is true, and the arrow buries itself deep into the demon-priest's unarmored midriff. Critical hit!
Round 9
Nualia lets out a cry of pain, staggering backward up the stairs. For the first time, you see a look of fear in her eyes. She mutters a brief prayer to the Demon Queen, and her form is outlined in a faint reddish glow. She then takes a potion bottle out of her satchel, pulls the cork out with her teeth, and downs the liquid.
As some of her wounds begin to knit, she sneers, "I am protected by the might by Lamashtu, Mother of Monsters! You cannot touch me now!"
Nualia uses Fervor to cast sanctuary on herself as a swift action. You must succeed on a DC 14 Will save to attack her directly. No save is needed to catch her in an area effect.
HP 59/59 | AC 22 | T 12 | FF 20 | CMD 17 | Fort +8 | Ref +3 | Will +3 | Init +1 | Perception +0 | Sense Motive +0
"Thanks," Orik says, reaching for a silver-headed warhammer on his belt. "Go help the squab, if you can." He advances upon Nualia, a warcry escaping his lips as he bounds up the stairs.
Sadly, no way I can make that Perception roll, so bad things are about to happen to me! Maybe I can kill Nualia before that happens though. Move up and pull my warhammer, making a single guarded attack.
AC is raised to 24 for this round.
I’m planning on running this excellent AP series. Opening recruitment now and going to wait 1 week before making decisions.
Character Build Parameters:
• 20 point buy
• 2 traits (1 trait can be from the ROTR Players Guide)
• 1 drawback if desired (grants additional trait)
• Average wealth by class
• Max HD HP+Con bonus
• All Paizo books okay (3PP disallowed)
• No evil Alignments
• No Hero points
• No Gunslingers, Ninjas, Samurai or other wildly insane character concepts (typical fantasy archetypes go to the head of the class for consideration)
• Provide a background, description and reason for visiting Sandpoint (This can be as simple to start out and developed further during play)
More Details:
• I’ll be using the Anniversary edition of RotR.
• Google docs to be used for posting maps, images and other handouts.
• Emphasis on role-playing and building the narrative.
• In order to keep the game flowing quickly and to maintain the narrative, the majority of dice rolling will be conducted by me. You will be provided with results in descriptive form.
• No experience points. Characters lvl up as appropriate according to the unfolding story.
• I can post multiple time per day during the week but less on weekdays.
• I live in the Eastern time zone (Toronto, Canada), but I do tend to stay up late.
If a combat encounter is somewhat complex (ie: most of them), I will provide maps marked with features, monsters and the PC’s positions so that everyone gets the right idea about where everything is and what’s going on. At the start of an encounter I’ll generate an Initiative order. I expect each player to indicate what actions their characters are performing for each round and where they would like to move. Once all the players have provided details, I’ll cycle through the round, executing everyone’s actions to the best of my abilities (generating dice rolls as required).
I consider the first 50% of a characters HP to be a consideration of a characters skill and experience at avoiding damage combined with stamina. Once you’ve dropped below 50%, your character is actually receiving physical wounds. You will be aware of this from the narrative (but you may not know that you are at exactly 3 HP remaining for example). Consequentially, after each combat encounter once the characters have had 20-Con minutes to recover, the upper 50% of HP loss is “topped up”.
Example: Barg the barbarian has a max of 15 HP and he is a full strength. He enters combat with a group of goblins and while he emerges victorious he suffers 10 HP damage as a result. This reduces him to 5 HP. Due to Barg’s adeptness in battle, the first 7 HP (15/2 rounded down) he lost are attributed to superficial wounds and exhaustion. Barg’s Con is 16. After 4 mins of rest (20-16), he recovers the 7 HP. The other 3 HP he lost were actually telling blows and left him with minor injuries. Barg doesn’t recover these HP immediately (he must recover these as per healing). Barg emerges from this encounter with 12 HP ready to press onwards.
About Me:
I’m 40 yrs old, have a loving wife and two amazing young daughters. I am naval engineer by profession employed with the military. I’ve been involved with role-playing since the first editions of D&D (the little red box with the small crappy dice. back when "Dwarf" was a class). I’ve GM’d and played with numerous systems over the years. I started playing pathfinder the first year it was released. I do not have any recent experience with pbp so this will be new ground for me. I also don’t have any experience with convention, competitive or PFS play. I would consider providing PFS credit if possible (although I need to read up more on that). I prefer more a more subdued and grounded game. I make a lot of rule decisions based on common sense and logic and I’m not adverse to contradicting the rules when required.
"Good day, Sir! My name is Cerinnibert Daergel (no relation to the Riddleport Daergels, I assure you!), and I have come to warn the good people of this town that a Great Storm is coming! Not a normal storm, no, but a storm of the spirit. I pray that I might aid you in your coming trials, and that together we will survive and come through stronger than ever! Gozreh be with us all..."
I started to play this AP, but the GM had to stop for personal reasons very early on, so I would love to continue!
I'll throw my hat in the ring. Character will be a human fighter primarily using a two bladed sword. Details will follow with a post under the new alias.
"I'm Lynnda, and this is my cat Shadow. Shadow, don't hiss at the nice man! Sorry. Anyway, I just moved here from Magnimar, and I'm helping Uncle Jubrayl get ready for the Swallowtail Festival."
I originally built this character for another PbP set in Magnimar. Unfortunately, I had to drop that game because the GM expected three or four posts a day, and I am not able to post that frequently. Also: I have GMed Runelords myself and am pretty familiar with the AP-- the first three books especially. However, I'd love to experience it from the other side of the GM screen. I have been gaming long enough to know how not to let player or metagame knowledge influence my character's actions.
One other thing I have to mention about this character: her first iteration was as an NPC in my own Runelords campaign. Her background includes a couple of references to RotRL NPCs. These have little-to-no bearing on the main plot of the campaign, but I think it would be pretty cool to play her the course of Runelords!
I am still looking at PFS credit. There's not much detail about online campaigns in the guide. I've been sifting through various forums to research some more info. As far as I can tell, and someone here can correct me, if you don't stick strickly to the rules of play and if you diverge too far from the outlined adventure or if players create characters that aren't strickly PFS legal (which I believe includes taking regional traits) then players cannot claim credit with their choosen characters. They still earn credit "as though they played with a pre-generated character" and apply that credit towards another character anyway. Do I have this right?
Basically, if I can control my own game and run it as I deem appropriate (with regards to play balance, story divergence, rules mechanics etc...) and as long as the play session reporting doesn't become too laborious, I'd be glad to grant PFS credit.
Yea, you have that right. Once we complete what's designated for PFS play in this AP (there's only 1 section for each book, not the whole thing), if our characters aren't legal, players will still get the credit for when we want to apply that credit to a character we have.
Okay, added his background. I left some information that you can tailor as a GM or if you want, I can give it to you, just let me know what you want to do.
I am still looking at PFS credit. There's not much detail about online campaigns in the guide. I've been sifting through various forums to research some more info. As far as I can tell, and someone here can correct me, if you don't stick strickly to the rules of play and if you diverge too far from the outlined adventure or if players create characters that aren't strickly PFS legal (which I believe includes taking regional traits) then players cannot claim credit with their choosen characters. They still earn credit "as though they played with a pre-generated character" and apply that credit towards another character anyway. Do I have this right?
Basically, if I can control my own game and run it as I deem appropriate (with regards to play balance, story divergence, rules mechanics etc...) and as long as the play session reporting doesn't become too laborious, I'd be glad to grant PFS credit.
That's my understanding. Which is the primary reason I don't GM for PFS-- I find the rules way too constraining to my GMing style. I always tinker with an adventure to suit my party: incorporating their backstories into the plot, re-tooling encounters according to the PCs' strengths and weaknesses, letting PC actions change the plotline, etc.
First, yes, I think you've got the PFS thing right (you can run the campaign however you want and players can apply chronicles to their PFS characters), and I'm happy to hear that you're willing to offer it.
Also, not saying there's anything wrong with the variant HP rule you came up with, but you may want to look at the one covered in Ultimate Combat. It's based on the same premise as yours, and even if you didn't want to go with it, it may at least give you some points to consider.
At the moment, I'm considering working up a healer of some sort - probably cleric for channeling goodness, but I may go for a warpriest if you're okay with the ACG classes.
I see that your band of heroes is strong and motivated. If you'll permit me to accompany you, know that I will share my gifts with all of you without reservation. I have talent in the healing arts and knowledge of herbal remedies.
I have a desire to learn all I can about religious ceremonies. My good friend, Rumbelina, a half-orc follower of Desna, told me often of the Swallowtail Release. Since I had occasion to be near Sandpoint, I wanted to make the opportunity to observe it for myself.
As a follower of Healing Flame, I have a strong respect for all. I am loyal. I am steadfast. I am humbly your servant.
Adeipho of Sarenrae.
Name: Adeipho
Race: Aasimar
Class: Cleric of Sarenrae
Domains: Good, Healing
Traits: Sacred Conduit, Focused Mind
Background: Adeipho is a self-loathing aasimar who was raised in Taldor by unscrupulous humans who lied to him about his racial heritage and exploited him in his naive youth.
He got in with the wrong crowd and joined a street gang. During a heist, Adeipho was the designated lookout. Something went wrong: a
nobleman's daughter happened upon the crime in progress and was killed.
In the chaotic aftermath, Adeipho was the only gang member caught. Though he never even saw the girl, he spent several years in prison. There, he endured unspeakable hardships, and acquired a lot of prison ink.
Eventually, he met a wandering priest of Sarenrae, Atrahasis, who came to the prison to proselytize. Atrahasis introduced Adeipho to the concept of redemption and told him the truth about aasimars. Seeing that Adeipho was sincere in his conversion, Atrahasis helped parole him and eventually sponsored his induction to the clergy.
Now, Adeipho works to redeem his past misdeeds and learn the truth about religion and his heritage, though he longs for adventure and excitement...
First, yes, I think you've got the PFS thing right (you can run the campaign however you want and players can apply chronicles to their PFS characters), and I'm happy to hear that you're willing to offer it.
Also, not saying there's anything wrong with the variant HP rule you came up with, but you may want to look at the one covered in Ultimate Combat. It's based on the same premise as yours, and even if you didn't want to go with it, it may at least give you some points to consider.
At the moment, I'm considering working up a healer of some sort - probably cleric for channeling goodness, but I may go for a warpriest if you're okay with the ACG classes.
Indeed, my variant is very similair to the Ultimate Combat variant. I just wanted something a bit simpler with no real modification to how any of the other rules interact with HP.
Throwing this fellow into the ring, He was in a rise of the runelords that died in the first encounter, He is built to be a ranged attacker, will double check to make sure he fits submission rules
Waiting until next week (Tues, 2 Jul) before making any decisions.
Full disclosure. I'm in the midst of running RotR for my local PFS lodge. We are partway through book 5. We have run through books 1-4 in campaign mode and awarded chronicle sheets as appropriate.
This was my first AP, and I've really enjoyed it! I'd like to experience it from the other side of the table now.
Alica! All fleshed out. I skipped the secrets part, still thinking on it. :)
Alica’s Background:
Step 1: Write 5 background and concept elements that you feel are important to your image of the character. These can be a concept overview, a list of important life events, a physical description, a personality profile...whatever you need to get an image in your mind.
1. Alica shows her celestial heritage in subtle ways. Her red hair is a little bit metallic in sheen, and her eyes are a shiny blue color that are a bit more like jewels than they are normally colored irises. She has a halo that glows pale and silver in most normal light, but blazes brightly in the darkness. Her features are delicate and regular, though her expression is usually rather dour. Alica’s armor is not completely polished, and she usually wears her visor up – there is a chunk sliced out of it. Most of her armor seems intended to be functional rather than decorative, though there is an eagle motif in the helmet and shield she wears.
2. Alica was found in a crater in the middle of a farming field as a baby. There were no clues as to where she came from and how she got there – her foster brother followed a glowing ‘star’ where it landed in their family’s field. She glowed even when she was born, a little copper-haired baby with a bright halo around her head. The family raised her as their own.
3. Alica’s diety is Erastil – growing up on a farm, her adopted family always worshipped the god of farming and practical things. Though she has since joined a Paladin order (though most of the follow Iomedae), she still considers the old farming diety the source of her power.
4. Alica tends to be grim and practical, not given to the flights of fancy that seem to take over many Paladins. Years growing up on a farm have ingrained her with a talent for the pedantic aspects of life, and her lawfulness manifests much stronger in her demeanor than goodness. The goodness comes through in a quiet desire and constant effort to help others. She is not prone to preaching bout rightness of actions – just prefers to go and do the right thing herself.
5. Alica has no particular interest in her parentage. That she fell from the heavens only proves to her that she is where she needs to be, and feeds her determination to help anyone that comes across her path. Still, some part of her looks for a greater cause, and she sometimes feels unfulfilled in her worldly pursuits of the simple ideals her adoptive parents tried to instill in her.
Alica's Goals:
Step 2: List at least two goals for the character. At least one of these goals should be one that the character has, while another should be one that you, as a player, want to see developed over the course of the game.
1. Alica would like to find a higher goal for herself. At the moment, she begins aimless and unfocused, looking at a world where bad things happen, and trying to think of ways to fix them. She hopes that getting her horse in Sandpoint will give her the means to travel until she can find such a goal.
2. It would be cool to run across something pertaining to Alica’s parentage, whether or not that was the human or celestial aspect. Maybe knowing that would close the book on her history.
Alica's People:
Step 4: Describe at least three people that are tied to the character. Two of them are friendly to the character, one is hostile. If you like, you can include an enemy of yours here as well, so I have an instant NPC nemesis to throw at you.
1. Uncle Hob - a great hunter of Goblins, or so he always said. Alica always like the grizzled old goat. He wasn’t really her uncle, or the uncle of anyone on their farm, more of an itinerant wanderer that ended up staying there sometimes. He always claimed that he was owed a great debt by the owner of a stables in Sandpoint – just never had a chance to collect. He tasked the collection of the horse to Alica upon his death, and she is using that as a springboard to begin her own adventure.
2. Terrance, Alica’s ‘brother’.Though not related to her by blood, they are very close, as they are more or less the same age and grew up together. Though they look nothing alike, they are akin to twins in comportment. Terrance has stayed on the farm near Sandpoint to work with their parents, though he has considered following Alica out to adventure sometime.
3. Alica left her order of paladins to return home and begin her own adventure. She had no desire to follow in a company of Paladins on a wild crusade. Her old trainer and commander Randon might still have an issue with her desertion.
Alica's Quirks:
Step 5: Describe three memories, mannerisms, or quirks that your character has. They don't have to be elaborate, but they should provide some context and flavor.
1. Alica doesn’t blink nearly enough. She has the unnerving quality of an intense stare that seems to look right into a person’s soul. Maybe she simply doesn’t need to blink as much as other humans, or maybe she’s just creepy.
2. Alica tends to hide her hair in her helmet and wear clothes that cover the sort of marble-y quality of her skin. The armor she wears is as much a protection of what she looks like as it is protection from attack. It isn’t that she thinks she’s ugly or anything – she’d just rather not answer the questions that come up.
3. Alica has an excellent voice and can sing beautifully. She doesn’t sing often, though, considering it a waste of effort in most circumstances.
Hi. I just want to say that I'm going on vacation tomorrow for a week, and might not have reliable access to the Internet. I will try my best to check this thread on 7/2.
This is Pedwiddle's submission for a healer. If you (or anyone else) have any questions or suggestions, let me know. I'm really excited about the prospect of going through this AP - I've heard it's great. Regardless of whether he's picked, though, good luck to all the hopefuls.
I've been wanting to play as this character for a long time and this seems like a good spot to do so. Couldn't find a good picture for him on here, there's four Catfolk pictures only and none of them are yellow! Gah!
In any case, here is Amadeus Presto the humble Catfolk Bard. (Please only GM read the backstory I want it to be a surprise for the players) :D
Backstory:
Amadeus was once a member in a tribe of Catfolk. They were a simple people who traveled a lot due to the changes in seasons and to follow herds of animals for hunting. His best friend was a female Catfolk named Istra, and times were peaceful within the tribe. Though one day both their lives were turned upside down.
When both were 12 years of age, human highwaymen ambushed the tribe and slaughtered them all. All save Amadeus and Istra. Bags were then thrown over their heads and they were forced to walk. In this traumatizing time, all they could do was weep. Weep for the loss of their families, friends, and weep in fear for their unknown future. For days they walked with those bags on their heads, shoved this way and that. Until finally the bags were removed and they found themselves in a circus.
The men sold them to the circus trainer, who then threw them into a nearby cage. Both were from then on treated like the animals of the place, their status perhaps being lower than slaves. The food was the worst of raw meats, the cage dingy with only hay to sleep on. And the worst of it all was the whip.
The trainer Estvon began to teach them their acts, though since they did not know the human tongue it was difficult to understand what he wanted. And when they practiced incorrectly, making even a tiny mistake they would be punished. His whip lashed out on them like fire, piercing their flesh underneath their fur. Hundreds of lashes were given to them over the course of their practicing. After weeks of practice they were able to learn a broken version of the human tongue, but Estvon often whipped them for improper use of the language as well. Or often it seemed he would hit them for no reason other than his own amusement. At last one day they did their drill without a single stinging slash of his whip. It was then that Estvon approved of them, and sent them to perform the next day.
They would partake in many stunts such as climbing, balancing, leaping and others all in front of a live audience. They did this for days and weeks, always with bright smiles and kisses to the many fans they now had. But in reality, Amadeus and Istra hated what they did. For they knew they were being used and low as slaves.
Oftentimes they would try to escape, but every time they had failed to do so. And after each attempt they would suffer intense beatings, both from the trainer’s whip and his employee’s fists.
It was such a deplorable situation, the only thing keeping them sane was each other. In the late nights when no one was around, they would swap stories with one another. Stories of their families and friends of the Catfolk, of better times. Eventually they told all the stories they could remember, and so they made up new ones. Then after that got old, they would sing to each other.
Amadeus did this more than Istra, she enjoyed to listen to his voice and he was happy to sing for her. He sung folksongs of their tribe, but also composed songs of his own. Even though he couldn’t write, he had plenty of time in the cage to memorize his own songs. When Istra sung, she sometimes apologized, for she did not has as much talent for it as he. He didn’t care about this though, he liked to listen to her voice anyways.
At one point an employee had stayed at the place later than usual and caught Amadeus singing. Istra panicked and nearly screamed, but the employee did something completely surprising. Amadeus stopped singing as a reaction from her scream, then turned to face the man. The employee sat down quietly and asked Amadeus to continue. With confusion, he obeyed. For quite a while, the man simply stood there with wonderment. Till in time he left, probably to sleep himself.
Istra at this point told Amadeus that the employee was “almost in a daze” while he sang. It was “almost like magic.” Amadeus laughed at this and said that “magic is for fairies and dragons.” As the days passed however, strange things kept on happening. Without knowing how he had done it, lights would pop up around them for example. On other occasions objects would randomly fly around them. And on the strangest of nights, all assortment of odd things would appear around them. From anything like a rose, to a set of cards would just appear out of thin air.
Istra: You still claim magic is for fairies and dragons then?
Amadeus: Alright you have me there. But how is this happening?
They in time figured it out that it was Amadeus doing all of these things, and quickly thought to harness them. After all if these abilities were honed well enough, they could try to escape for good! So for days he practiced these abilities and planned how they can be used to get out. And when they felt they were ready, they gave it a go.
What was done first, was that Amadeus summoned Dancing Lights and sent them to a far corner of the place. Estvon and his men were confused as to what these lights were. And as they rushed towards them, Amadeus pulled off Estvon’s keys with Mage Hand. Quietly they unlocked their cell and snuck off. With an illusion, Amadeus was able to make it look like they were still in the cage safe and sound. It wasn’t until much later that they were discovered to be missing.
Estvon tracked them and eventually caught up with them as they fled to the nearby city Almas (of Andoran). In the wilderness they were attacked by Estvon’s biting whip, and this time he was furious. They ran as quick as they could, but Estvon quickly tripped them both and then grabbed ahold of Istra. And then things got incredible terrible; he spoke to her in a despicable voice.
Estvon: Hm, my men are no longer here. Why not then? I wonder what you would be like.
Estvon then began to touch her wrongly, far too wrongly. And Amadeus saw in Istra’s eyes that she felt far more pain from this than any cuts that whip had inflicted. With that and Estvon’s grotesque smile, something within Amadeus snapped.
With a hiss, he wrenched Estvon’s whip from his hands with Mage Hand. Next, he swung the thing and it luckily wrapped around Estvon’s neck. He then pulled with all his might and sent Estvon smashing to the ground with a loud thud. Amadeus then pounced on him and dug his claws down the right of his face. Blood spurted from three fresh gashes and Estvon screamed so loud his lungs must have deflated.
Istra grabbed onto Amadeus’ free arm and then pulled him up from him, though not with a bit of reluctance on his part.
Istra: Come let’s go!
They turned and ran from him, Amadeus taking the whip with him. Estvon slowly got up, clutching his bloodied face.
Estvon: I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you both! Curse you!
He did not pursue them as they fled. They got into the city Almas weak and hungry in the dead of night. They went to the first building they saw, a monastery. At this point they were barely awake, exhausted from the run and the fight. The last they saw was a running figure from the monastery heading for them before losing consciousness.
Thus ended the dark time of their lives, and from it birthed a renaissance in the 18th year of their lives.
They woke in the monastery to see the man who took them in, Darian, the priest of the place. Darian was kind and asked them to tell them their story and what they were. (He did apologize on that last part though, asking someone “what” they are is a bit rude.) They did so, with a look of horror in his face as they recounted the brutal circumstances they had gone through. Darian said he would do the best he could to convince the council of the city to put the men of the circus in chains for their treatment of them. They were pleased to hear this, and asked if they could live there. Darian said that would be fine, though he warned them that he may get a little preachy at times.
As the weeks went on, Amadeus and Istra watched the sermons Darian would give on the goddess Shelyn. At first they thought the whole thing ludicrous, though they in time took a liking to Shelyn. She was the goddess of love, art and beauty. Darian himself thought it was her will that got them out of the circus in the first place. For it was clearly Amadeus’ artful spells that got them out of there in the first place. It may be that he was blessed by Shelyn to do her will.
After months of staying under his care, Amadeus and Istra thought he could be right about this. Why else would they have ended up here in the monastery of Shelyn had it not been her will? So they took to worship her like the monks of the place and read their texts. They took part in their art crafting, their dedication to make beautiful things so as to be like Shelyn. Istra found her big talent that Amadeus lacked this time; for she was great at drawing and he was not. With the monks of Shelyn they talked, they laughed, they cried, they ate, they slept. It was wonderful, and for the first time since they were of their tribe they were happy.
Things took their natural course upon the 21st year of their lives as Amadeus and Istra wed. Theirs’ was the most tender of unions, the kind only found in fairy tales. And all was right as it should have been. But yet, fate was not done with them yet.
On the 23rd year of their lives, Estvon and a band of evil mercenaries burnt down the monastery. Garbed in prison clothing, it was clear that he had just escaped jail. They killed many of the monks, others fled. Using his own whip against him, Amadeus fought Estvon with deadly vigor. Though with a lucky shot, Estvon stabbed Amadeus in the spine and he fell to the ground. He stood there helpless, bleeding profusely.
Estvon smiled nastily at Amadeus, which eerily flexed his gnarled scars given to him those years ago. He then grabbed onto Istra, who could not escape his grasp. He says to her
Estvon: Why is it that you intrigue me so?
Amadeus tried to stand up, to kill the bastard as he left with her. But all he could do was grimace in hatred at him as Istra continued to cry out “Amadeus” over and over again.
Darian bled heavily from a wound of his own and crawled over to Amadeus. With the last of Darian’s will, he stopped Amadeus’ bleeding. And with that, Amadeus passed out. Upon waking up, he thanked Darian for the last time for all he has given them. Curing himself a bit with magic also (he couldn’t do so because he could hardly move while bleeding out) he asked around everywhere about the man who carried away a cat woman. It took a long time of searching, but at the North gate of the city a guard told him they left.
Guard: Said he was heading to Sandpoint he did. Was going to teach the cat woman all kinds of things he said. If you hurry, you might get there by the time they do.
That’s all Amadeus needed to hear. With the whip of his enemy in one hand and a bag of goods on his back, he left Andoran to save his love.
And to fulfill his destiny.
Stats and Abilities:
Amadeus Presto Level 1 Catfolk Male Bard
Alignment: Neutral Good
STR: 12
DEX: 16
CON: 14
INT: 13
WIS: 8
CHA: 16
HP: 10
AC: 16, flat footed 13, touch 13
CMB 1, CMD 14
Traits: Resilient +1 to Fort staves and Reactionary +2 to initiative
Initiative: 5
Speed 30ft, currently 20ft due to medium load
Fort 3, Reflex 5, Will 1
May choose to reroll a reflex save once a day, have to chose to do this before rolling.
Performances: 7 rounds per day, Countersong, Distraction, Fascination, Inspire Courage
