GM Kate's Ruins of Azlant (closed) (Inactive)

Game Master Kate Baker

Kn: Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Let me know if you're ready to go upstairs!

Joli begins climbing the steps, ready for trouble.

ready!

A colossal device of jeweled, copper-lined globes, steel rings, and dazzling lights fills this room. The contraption—an elaborate orrery—rises from an octagonal dais at the center of the tower peak. The instrument surges with phantasmal depictions of constellations and cosmic phenomena. Periodically, a lens pauses, briefly concentrating the light of some distant star upon one of the glowing glyphs circling the perimeter of the massive orrery. Around the room, windows twenty-five feet tall and five feet wide allow a spectacular view of the crater lake outside. The copper plates forming the dome of this chamber form a mechanical iris engraved with arcane sigils.

A sea hag stands in the orrery, with two clouds of red mist nearby.

"Well, you certainly took your time, didn't you? And you let the cyclops out. Not that I mind you replenishing his blood; that will be handy for my next divination. But you, my dear," and she gestures to Cedar, "why are you wasting your time with this ridiculous bunch? You know your heritage. Join me. Start a new coven with me. I will show you more power than you can possibly imagine."

No surprise rounds for either side. We'll roll initiative when you're done talking.

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Cedar gives a dismissive wave of his hand. ”These fools mean nothing to me. They’re a means to an end.”

He narrows his eyes.

”Why would I ever join you when your last coven failed?”

"It didn't fail; I left them! They were cowards! They were afraid of the cosmic power they contacted, that they tried to offer me to. But instead it touched me with its gifts! Only I can bring this dead magic back into the world! And you could help me. Join me." Her blind eyes don't focus on you, but she nevertheless seems to stare into your soul.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 This was on Cedar; we crossposted, Kate

Cedar!?

Silt's knuckles are white in his clenched fists . He shakes his head. No. The oath! Cedar is Cedar — you have your blood deviations, but we know Cedar is Cedar!

Pages in a spell book turn. Dark waves crash upon a moonless shore. A cauldron bubbles over.

Cedar continues, seemingly unphazed by Silt's words, and meets the sea hag's blind gaze. "It is true that I came to this island seeking my destiny. Perhaps you are it."

"But I know now that this island is too small, especially for two of us. I will join you, if we leave this place together, and seek more power elsewhere."

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

"No, you don't understand. It has to be here! Only old Azlant's mastery of the cosmos can let us find the truth!" She gestures at the orrery.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Joli's vivid colors dim a little bit as Cedar makes his gambit. "Cedar, fight it. Your hag of a mother doesn't know the real you. Hakkuho, are you in there? Talk some sense into him."

Toby stares at Cedar, mouth agape...until he notices Silt's clenched fists. He reaches out and touches the big scrag locathah, whispering "Silt? You're not gonna hurt Cedar are you?" Toby can't possibly make that Sense Motive check.

Purpose Creche keeps quiet as his friends tend to Aeroclyse, not wanting to disturb the relationship by asking what he really wants to know.
---
Upstairs, the hag speaks, Cedar offers his service, and the others react in shock. Purpose Creche stands impassive.

Power in blood. Mist. Cyclops.

He raises his bow, nocks, and draws.

Changeling.

The orrery shifts, a rune ignites, and the arrowhead flashes with reflected light. The steel tip points directly at Cedar.

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 to know about vampiric mists!

Vampiric mists are aberrations with the water and air subtypes. They are amorphous and have DR 5/magic, but are vulnerable to fire. Their attacks do bleed damage and Constitution damage.

Silt glances at Toby.

No. I will hurt the haggie. We all will. She hurt Cedar. I don't know how, but it doesn't matter now.

At that, Joli sings, summoning up winds to guard him in the fight. The winds amplify his call to arms.

"I’ll not stand by while you toy with my friend’s soul. You’ve been a blight to the people of these isles long enough."

Cloak of winds

Illusory flames stream from Purpose Creche's ioun gauntlet, spiral up his arm, then separate out into 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 heat-shimmer simulacrums that crowd the wyrwood's silhouette.

Cast mirror image.

As Joli and Purpose cast defensive spells, Helekhterie reaches her hand out toward Cedar. "Make a new coven with me, and we will be unstoppable."

Well if we're buffing up, Silt will cast Ironskin and his last Bull's strength.

Cedar laughs.

”I’m not afraid to connect with the cosmos. But you’re a fool if you think I’d ever really join you!’

Cedar’s eyes flash as he summons Mokja, the celestial ape, onto the orrery!

Mokja is climbing 10’ above the hag. He has reach. Does he get to attack in the surprise round?

Silt, you can cast one buff spell. The celestial ape gets one surprise round, and then we’ll go into regular initiative.

The hag screeches in anger at the appearance of the celestial ape!

Ironskin it is; I thought everyone was on a second round of buffs.

Mokja roars, shaking the orrery, and smites the hag with a purple fist.

Mokja Slam!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Seeing his friends leap into action, Toby takes the opportunity to duck around next to the stairwell, trying to find a better shot. No buffs to do, but ok if I use that buffing/surprise round to move?

It seems like Mojka should hit the flatfooted hag, but instead she laughs. "You think you can hit me with your parlor tricks and silly pets? Prepare to see real power!"

Toby
Vampiric mist 2
Joli
Cedar
Silt
Purpose
Vampiric mist 1
Helekhterie

Toby moves to get a shot clear of the orrery, dripping water from every pore as he does. Once he has a clear shot hi points his fists at the hag and unleashes a powerful blast, drawing on an inner reserve to make it as punishing as possible! Using Internal Buffer to empower without accepting burn.

kinetic blast, pbs, elem overflow vs. flat-footed: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 20
damage, pbs, elem overflow: 3d6 + 9 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4, 3) + 9 + 1 + 4 = 24 Empowered to 36.

That just hits against flat-footed! She shrieks loudly.

The first vampiric mist attacks Silt, sucking the blood from him!

Blood siphon, vs touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Con damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

And it gets 1d8 ⇒ 1 temporary hit points, isn't that nice?

On your turn, you take

bleed damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Toby
Vampiric mist 2 +1 hp
Joli
Cedar
Silt
Purpose
Vampiric mist 1
Helekhterie

Joli springs into action, sliding along his slipstream in an arc through the room past the mists.

He believes that as mists they may be vulnerable to his Cloak of Winds effect: if susceptible they must make DC 17 Fort saves to touch him. If they fail, they're flung 30' (taking 3d6 nonlethal damage + 1d6 if they strike a solid surface, and knocked prone).

Nonlethal: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3) = 12
Solids: 1d6 ⇒ 5

At the end, he whistles for empyreal light, centering it in a way that hits all three foes.

Burst of radiance, DC 16 reflex: 5d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 3, 4) = 15

12 con; 43/45HP

Assuming the mists aren't flung it looks like Silt has no where to move so he will try to full attack #2 even though it has dr/magic.

Bite, power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 2 = 9
Nonmagical P,B,S: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Claw, power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 = 15
Nonmagical B, S: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Claw, power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 = 22
Nonmagical B, S: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Is our cyclopean friend in the initiative order somewhere?

6/6 mirror images; attack roll of 16 or lower pops one.

Seven wyrwoods step next to Silt and extend seven flame-licked hands towards the locathah. Swaths of orange and red dance through his mind, and his body courses with new energy.

Quickness focus power for 6 rounds! Functions as haste, so +1 to attack rolls/1 more attack in a full attack, but the bonus to AC and on Reflex saving throws increases to +2.

Knowledge (local) to know things about hags?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Vampiric mist number 2 is pushed into the wall! (Vampiric mist number 1 is flat-footed, as it were.) It can't be meaningfully prone.

Reflex save, vamp 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Reflex save, vamp 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Reflex save, Helekhterie: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

They all take full damage since they're evil creatures. Vamp 2 failed against the blindness, but I don't think it can be meaningfully blinded, as far as you're all concerned. Even if that takes away its darkvision, they have sense blood. (It's about to be a moot point, but I want to make it clear in case someone tries blinding again later.)

Vampiric mist 2 is quite damaged after the shove and the burst, and Silt is able to finish it off, even without magical claws.

Purpose totally knows things about sea hags! What would you like to know in particular?

Toby
Joli
Cedar
Silt
Purpose
Vampiric mist 1 -15 hp
Helekhterie -15 hp
Aeroclyse

Weaknesses/DR &c first, then any particularly threatening special abilities!

With his reach and the extra attack Silt can get an attack on #1, right?

bite: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 = 27
Nonmagical P,B,S: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Isn't Helektherie -51hp?

Cedar calls out to Mokja:

Mokja moves and attempts to slam the remaining mist.

Mokja Slam!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

”Why would I ever join you? You have no idea how much pent up rage I have!”

Cedar moves to the orrery stairs and tries to claw Helekhterie!

Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

”I swore an oath to my friends! You’d never understand!”

Silt gets the additional attack, and yes, I forgot to add Toby's damage.

Mokja tries to attack the mist, but can't get through its DR!

"And you'll never understand the power that you're giving up! Have a taste!"

Supernatural ability, doesn't provoke.

Cedar suddenly feels as though he has been thrust into the void!

5d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 4, 6, 4) = 22 cold damage, DC 17 Fortitude save for half damage

The second vampiric mist drifts toward Silt.

Blood siphon, vs touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Con damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

And it heals 1d8 ⇒ 5 hit points

Luckily, bleed doesn't stack! On your turn, you take

1d6 ⇒ 2 bleed damage

The cyclops moves slowly into the room.

Toby
Joli
Cedar
Silt
Purpose
Vampiric mist 1 -16 hp
Helekhterie -51 hp
Aeroclyse

35/39 HP; 9 con

Bite, power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 26
Nonmagical P,B,S: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Claw, power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 22
Nonmagical S: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Claw, power attack: 9 - 2 + 1 = 8
Nonmagical B, S: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Bite, power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 9 - 2 + 1 = 17
Nonmagical P,B,S: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Scrag'chaag looks quite pale but continues to try and blend the mist.

Joli climbs up onto the rail of the platform and lashes out at Helekhterie with his tongue. Sparks fly as it caresses her wartier flesh.

"There, I've tried. You taste revolting!"

Shocking touch (Su): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16
Electricity + Fort DC 17 or prone: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (1) = 5

As Purpose Creche's bow begins to vibrate with psychic potential, he darts between Mokja's legs and takes up position behind Cedar. (possibly incurring an AoO from the mist)
Adding hag bane to m'bow!

"You're killin' me, guys." Toby mutters as his friends block all available clear shots for him. He adjusts to get a shot as best he can, then seems to pull all of the moisture out of the air as the sound of the rushing ocean fills the room. He suddenly thrusts his arms forward, unleashing the gathered torrent over Joli's shoulder at the hag. Gather power to empower Toby's blast without accepting burn.

kinetic blast, pbs, elem overflow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 16
damage, pbs, elem overflow: 3d6 + 9 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2, 3) + 9 + 1 + 4 = 24

Oops, I forgot to ask for an SR check on the burst of radiance! I won't retcon, but roll caster level checks on future spells, please.

Silt tears apart the second mist while Joli tries and fails to shock the hag! Toby can't quite connect with a stream of water.

Purpose, you know sea hags have no particular DR or resistances, but do have SR.

Also, I forgot a thing when you came in, so we'll do it now!

As you all draw closer, you realize that she is intensely disquieting to look at. Forcing yourself to do so makes you go weak in the knees.

Toby
Joli
Cedar
Silt
Purpose
Helekhterie -51 hp
Aeroclyse

fort with 5 con damage: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 2 = 16

Fortitude Save 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Fortitude Save 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Is her SU ability subject to Cedar’s SR 12?

Cedar is indeed horrified by the sea hag’s appearance, but he fights on, lost in a battle as much internal as outward!

Dark eyes flash in a cave by the sea.

“My daughter.”

”I will never, ever join you!”

Cedar claws wildly at Helekhterie.

Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Claw 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Fort v water type creature ability: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 4 = 21
SR: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Toby Fort save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Cedar claws, but can't seem to connect.

SR doesn;t apply to Supernatural abilities.

She takes a five-foot-step and attempts to cast defensively.

Concentration check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

She sends out a cone of colors, hitting Cedar and Joli.

DC 16 Will save or be stunned for one round!

Aeroclyse makes his way around.

Toby
Joli
Cedar
Silt
Purpose
Helekhterie -51 hp
Aeroclyse

Toby blinks as the hag herself lines up a shot for him! "Shake it off! Now's the time to get her!" Once again the sound of crashing waves fills the room as Toby draws in torrents of water from the air, gathering their power at his clasped hands before directing it in a mighty stream at the hag.

kinetic blast, pbs, elem overflow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 13
damage, pbs, elem overflow: 3d6 + 9 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6, 6) + 9 + 1 + 4 = 30 Empowered to 45 damage.

Will: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 4 = 18

Joli sees right through Helekhterie’s tricks, taking a moment to circle around her.

Tumble: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

He proceeds to give the hag a jolly jolt.

Shocker touch: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 = 19
Electric: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (3) = 9 Fort 17 or prone

35/39 HP; 9 con

Cedar! You are no friendless haggie!

From a position where he hopes to flank with Cedar, he casts defensively and uses his reach to touch Cedar on the shoulder with a broken chunk of blood-red coral.

concentration DC 19: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 30

Bull's strength; +4 enhancement bonus to strength

He sneers at the Helekhterie.