GM Lari's Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Dhenn

Oh, hey... welcome back Lari!

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

"Ah, more of them!" Doubtful, cries, instantly on guard, as the ghost materializes.

He is still sure that Wyatt has in some way become possessed, especially when the later starts talking like its some formal tea party hostess instead of a ghost.

Clearly, the appearance of the ghost is but the first harbinger of a bigger attack.

Imrana, mentioning that she might be hungry, only makes his concern greater.

Don't suppose this lady's name is someone we've heard of?

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 (edit: um... probably not =)

With a momentary look of puzzlement, she turns to Imrana, the a ghostly hand along her body.

My dear, anyone with this figure knows how to control their appetite."

She gracefully pirouettes towards Jair,

"Myl, aren't you lovely! I imagine you're here searching for the black soul of Sempet, but there's precious little in this city that escapes my notice." Glancing around nervously, she adds, "Though of course our dear allies in the Citadel are never the scandalous sort."

Pivoting back to Wyatt, she continues.

"If you have a ship of your own, there's a beautiful little cove on the north side of Sharkfin Island that would be lovely. Failing that, the end of the Pearl Wharf would do. It's just a few streets over.

Knowledge(Geography): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17.

Wyatt raises an eyebrow, but decides not to contradict the spirit, since he vaguely recalls that doing so can 'trigger' them.

"I don't have my own vessel, but I do have a reasonable rapport with a fairly understanding Captain, so I think that it might be achievable."

He pauses for a moment, before carefully considering his next words.

"What can you tell us about the other inhabitants of this place? Have there been any other visitors recently?"

...and, assuming no-one has any better questions...

"How did you die?"

Since ghosts normally arise from those with 'unfinished business'...

Doubtful looks confused, having no clue what the ghost is talking about, but reasonably certain it means something bad.

He has no interest in asking her anything, sure that its a trick of some sort.

Though as a player, I'm curious who/what that was that possessed Jaohd, or where the Orb of Stars is?

Dunkel stands, mouth agape as the interchange between the woman and her kin transpires, not wanting to step in as if it were a dwarven ghost buried alive in a diggin' accident, he'd be sure he would be the one negotiating last wishes.

Ashes scattered at sea... ah'd offer t' dig th' lass a proper crypt anywhere she likes, but ah dun think she'd agree...

Jair tells Wyatt Ask her to help us navigate through the maze to find the Orb of the Stars.

Is there a new map, by the by?

Map updated, but it sounds like we're not going to have combat in this particular context.

"Two people came by, along with this one, she says as she gestures towards Jaohd. "He wasn't himself, but I take it you've figured that out by now."

She tips her head up, revealing the jagged gash in her neck. "My 'beloved' and I had a falling out because of my flirtatious nature and his inability to truly love anyone but himself. In a jealous wrath, he ordered one of his crew to do this to me. And I'm sorry to say I'm not sure where the Orb is. I know he left it with one of his lieutenants. Rahjan-Vol. I hear he had some sort of moving fortress out in the ocean, though he never brought me there."

If there's anything else you want to ask, now's the time. Otherwise, you can head back into the maze, and make a roll to navigate.

Doubtful is ready to move on, and get away from the ghost! Though the fact they seem to be rushing headlong towards another doesn't encourage him much.

Dug up the bbcode you gave us earlier for when its time to move on. We can use that!

SURVIVAL
Doubtful: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Dunkel: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Imrana: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14
Jair: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Primary
Ragnar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Wyatt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Though at the first signs of finding our way through to the next area, Doubtful will get someone to use his wand of protection from evil on him (basically everyone can use it but him)... cause he's afraid of possessing ghosts now!

Who's the name of your beloved my Lady ? Is it still "alive" or not ? Is this flying fortress still working ?

Asks Jair, intrigued.

More story questions than game questions, so we can move on :) I'm nevertheless still interested by the answers !

Imrana will use his wand when Doubtful asks for it. She may just tap herself with her own Prot. from Evil wand too

Imrana copies down what the ghost woman says with an automatic, disinterested attitude...until there's mention of the fortress.

"Please, extrapolate on this 'moving fortress.' This subject may be of interest to our superiors."

Dunkel frowns at the thought of having to find a fortress in the middle of the ocean, knowing there's likely to be a significant shortage in diggin' work in that case.

Sighing as they return to navigate the maze, he echoes Jair's earlier question.

"Did ye ask her about the maze, if she knows the way through? Remember lads, ah can always dig us a path if ye pick a direction..."

"Apparently the Orb controlled the fortress somehow. I'm not sure exactly where it was. Off the coast of Yamasa somewhere. I've never heard of any maze, though."

When you do move on, the hallway eventually ends abruptly in another door, one hour later. I know this is not great for your mage armor wands, but you've actually made about the best time possible.

I'll give you a quick chance to buff and such before opening the door. Jaohd casts bless (CL 1st) as his contribution.

Wisdom DC10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Jair thanks the lady ghost aware that she was unable to know where she really was. But the information she gave them was quite valuable.

In front of the door

Guys, I can make you all invisible for undead or create 3 magical stones able to hurt quite badly these creatures.

Hey, its only been 4 charges off the wand. That's not so bad.

So, renew the mage armor... and get one of the other 6 to zap him with his protection from evil wand just before the door is opened. (Would recommend everyone get some version of the same (including Jaohd), 'cause possessed teammates might be troublesome! And... bonus to saves! Can spare a few charges, if needed.)

Doubtful glares at the door, sure that whatever preparations they make will not be enough. Still, he puts up the few magical wards that he can.

With a nod, Wyatt takes the hint, and buffs, too.

Specifically, Protection From Evil (wand), False Life 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 1d100 ⇒ 41 (ASF), and Darkvision 1d100 ⇒ 70 (ASF).

Dunkel takes a look at the door and his allies preparing for the worst, and opts to do so himself.

Renew mage armor from the wand, down to 40/50 charges. Also will cast Shield (5 min) and False Life for 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 temp hp.

Lastly, Dunkel was down 11hp, so he'll try to recover that with 2 charges from his wand, taking that down to 32/50 charges.

CLW: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 3) + 2 = 10

His preparations complete, he utters a common dwarven saying.

"Dwarf ready."

Use a charge of Doubtful's protection from evil wand on Dunkel as well!

Though Dunkel with a 20 AC seems wrong! =)

Imrana will use another charge of her Mage Armor wand, and she will used a charge of her Protection from Evil wand on herself

Brandishing her trusted magic missile wand, Imrana follows up behind the others.

"Are we all prepared to continue?"

Hehe. I kind of regret opposing illusion these days, since apparently I need to look at avoidance tanking with Dunk, like mirror image... maybe he'll retrain his opposed school someday.

Dunkel grins as he's tapped.

"Ah, thank ye, tha' way ah don't go eatin' rottin' arms again."

The diggin' dwarf makes a sour face, but nonetheless steps up aside Doubtful to try the door.

Im not going to be able to post much if at all this weekend, so I'm going to hold off on opening the door until Sunday night. In the meantime feel free to tweak buffs and such. Jaohd will tell you he has a very bad feeling about what's on the other side of the door.

Shouldn't Jaohd know what's on the other side of the door? The old fellow has been less than helpful so far! =)

Jair casts magical stone and waits for doubtful to open the door.

Ragnar harumphs a bit more. "Such a strange place this is. I fear I shall not have enough ink to write down all the oddness it engenders." He casts mage armor from his wand on himself.

Jaohd has only spotty recollections of much of what happened.

Three wall-mounted flaming stone braziers illuminate this unfurnished chamber. Lying on the floor in the middle of the chamber are three mangled humanoid bodies—two male humans and a female elf. Gouges and long scratch marks mar all of the walls of this stone room, as well as several areas on the floor and ceiling. A heavy black curtain cordons off the far southwest corner of the chamber.

Two malignant clouds of incorporeal shadow boil in the corner, their roughly humanoid shapes seemingly engaged in silent conversation.

Religion to ID

Wow, what a horrible setup... made worse by low init rolls.
Can anyone say 'bottleneck'!

I will oblige then and Delay for you :)

For PbP specifically, I've adopted the system where you just roll once for all the enemies and have them act together. The advantage swings both ways - for PCs and bad guys, and it makes it a lot easier on a GM since they can allow a larger chunk of a day to pass before catching up.

Dunkel considers the clouds... diggin' collapse debris don't look like that!

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Doubtful: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Fascinated: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
Dunkel: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Fascinated: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
Imrana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Jair: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Ragnar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Wyatt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14 Saves due to Prot Evil
Fascinated: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5
Jaohd: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Fascinated: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

One of the shadowy creatures dives in towards Doubtful, as its silent conversation suddenly becomes audible. Maddening chaos fills your ears, leaving many of you, along with Jaohd, unable to concentrate.

It touches him with a spectral claw, driving maddening visions into a brain already filled with enough negative thoughts. It does have the advantage of snapping him out of his reverie, though. I believe an 18 hits your flat-footed touch AC. If not then disregard this. Fascination is broken by the attack.

Touch, Charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18
Doubtful: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Doubtful Wis Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Imrana may come in whenever she wishes.

"Gah!"

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12.

Wyatt shoots over Doubtful's head at the flying mass of shadow.

+1 Mighty[+2]Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 21, for 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7 damage.

+1 Mighty[+2]Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 25, for 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8 damage.

@GM Lari, fascination is not broken, you only have another save to roll

Kn:Religion: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

If the creature is incorporeal... which the description implies it might be... then the AC from mage armor will still apply vs its touch attacks... and the 18 does *not* hit.

Also get an extra point of deflection from protection from evil... His flat-footed-touch AC will be a 22, regular touch AC the same as his normal AC at 25.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Imrana's face scrunches up as she draws a complete blank on whatever these creatures could be. She stares at them, talking to herself as usual.

"Well now. These creatures appear to be insubstantial? They could be more people under a ghostly disguise spell like in our adventures in Nirmathas."

She throws her hands up in the air and rolls her eyes at herself.

"Oh, right. We are in the Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts, so they are most likely ghosts."

She points two fingers at the spectral creature at the front of the hallway and looses two missiles of pure force at it.

Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5

As soon as she lets the missiles go, her attention shifts away once more, and it's like she's in a library somewhere trying to work out some theoretical problem, not on a battlefield.

"Or maybe whoever designed this place knew we would assume they were ghosts and is trying to trick us...."

Dunkel's lower lip quivers as he sways like a serpent in a Qadiran charmer's den.

"Tuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnn....."

Fascinated.

Impressive, Doubtful. Usually people have a flat footed touch AC of "yes, you hit." The attack missed.

While the rest of you are mystified, Ragnar recognizes these creatures as allips, and has apparently studied them extensively.

They constantly babble madly, so some effect must be suppressing sound in the corner. They are incorporeal undead, somewhat resistant to channel effects. Their touch spreads some of their insanity to their victims.

While technically intelligent, they are completely insane. Anyone who attempts to read or control their minds generally suffers damage to their own sanity as a result.

Both of Wyatt's arrows connect, doing some damage to the cloudy form. Imrana's bolt has a somewhat more dramatic effect.

The other allip approaches, adding to the cacophony of noise, but failing to distract anyone further. It also dives at Doubtful, failing to touch him.

Doubtful: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Dunkel: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Imrana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Jair: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Ragnar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Wyatt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Jaohd: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Charge: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11

The creature that appeared from within Jaohd emerges through the curtain. It momentarily looks over each of you before its eyes bore in on Imrana. She feels a force try to penetrate into her mind, but is able to drive it out.

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Green: 12

Note on fascinate: The full rules are:

The creature stands or sits quietly, taking no actions other than to pay attention to the fascinating effect, for as long as the effect lasts. It takes a –4 penalty on skill checks made as reactions, such as Perception checks. Any potential threat, such as a hostile creature approaching, allows the fascinated creature a new saving throw against the fascinating effect. Any obvious threat, such as someone drawing a weapon, casting a spell, or aiming a ranged weapon at the fascinated creature, automatically breaks the effect. A fascinated creature's ally may shake it free of the spell as a standard action.

In this particular case, an allip's approach does not count as something that grants a new save, hence the cross-out above. An actual attack will break it entirely (in line with the second to last line).

Actually, I went back and recalculated, just to make sure... and I think I'd already counted the 2nd deflection point... so I was one high on my numbers. His touch AC currently is a 24 (not 25) and flatfooted touch at a 21 (not 22). Still good enough to avoid those blows!

Yay for monk AC!

And looks like everyone succeeded on the 2nd allip... now just have to wake them up!

Doubtful shakes his head with an uhappy frown, after having succumbed to the creatures insane babbling for a moment.

"Ah, its that one again!" He exclaims at the sight of the ghost they'd encountered earlier. "Don't let it in your head!"

Although the ghost part is obvious, he's also reasonably certain on the 'hungry' as well, and does not like that at all.

He pauses a moment, unsure if the more divinely gifted have a solution to these problems, but the pessimist in him eventually concludes they probably do not, and starts to swing at the incorporeal forms before him.

Flurry of Blows them, using a ki point for an extra attack. All these count as magic.

Flurry1 on red Allip, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 = 24, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 damage.
Flurry2 on red Allip, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 damage.
FlurryKi on red Allip, bless: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 damage.

Also, will have to resave vs the first allips babble ... as I'm only immune if I succeed! So will add that here for when its turn comes around again. Will: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22

Save will succeed.

Doubtful's punches seem to leave the allip battered but still present.

Another creature, flesh stretched tight over bones, lurches through the curtain. A long tounge pierces Doubtful's arm, and with a horrid sucking sound, extracts a pint of blood.

Tongue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Tongue Confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Dam: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Plus 2 STR damage

With Dunkel oblivious to the combat, Ragnar and Jair are up.

"They constantly babble madly, so some effect must be suppressing sound in the corner. They are incorporeal undead, somewhat resistant to channel effects. Their touch spreads some of their insanity to their victims. While technically intelligent, they are completely insane. Anyone who attempts to read or control their minds generally suffers damage to their own sanity as a result."

Ragnar shouts out the information above, trying to illuminate the maddening situation. He then fires a disrupt undead cantrip at the red allip, trying to hit it! Ragnar Touch Attack, through melee: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 2 - 4 = 9 for 1d6 ⇒ 4 positive energy damage!

Know. Religion (Allip): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Know. Religion (with the tongues): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 or +6 arcana, +7 planes, +4 local

Jair asks for Norgorber secret of aether to call a weapon of force who strikes at the allip already hit by Doubtful's furry.

Spiritual weapon (short sword): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Force damages: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

if the strange tongues creature is an undead, Jair will want to know if it has less than 5 Hit Dice.

She then calls Norgorber secret of time to create a second self.

move action : copycat

Wyatt and Imrana might want to post a action, in case Jair's actually finishes of the Allip... since they will be next if it did

Anyone able to shake Dunkel awake? Else we're a man short for quite some time

@Doubtful: According to the initiative tracker, Green is the one that has been taking damage, not Red; so I don't think that is true...?

Nope, its totally been red. The first one to approach that's right in front there. Think Lari just might have switched the damage around.

Though, if it does go down, than perhaps that will snap Dunkel out of it too, as its the one that has him fascinated.

Yep. Reds the one you've been hitting. My bad.

While Ragnar fails to disrupt it, Norgorber's magical shortsword slices into the allip, and it disappears.

Nobody's fascinated! Wyatt and Imrana are now up. Added a colorful arrow to indicate location of the spiritual weapon.

@GM Lari what information my knowledge check give me ?

Imrana thinks this new undead is somewhat similar to a zombie, though it lacks both the weaknesses and the defenses of traditional zombies, replacing those with its unusual tongue attack, which is in addition to its normal slam. It seems reasonable to expect your commands would work, though it seems more intelligent than the normal mindless zombie.

Nothing particularly exciting about it (no DR, etc.) except for the tongue

Dunkel shakes his head as he recovers his senses.

"Bwaa, whaa, wha' 'appened?"

Seeing Doubtful dodging something in the room beyond, he wonders if its wise for him to move into the room given no others have.

"Should ah' run past 't 'nta th' room?"

As he waits for an answer, Dunkel lobs a telekinetic diggin' pick at it from afar.

Telekinetic fist (ranged touch): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 = 14 for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Wyatt delays, waiting for something to move into the mouth of the corridor, then unleashes a flurry of arrows!

+1 Mighty[+2]Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 26, for 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8 damage.
+1 Mighty[+2]Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 13, for 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5 damage.

Imrana tilts her head back and mouths an "AHA!" at Ragnar's description.

"Aha! Thank you for the information. I have never faced such creatures before."

She points her magic missile wand at the remaining undead and fires.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Jaohd, returning to consciousness, sees the undead that possessed him, and rushes forward, a glow of righteous fury surrounding him as he rushes past the claws of the other enemies.

"Stand and be judged, abomination!"

Double move and smite. Did you guys give him a weapon? Either way, Paladin's gonna Paladin.

AN AOO: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Allip AOO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 I don't think this actually hits. His stat block lists him with a touch AC of 9 due to -1 dex, but also gives him a dex of 13. I'm going to assume the first one is the error.

The incorporeal undead looks at him with disdain, before turning to the troublesome dwarf in the doorway. A bolt of black energy darts from his eyes, striking Doubtful in the chest.

Ranged Touch vs Doubtful: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 I don't think this can actually crit, but it's moot anyways.
STR Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Doubtful Fort: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 30 Saves for Half (1 STR).

The remaining Allip also turns its attentions to him, though Jaohd seems unfazed.
Allip: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
WIS Dam: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Jaohd Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 Saves

Wyatt, seeing the paladin rush headlong into danger, unleashes his arrows to protect him. Taking a little liberty with the trigger He strikes the allip, as does Imrana's missile.

Doubtful is up, followed by the solid undead, then the remainder of the party.

Allip: 9