Mort and Sejanus reach the base of the giant organ. The acolyte's chest rises and falls, and Mort realizes she is unconscious but alive.
Dawn continues along the west wall of the cathedral, making her way to the organ and the undead creatures cavorting atop it.
The four Black Echelon operatives atop the organ's pipes remain where they are, silencing the pipes within their auras' reach. Their cloaks begin to emit separate shrouds of mist.
The two undead creatures on the massive keyboard still attempt to climb the tarnished pipes. Their scrambling feet plink a tuneless melody on the giant keys.
The two Black Echelon operatives in the southeast corner of the nave climb over the body of their fallen comrade swiping at Damien with their sickles. Both slashing blades miss their mark. (Their movement provokes an AoO from the reach weapon-wielding roughrider.)
Kari, Damien, and Sejanus realize that as long as some kind of 'music' continues, they feel Abadar's blessing upon them.
Yargos Gill's shouted warning still rings in your ears.
Conditions:
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Damien doesn't have Combat Reflexes, so he'll take a single AoO
Lance:1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 = 171d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
As the undead operative skirts away, Damien lunges his lance through its head. "Yer not goin' anywhere, bone man!"
Afterwards, he attacks the remaining Black Echelon initiate.
Lance:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 161d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
And commands Ruby to bite.
Ride:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
But finds that she's a little scared of the enemy, and refuses to obey.
Kari joins Mort and Sejanus in the transept, near the base of the keyboard. (Climb DC10 to make the 15-foot ascent.)
With two thrusts of his lance, Damien slays the blue Black Echelon operator.
The green-cloaked undead creature slices its ancient rusted sickle at the roughrider. Damien evades the wild swing.
Sickle; Damage:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 141d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Shrouds of mist engulf the organ's maze of twisting pipes and the four Black Echelon operatives atop them.
The two undead creatures on the massive keyboard finally climb the tarnished pipes. With no one manipulating the keys, the giant organ falls silent... !
Pink Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 18 Purple Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 17
In the deafening silence, Kari, Damien, and Sejanus realize they no longer feel Abadar's blessing upon them.
Yargos Gill screams, "For the love of all that's holy, play some music!"
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
DEAD Human Slayer 3 HP 31/31 | AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2 (+2 vs Fear) | Init +1 | Perc +6 | SM +6 Effects:
Mort looks back at Gill with a look of pissy annoyance "Ya could help old man!" He grumbles as he sees the two deadies that were at the edge of his reach climb up and the fog roll in. "What the hell, magic fog too?"
He slides Mindy into her sheath and starts to climb up on top of the keys. Climb, DC10:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damien turns to watch the thick cloud of mist cover his allies - and enemies. "Where'd ya guys go? Damn it. I'll be right there, jus' takin' care of the Black Lawn!"
To clarify: The Black Echelon operatives' aura of silence extends 5 feet. Their fog-like mist extends 30 feet. From the keyboard it's another 30-foot climb to reach them atop the pipes. The Encounter Mechanics are explained in the Discussion thread, in the event anyone wishes to break the silence by 'playing' some of the keys.
Mort, Dawn, and Sejanus clamber up to the giant keyboard.
Damien's lance careens off a pew, missing the Black Echelon operative.
Kari tries to climb up to the keyboard, but she can't get a decent one-handed grip. She sheathes her rapier.
Once more, the green-cloaked undead creature swings its ancient rusted sickle at the roughrider. The same pew interferes with its attack. Mist swirls in the eery silence around the creature.
Sickle; Damage:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 91d6 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Shrouds of mist engulf the organ's maze of twisting pipes and the six Black Echelon operatives atop them.
In the (2 rounds of) deafening silence, Kari, Damien, and Sejanus realize they no longer feel Abadar's blessing upon them.
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
DEAD Human Slayer 3 HP 31/31 | AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2 (+2 vs Fear) | Init +1 | Perc +6 | SM +6 Effects:
Mort stands atop the keys and gets a bad feeling as everything has been silent for too long "We gotta get at least one off those pipes to get the music going! Holy waters away!"
He reaches into his belt pouch and pulls out a small crystal flask and tosses it up at the pink deadie above him.
"I'll get ya this time, I mean it!" Damien swaps his shield and lance, because maybe his left hand will be more accurate, and tries to finish off the operative.
Agender Human (Chelaxian) Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 | HP 6/11 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | Fort+3 Ref +2 Will -1 | Initiative +2 | Perception -1 |
If the purple operative is still within Sejanus' reach, ze will retrieve zir guisarme and try to cut it down while it climbs. Guisarme:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 <20 Miss:1d100 ⇒ 63 Damage:2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10
I hand-waived a few actions in the last couple of rounds, i.e., multiple climb checks for the good guys and the bad guys, actions to sheath/toss/pick up weapons. Rather than re-adjudicate all that, we'll just go with the situation as is. So the two climbing Black Echelon operatives are fifteen feet above the keyboard, beyond reach weapons.
Mort retrieves and tosses a vial of holy water. Through the mist, he sees it shatter against a pipe next to the pink undead's head. The splash sizzles like acid on its skin.
Dawn dances across the keys, somehow managing to strike a few notes. She, too, retrieves a vial of holy water and throws it, striking the back of the pink Black Echelon operative.
Damien struggles with his lance in the close quarters. Ruby can't get her footing on the corpse-strewn stones.
Shrouds of mist engulf the organ's maze of twisting pipes and the four Black Echelon operatives atop them.
Kari, Damien, and Sejanus feel Abadar's blessing upon them once more.
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Agender Human (Chelaxian) Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 | HP 6/11 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | Fort+3 Ref +2 Will -1 | Initiative +2 | Perception -1 |
Reaching the keys, Sejanus retrieves zir weapon and glares up into the fog, wondering how ze is going to reach zir enemies.
I should have bought a crossbow.
As Pink twice suffers the burning sensation of holy water, the Black Echelon operative tries to maintain its grip on the pipes.
Pink Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 18 Pink Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 17
Sejanus retrieves zir guisarme, and Kari fast-climbs up to the keyboard and picks up her rapier.
The injured Pink and Purple continue to climb. Pink is now 20 feet above the keys, but Purple searches in vain for another handhold, remaining 15 feet above the party.
Pink Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 16 Purple Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 8
Green utters a silent roar, moves closer to the wolf and its rider, and tries to strike the wolf this time.
Sickle vs Ruby; Damage:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 121d6 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Shrouds of mist engulf the organ's maze of twisting pipes and the four Black Echelon operatives atop them.
Kari, Damien, and Sejanus feel Abadar's blessing upon them once more.
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Climb DC10:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Climb DC10:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Seeing Pink in flames, Mort climbs 10 feet up the pipes toward Purple.
Before he enters the Black Echelon operative's aura of silence, he calls down to his companions, "Try to keep the music going, if you can!"
"Damien! Once you're done toying with that thing, see if you can get the cleric on her feet. A channel or two against these undead would be helpful. If nothing else, maybe she can play some music, while we take care of these creatures."
Damien realizes his long weapon isn't very effective at this range, and drops it, taking out a halfling-sized earthbreaker.
"I'll be right there," Damien calls back, then turns to face the enemy with a determined scowl. "Let's see how well ya do against this thing, ya bony bastard!"
Agender Human (Chelaxian) Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 | HP 6/11 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | Fort+3 Ref +2 Will -1 | Initiative +2 | Perception -1 |
Taking Mort’s advice, Sejanus turns zir focus to the keys at sir feet.
How did that tune go again? Acrobatics DC5:1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 - 4 = 6
Sejanus scrambles to the adjacent white key, only just making it without tripping over. Next ze reaches up and pulls on the black key beside zir.
Strength DC5:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Perform (keyboard) DC10:1d20 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 2 + 2 = 24 Knowledge (religion) DC5:1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11
Zir efforts pay off as ze successfully plays the next two notes of Abadar’s Hymn.
Dawn realizes some of you have potions you could use to revive the fallen acolyte of Abadar, and she lets everybody know.
Damien discovers an earthbreaker does an excellent job of breaking a Black Echelon operative, too.
Sejanus proves to be a musical genius, playing the Hymn of Abadar by ear--and feet!
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
F Human Magus (Kensai) 1 HP: 5/9 AC: 15 FF: 12 Touch:13 Fort: 3 Ref: 2 Will: 3 Attack: 3 Init: 2 Perception: 1 Sense Motive: 2
Just so I'm reading the map right, is the purple Echelon Operative on the black key, or on the pipes? It looks like it's on the black key, but I just want to double check.
Kari, after reaching the keys, takes a note from Sejanus- if only to reach the Black Echelon operative from the other side! She dances once to the right,
Pink and Purple are climbing up the organ's pipes.
Kari adds a little treble melody to Dawn's bass clef rhythmic plinking of the Hymn of Abadar.
The flames of the alchemist fire burn Pink. It tries to maintain its grip on the pipes, but claws screeching against the metal, it plummets to the keys in a clashing chord. The undead creature's broken corpse is incinerated.
Pink Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 7 Falling Damage:1d6 ⇒ 6
Purple struggles to climb up to its undead brothers and sisters. Its feet slip, but it somehow hangs on, barely.
Purple Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 6 Purple Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 7
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Ten feet above the keyboard, Mort continues his climb. Just ten more feet, and then you'll taste my blade! Climb DC10:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Climb DC10:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Agender Human (Chelaxian) Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 | HP 6/11 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | Fort+3 Ref +2 Will -1 | Initiative +2 | Perception -1 |
Sejanus jumps back to the previous white key ze was standing on, then pulls down on the same black key as before.
Acrobatics DC5:1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 4 = 5 Strength DC5:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
"Kind of hard to climb when you're on fire, huh?" Dawn grins. She climbs down from the keyboard and pulls out her potion of Cure Light Wounds. "I can help the religious lady here- you focus on keeping the music alive."
Damien smiles as the stubborn Black Echelon initiate finally goes down. "I told ya not to mess with me. Wait, did I say that? Thought I did. Well, ya went down anyway." He turns towards the cloud. "Awright Ruby, now's not the time ta be scared! Git in there!"
Mort keeps climbing, now two-thirds of the way up the organ's massive pipes--and closer to the Black Echelon operatives atop them.
Sejanus continues playing the organ, keeping the Hymn of Abadar and its effects alive--as well as preventing absolute silence from signaling the Silent Tide.
Dawn climbs down from the keyboard and retrieves a healing potion to administer to the unconscious priestess of Abadar.
Damien on her back, Ruby trots toward the giant organ.
Kari makes it up to the keyboard.
Purple reaches for another handhold on the pipes, and its claws slip. The creature falls to its second death.
Purple Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 3 Falling Damage:1d6 ⇒ 6
Lacking sufficient numbers to mute all the pipes, the Black Echelon operatives realize the surest way to silence the music is to silence those playing it. They begin descending the pipes. Orange slips and dies (again) on impact. White climbs down about five feet, but Yellow's cloak gets hung up on the lip of the pipes as it tries to lower itself over the edge.
Red is more successful, but it's now within five feet of Mort!
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Agender Human (Chelaxian) Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 | HP 6/11 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | Fort+3 Ref +2 Will -1 | Initiative +2 | Perception -1 |
Sejanus dances back to the left to line zirself up beneath the white-cloaked operative.
Acrobatics DC5:1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 4 = 5
Only just managing to land on the right key and keep the melody going, Sejanus quickly adjusts zir footing and looks up at the creature descending the pipe above. Ze waits with zir guisarme at the ready.
Readied attack once White is in range: Guisarme (Blessed):1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23 Damage:2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9
Attacks of Opportunity:
Sejanus gets 3 AoO each round, ze threatens 5’ with armor spikes and 10’ with zir guisarme. Guisarme:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 10 Damage:2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9
DEAD Human Slayer 3 HP 31/31 | AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2 (+2 vs Fear) | Init +1 | Perc +6 | SM +6 Effects:
Mort looks up at the descending deadies and shakes his head in supreme annoyance, mouthing the words "Are you f#$@in' serious here? All this climbing for nothing!" He stops to look at the one within arms reach then decides to play it safe and climb back down and let them fall on their own.
Sejanus dances across another key and readies zir guisarme.
Mort growls in frustration, climbs down, and hops back onto the keys.
Dawn forces a healing potion down the throat of the acolyte, who sputters, looks a bit bewildered until her memory returns, then gets to her feet.
"Thank you, madame. Let's finish off these foul creatures. Can you give me a hand up onto the Organ of Abadar." She looks up at the Black Echelon operatives clambering back down the pipes. "My name's Maylitha Coincounter, by the way."
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Damien guides his wolf towards the keys. "Awright, I'm comin' up to deal with some more undead scum! Let's go, Ruby!" Ruby puts her paws on the white keys, attempting to pull both herself and Damien up.
Climb, Ruby:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
She does a remarkable job, all four paws landing softly on a key.
I'm unsure if I can reach the operative from where I am. If I can, here's a roll.
Damien leans forward with his earthbreaker, attempting to shatter its bones.
Earthbreaker, Abadar's Blessing:1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 91d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 Concealment:1d100 ⇒ 86
(Damien, you can still ret-con your Round 7 actions, if you'd like.)
Hitching her robes up around her waist and tucking them into her rope cincture, Maylitha tries to climb the 15 feet up to the keyboard on her own. She makes it about five feet off the floor, looking for another handhold.
Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 12 Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 7
The Black Echelon Operatives continue their descent down the organ's maze of pipes. Red slips and falls 20 feet to the keys, its spine snapped at an impossible angle. White struggles but makes some progress. Yellow tries again to start its climb down, but plummets from the very top of the pipes, severing its head on the edge of one of the black keys. The skull bounces off an ivory key and lands on the cathedral's stone flagstones with a sickening splat.
Red Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 3 Falling Damage:2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7 White Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 8 White Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 11 Yellow Climb DC10:1d20 ⇒ 2 Falling Damage:3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 4) = 14
Conditions:
Enshrouding Mist: A pea-soup fog extends around the operative in a 30-foot radius, centered on its body as it moves. The mist replicates natural fog conditions (DMG 94): anyone attacking a target inside the mist receives a 20% miss chance. Attackers inside the mist who are adjacent to their opponents, however, do not suffer a miss chance. The mist affects both normal and dark vision alike, and the operative has no special ability to attack through its own mist. It suffers the same penalty should it attempt a ranged attack.
Abadar's Blessing: +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. Only Lawful creatures gain the benefits.
Black Echelon Operative (White is 10 feet from the top of the pipes and 20 feet above the keys.)
---
Mort Gloomhollow
Dawn Verda
Kari Blackvine
Sejanus Ici
Damien Marx & Ruby
---
Maylitha Coincounter
Agender Human (Chelaxian) Fighter (Polearm Master) 1 | HP 6/11 | AC 18 T 13 FF 15 | Fort+3 Ref +2 Will -1 | Initiative +2 | Perception -1 |
With the white-cloaked operative still out of reach, Sejanus takes zir guisarme in zir off-hand and pulls down on the nearest black key, before stepping backwards onto an adjacent key to threaten both the white and red undead.
DEAD Human Slayer 3 HP 31/31 | AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +2 (+2 vs Fear) | Init +1 | Perc +6 | SM +6 Effects:
Mort laughs hysterically as the deadies start falling to their next death trying to climb down. "No sense in us doin' much more than keeping some music going as they fall like dyin' flies." He draws out Mindy just in case and takes a step to his right, plinking a key and getting ready with a swing if needed.
Damien cheers Ruby on as she struggles to climb up the surface of the key. "Come on, girl, you kin do it!" Climb:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
She manages to reach the top, growling at the Black Echelon foe. With the enemy now within reach, Damien hefts his earthbreaker up his tiny head and down onto the skull of the initiate.
