GM Rat Sass's Legacy of Fire (Inactive)

Game Master GM Rat Sass

Pent keeps his distance, while Otah and Mahdi seek out the things in the tall grass. With the direction of the halflings, everyone is able to see the grand tiger, which seeks what it wants as well.

Before the halflings can spring into action, the tiger does. For such an obvious target, Otah becomes the central focus of the circling feline. AoO for your Reach, Otah?

The Dire Tiger pounces! The tall grass and shallow stream mean nothing to the muscular animal...

Claw Attack, O: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13 damage
Grab: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31

Claw Attack, O: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4) + 8 = 14 damage
Grab: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 28

Bite Attack, O: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32 for 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13 damage
Grab: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39

Rake Attack, O: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 = 12 damage
Confirm Critical?: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4) + 8 = 14 damage

Rake Attack, O: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 = 13 damage

Round 1
Amiamble- 7
Aldebert- 5
...
Mahdi- 28
Pent- 20
Otah- 19 (-53hp, Grappled)
Tiger- 15 (Grappled)

The Party is up! Roll20 Map has been updated.

Current Party Buffs
Haste- (3 Rounds Remaining for Amiamble/Aldebert /2 Rounds Remaining for Mahdi/Pent/Otah)

Otah lets loose with his horsechopper as the tiger emerges from the green.

AoO
+1 Keen Cold Iron Horsechopper, AoO, Hasted, Biggy: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 18 + 1 + 2 = 32 for: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

The dwarf sees far too much fur in his eyes, patches of which seem tinted in red.

"Ow! You eat me and my beard will be your worst hairball."

The dwarf attempts to throw his attacker off.

CMB, big, haste: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 16 + 2 + 1 = 26

Round: 1, Initiative: 7

Aldebert rides up to the great cat (AoO if it has reach), and tries first to subdue the creature a little so as not to kill it later in error.
Greatsword (magic): 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 - 2 = 30 (feast, haste, nonlethal) damage (nonlethal): 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
critthreat Greatsword (magic): 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 - 2 = 20 (feast, haste, nonlethal) damage (nonlethal): 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Gretiem Bite (magic): 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20 (feast, haste) damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 1) + 8 = 12

Round 1, Init 7

Ami shakes his head, hoping the cat wouldn't be so aggressive so quickly, but cats are cats. Trodding down from the air, Ami guides Yeen into flank, taking one swipe at the cat's tail.

1d20 + 18 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 34 to hit; (bite,feast,haste)
1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 damage.

With my kn check total of 24, I get one more detail about the kitty. Elemental resistances or immunities?

As soon as he sees Otah grabbed, Mahdi snaps his fingers hurriedly.

Immediate action to cast liberating command on Otah; the dwarf gets an immediate action to make an escape artist check with a +20 from me. I'll hold my standard til I know about the resistances

Escape Artist, Liberating Command, Big: 1d20 + 4 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 20 - 2 = 39

Otah's many eyes finds an opening to slide away from the cat...

With several lacerated magical eyelids, the large dwarf escapes the large tiger, with the magical palm-greasing of the fire mage. Nicely done

Pent is up!

Round 2, Init 20

Pent watches as Otah gets shredded by the feline, then watches as the others surround the tiger. "So, we're killing cats, then? No bag big enough to toss him in a river? No poison to pour in his saucer? Unless you want to judge him for his purpose, given the tunnel?"

The gnome looks back over to the doors, and the set of stairs, and waits.

Amiamble guides Yeen into flank, adding injury to injury. Aldebert also seeks subjugation, though Gretiem's animal instincts aren't as noble as the halfling's. Mahdi inserts himself into the scrimmage by releasing the many-eyed dwarf from the grip of the cat. Pent idles by the doors. Otah swipes at the tiger before the animal's embrace, then shirks it like a bearskin rug.

The dire tiger turns its attentions on the stings of the halfling, mighty as they are, and tries to pin down the rider. Aldebert is struck once, but is he grappled..?

Claw Attack, Al: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 = 13 damage
Grab: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 28

Claw Attack, Al: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29 for 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 = 13 damage
Grab: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (12) + 23 = 35

Bite Attack, Al: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27 for 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13 damage
Grab: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37

Round 2
Amiamble- 7
Aldebert- 5 (-13hp)
...
Round 3
Mahdi- 28
Pent- 20
Otah- 19 (-53hp)
Tiger- 15 (-39hpNL/-36hp)

The Party is up! Roll20 Map has been updated.

Current Party Buffs
Haste- (2 Rounds Remaining for Amiamble/Aldebert /1 Rounds Remaining for Mahdi/Pent/Otah)

Aldebert is indeed grappled (being small has some disadvantages). I'll wait to see if Mahdi has another trick up his sleeve before posting.

Sorry, only had the one lib command :(

"Hrmnf. I suppose if I burnt this beast to embers we mightn't get the same profit out of that hide..." Mahdi muses to himself. He draws the wand they found not too long ago and pelts the beast with some magic missiles.

Wand of MM, 7th level: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4, 4, 1) + 4 = 15

Round: 2, Initiative: 7

(No problem Mahdi!)

”Now look here!” Aldebert yells as he drops his greatsword and draws his magic warhammer, ”I’m trying to help you!”

He swings again, still trying to subdue. (swinging for nonlethal damage)
Warhammer (magic): 1d20 + 13 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 4 = 16 (feast, haste, grappled, nonlethal) damage (nonlethal): 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Gretiem however does not hold back.
Gretiem Bite (magic): 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20 (feast, haste) damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 6) + 8 = 18
Gretiem Bite (magic): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18 (feast, haste) damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 2) + 8 = 14
hasted Gretiem Bite (magic): 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 2 = 16 (feast, haste) damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3) + 8 = 14

Sadly, they cannot find much purchase.

The magic missiles, and Gretiem's savage sally bites are enough to knock the dire tiger into unconsciousness, the wounds of non-lethality preventing it from slipping into the true blackness of death.

Combat is over.

Pent looks down on the bloodshed, shaking his head. "So... maybe we sneak around the fangy animals next time? Seems like you wandered towards the danger, instead of away from it? Looked like you asked for trouble, instead of declining the dance? Felt like the fight, rather than the flight?"

The gnome floats down about his crew, and emits more healing energy to shore up the cat-bleeding.

Selective Channeling, no no Shere Khan: 6d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 6, 3, 2) = 19
Chance of Emissions, low's a go: 1d10 ⇒ 7

Released from under-paw Aldebert gets up and brushes himself off. ”Poor kitty’s gonna have quite a headache.” He remounts Gretiem, gathers his greatsword, and searches the chamber, after thanking Pent for the healing. ”Yeah, this cat seemed like it was waiting to pounce though. I dunno.”

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

He’ll then head to the staircase behind the next doors near Pent.

Ami and Yeen quickly stop fighting, wondering for a moment what to do with the large aggressive kitty. For the moment, he casts Stabilize, then does the most exactly perfectly logical thing to do: he goes to talk with the tree.

"Hey Tree!? Excuse me, Mr. Tree?!" Ami casts Speak with Plants. "Can you help us out here? I'm happy to do something for you if you'd like," Ami comments to the tree. "I gotta say, you have a nice spot here. Seems pretty peaceful except for the big angry tiger that just attacked us." Ami has his fists on his hips as he looks around.

"So...have you been here a long time? You probably know everything about this place, huh? Is this a safe place to rest, I mean, outside of the angry tiger? Do you get a lot of visitors around here?"

You people think oracles are underpowered...but ha! Fear the mighty power of my domain spell!! We shall see what secrets we can unlock from the photosynthetic ambiance!

Oh, let me know if you have any questions for the tree. Something better than anything to do with morning wood...or asking the tree why it's still there when it 'leave' whenever it wanted.

How about asking why there's a cat here instead of a dog, since it clearly communicates by bark?
I'll show myself out.

Otah turns to face the stairs, waiting for the halfling to finish his arboreal conversation.

"Well done Aldebert. Though what if we have to come back through here after it wakes up?"

Amiamble stands in front of the great cedar, and intones a ancient magic, one which bridges the sentience between human and herbiform.

Looking quite please with himself, Ami relates the spoiler above to the party, again looking to see if the party has any questions for the tree. Good questions, mind you. /me glares at Otah.

He's only somewhat disappointed that his brother is showing no interest in speaking with the tree.

"Say, Mr. Tree, if I may call you that. Did you want sentience? You know, the ability to walk and move about the garden? Would that be good for you? You could spend your time thinking and pondering. This place looks like a good place to do it, too!" Ami looks around the peaceful garden. "You just might become the greatest plant philosopher of all times...ranking right up there with SorcraTrees, Acorntotle, or Mapleiavelli..."

If no one else has any more question, Ami will ask the tree about the rulers of this area or if there are any other entrances and exits in the garden behinds the obvious ones. Also, if there is any buried treasure nearby.

"Magic garden huh? Not sure you want to make it sentient brother. It is, after all, trapped in this room. Though large, it's quite small if you're able to walk about." he opines.

He's not sure what to ask a tree, having never spoken to one before. He's also not sure who is more deserving of mercy - the tree or the great cat. True, the cat did attack them, and the tree has been most helpful.

"Brother, do you think we should do as it says, and kill the cat? Otah makes a good point. If we need to come back this way, we'd have to face the cat again, and that damned ghost." he swears angrily, but calms quickly. "But I know you have a thing for cats..."

Pent idles overhead, overhearing one side of the conversation.

"You're talking to the tree? That's ripe. He's ripe. Or is it a 'she'? Leaves are neither blue nor pink, so it's not obvious."

The gnome debates questions for the half to ask the oak.

"You didn't ask it what it's like to be a tree. More pertinently, how does a tree experience pain, and does it heal its wounds like we do? How often does the cat scratch, and does it do so feverishly? If the tree has weathered the pawnslaught this long, might it continue to do so until the cat passes and it outlasts? Otherwise, I suppose you'll favor the tree over the cat, as it speaks. Unless you can speak to animals like you do the shrubbery?"

Mahdi took advantage of a few free seconds to admire his massive flaming hands, mostly tuning out the cat-talk. And the tree-talk.

"Well, MY interest in the cat was that the hide might fetch a good price," he says disinterestedly, deigning to droop down in mid-air until he is nearly touching the grasses but not quite. "As for the trees.... do they know anything of the masters of this place? A garden such as this usually exists to be enjoyed, viewed."

Otah points the butt of his horsechopper in Mahdi's direction, and appears to be prodding him from a distance... but his face and eyes point at the cat-rider.

"That's a good idea. Ask the tree that. And if there's anything or anyone here it likes."

Ami will translate the responses of the tree to the rest of the party, asking the gnomes questions and relating the answers. If no one has anything else, he will be ready to move on. He will neither heal nor kill the big cat, leaving it to recover slowly on its own.

The conversation between halfling and psuedo-ent continues.

Amiamble relates the following responses to the questions proffered:

Being a tree is quite serene, though it is interrupted by cat raking, daily.

It suffers as humans suffer, though the Tree doesn't remember how long it takes to no longer feel injury.

The Tree and the Cat are likely immortal, as long as they remain within this Garden.

If Masters have come and gone, the Tree is not terribly aware of their importance. This may indicate that humanoids don't wander from the bronze platform, as a Cat may be nearby...

The gnome floats above, politely listening to the plant pontificate per the puerile person perched upon his puss. "So... we're leaving the Cate to eternally punish the Tree? That seems quite cruel, doesn't it? And Mahdi wants a new rug..."

Pent slowly drifts towards the hallway, leading to stairs, which lead to upper halls...

As your aloof gnome drifts towards an exit, the wall between the two doorways begins to shimmer, and the wild Garundi man reappears, after all this time.

"The chief eunuch of old sits upon a throne that is not his own, but his old master’s covetousness has taken hold of his soul. If his claim upon his master’s holdings can be disproved, he is without his immortal anchor and can be slain."

The image moves excitedly along the wall, uttering one more phrase, before disappearing once more.

"You are getting close now, do not let your spirits waiver! The Impossible Eye is sequestered behind souls of brass. The orb of fire can repeal their eternal sentence and free their ward. A fiery orb from days of old lies suspended betwixt brass and sky, yet hidden from mortal eye. It is the key to your quest. In ancient adoration did this fiery heart lie, and only by heart’s blood of the true believer can the way be opened. Seek the Impossible Eye between city and sea, where portals of brass guard respite prized. Look above the gilded cataracts.”

Up the stairs, then?

Aldebert is content to leave the cat and tree to their collective lives and he heads toward the stairs when the Garundi man reappears.

"Damn!" he shouts as the man disappears again. "So we need to disprove the crazy ghosts believe that he is he master. Well, I suppose we should find another master then, or proof of one anyway."

He's ready to head up the stairs.

Ami follows the party, slowly, behind the others. He, too, wonders about the tree and cat, but feels that this is the right ending. Especially if they are immortals. Ami stares wildly at the Garundi man.

”What? We need to disprove that he is king? And then he’ll be gone? That’s crazy! How do we do that?” Ami asks his brother from under his face scarf. ”I liked talking to the tree much better. At least the tree made sense.”

Ami follows his brother up the stairs, casting suspicious glances at the Garundi.

"At least the tree made sense."

Otah shakes his head, forgetting that rolling his eyes is far more obvious at the moment.

He heads up the stairs, swapping his horsechopper out for Zenzirad once again.

The dauntless Kelmaranians advance up the stairs, from the Garden, to the Fourth Level of the Bayt. At the top of the stairs, the leaders are privileged to a door leading to the south, while the western wall of the new surrounds maintain two arrow slits that allow for spying outwards, likely onto an upper floor balcony.

To the north from the stairs stands a walkway, which maintains an overlook into the Main Palace Dome chamber, where roams a restless dwarven ghost...

Beyond this walkway, another hallway leads off to the east, with a singular door stands in the eastern curved wall, just before the eastern hallway.

Roll20 Map has been updated. For bookkeeping, I'm ruling that Otah has returned to Medium size, though still speckled with Countless Eyes.

"Oh, that's wonderful. No way we're gonna avoid drawing the attention of the Qilzar. Suppose we crawl along the floor? Or bolt to the other side? You gonna squish him again, when he rises to the occasion?"

The gnome looks more than ready to hang back and let others stick their hands into wasps' nests.

"If he comes at us, he comes at us. Make deflecting attacks and make haste to that door." he points to the southern egress.

He readies his weapon and nudges Gretiem forward, "Let's go."

The noble halfling rides his lizard over to the southern door, opening it for the others to follow through.

What awaits is another grand vista of the City of Brass, this time to the south. A quieter district of less spectacular edifices, only a couple of scarfed denizens are seen perched on opposing rooftops, keeping watch over the Bayt Al Bazan. A moment later, and several fire elementals soar across the sky, resembling a flock of migratory birds.

You're given very little time to take this all in, as two mad-eyed efreet rush to engage you in combat, their own vigils disturbed by your sudden appearance. Several snicks later, and the two lie dead, giving you a brief respite from conflict.

To the east, the crenelations allow you to look down upon the Garden, where now wanders the Dire Tiger, and still stands the Great Cedar.

Roll20 Map has been updated.

Aldebert takes a moment after the fight to enjoy the view, before turning back to the others.

"Well, I suppose we've got to sneak past the damned dwarf now to check that northeastern door. Let's step lively and maybe he'll be too busy talking to himself to notice us."

When everyone is ready he'll sneak to the next door.

Stealth Aldebert: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Stealth Gretiem: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Or roll poorly and make a ruckus. Pick one. Sigh...

Ami and Yeen pad after their brother, walking quietly on air.

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 Stealth (Yeen)

Mahdi is momentarily struck speechless by the sight of the City of Brass in all its splendor. "Should we not test if we can simply fly out of this cursed prison building? What creatures are those watching from the further rooftops? More guards, most likely, but perhaps they are something else, something other-- if there's a chance they are Jhahvul's enemies..."

Ami and Aldebert are already turned to try the other room again, however, so Mahdi sighs and tears himself from the vista. "I can summon a few things to keep it busy-- oh, we're just going through. Mm. Very well."

Mahdi stays near the ceilings using his flight, murmuring to Pent as he goes: "Now, you're the one with the silver tongue, Pent-- I can yell a bit scarily, at times, but I can't charm people. Fear or flattery: what's the best way to convince a fool he is no king? I wonder... a pity we have no physical evidence. Personally, I think our old man is simply playing us all for fools."

If I could, I'd use my wand of summon monster 2 before we go into the room to summon some tiny monster or another as bait/distraction, hoping the ghostie attacks it and buys us a round to squeeze by. If too late for that plan, so be it! If that's the case, stealth attempt of laughability:

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

With his steadfast resourcefulness, Mahdi produces his Wand of Summon Monster, then goes on to produce a small, but talkative, fire elemental. A small coaching session in Ignan erupts on the balcony, between fire mage, elemental, and insinuating gnome.

Instructions to descend to central Dome, speak words of disrespect, then retreat to the Mosque, continuing to utter the same words of disrespect.

It is only a matter of time, before you hear both elemental and spirit dwarf exchange unpleasantries, and take their argument into the Mosque for further debate, leaving you to your own devices.

From a nearby wall, the wild garundi man applauds excitedly.

How do you proceed?

The gnome brings his Carpet to floor-level, and runs his hand across the eastern wall, as he circles towards the northeast hallway. Before he turns the corner, he opens the single door, and looks inside.

No more words, until he's sure he can speak them without drawing undue attention.

The investigative gnome reveals a room which appears to be sized for a human.This opulent chamber was clearly the quarters of someone of importance. Furniture constructed of brass and fire-blackened wrought iron provides a table with two chairs, a comfortable canopied bed, a wardrobe, and a footlocker.

Roll20 Map has been updated.

You don't say?

Pent slips into said opulent chamber, and has himself a good look around, going so far as to examine the wardrobe and footlocker, deigning to believe that this high up in the Bayt comes with a certain expectation of privacy and dropped guard...

The wardrobe contains fine dwarf-sized clothing, and includes elaborate court costumes, jewelry and adornments with a total value of 1,850 gp.

Stored within the footlocker is a brass walking cane with a grip shaped like the head of a phoenix.

Pent waves the others over, showing the productivity of his search, though still wordlessly.

Ami follows Pent’s frantic wavings, and searches the room from catback.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26 Perception

”What is that? Some sort of cane?” Ami asks, but has little knowledge of civilization.

Knowledge Nobility: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 I guess I forgot the online skill section, Otah has exactly one rank in this skill... and it looks like it might actually have been useful!

"That cane looks like it might be an symbol of office. Perhaps the Qilzar Agha ghost down there is who he claims. Think his cane might calm him down?"

Yeah, I missed three skills with increases on his character sheet. Those have been updated correctly.

"Oh, good one Otah! Well done! Do you want to go show it to our ghost as proof he's no king? We'll back you up of course, but it's your discovery - you should show that damn ghost what-for!"

Aldebert is pleased at this. Very pleased.

As Amiamble presses the search, he finds a secret compartment in the table's surface, which acts as a drawer to one who knows where to find it.

Within it are three diamonds worth 500 gp each, a flask labeled as “Haste”, and a scroll of beaten brass upon which is inscribed the deed to the Bayt al-Bazan citadel and holdings within the City of Brass.

The deed marks Jhavhul as the named and rightful owner of the Bayt al-Bazan.

Ami hands off the deed to Mahdi as if he couldn’t be bothered to read it. It’s a lot of words, after all, and Ami doesn’t have time for words.

”Mah-DEEE, what does this mean?”

lol, well done otah

Mahdi takes the deed with a frown, then brightens as he reads it. "Ha! This is... perhaps precisely the proof we're looking for. The deed to this entire complex-- made out to Jhahvhul, and NOT that annoying little ghost out there. Rather convenient he simply left it here," Mahdi says drily. He looks more suspiciously at the vial.

"Also very convenient this is labeled."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29 (Mahdi wants to confirm if that bottle actually is haste)