GM Rednal's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

Shutai nodded and headed for the kitchen, which likely had the best doors near here. Hopefully the thing wouldn't smash the door down at an inopportune moment.

^ What I'm most worried about. If we put enough doors between us, it's probably fine. I just don't want to get into a pitched battled with the Master and/or some eldritch thing, only to have the fungus waddle up behind us for lunch! OOC, I'm good with ignoring it, but Aleksson did very recently watch a caravan get slaughtered due to recklessness, so if it bites us in the butt, expect him to get all "I told you so!" ;-)

"Through the dining hall then. Let us ensure we have enough doors to hold it."
East door in V1

*Amused look*

As you moved away, you could hear a steady thumping sound from behind you...

Meanwhile, through the eastern door in question, the path split in two - both ends lead to doors heading south, and probably not to the same chamber. East or west...?

"Maybe it is just hungry we can spend a moment to drag the ogre body into its path. Then it may stop it's pursuit."

Smart.

Alekkson stowed his weapon and helped Taka and Shutai drag the ogre's body to the door to the kitchen, in the hopes that not only would the door be more difficult to get through, but that a dead meal for the fungus would be as satisfying as a live one.

Satisfied, he indicated the western door down the hallway they just opened.

Taka follows.

Panting slightly from the exertion of dragging something so heavy, and regretting the panting due the ogre's body odour, Shutai follows.

Backing away from the corpse, it wasn't long until the fungus creature arrived - and it definitely seemed interested in the ogre's body, stopping its slow advance to start feeding. That would probably keep it busy for awhile.

Meamwhile, through the western door of the southern hallway... this room appears to be an armory, yet the majority of the armor stands, weapons racks, and shelves stand empty.

"This master certainly wishes not to be found." He says in frustration.

Taka speaks the acrane words as his eyes light up. He give the room a once over while looking for magical aura's.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32

Not that she would currently be able to carry any of it, but Shutai looked around the room for anything of value.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 | 21 vs. traps

Nodding in agreement, Aleksson too surveyed the room, not expecting to find much.

Scouring the room, you're eventually able to uncover a suit of half-plate armor, a masterwork heavy steel shield, four heavy crossbows, 40 crossbow bolts, and a case containing 10 flasks of alchemist’s fire.

"We should divide and take the alchemist fires now, and pile and leave the other for when we secure the castle. Agreed?"

Taka takes 2 of the flask, hands Aleksson 2, and Shutai 6.

"Use this to supplement your magic for now Shutai, now let us continue our search."

Alright Taka will continue to follow along searching.

"Thank you," Shutai replied, taking the Alchemist's fire. It wasn't the greatest of weapons, but it was better than standing back and doing nothing. "The rest can wait here until we withdraw."

Shutai headed for the Eastern (?) door of the Southern hallway, examining it before entering.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Wow, such loot.

Aleksson nodded in agreement, stowing the flasks and following close behind. He also gave the door a once-over before pushing through.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22 | 23 vs. traps.

The fifteen-foot-high ceiling of this hexagonal room is supported by four stone pillars. The middle of the room sags in a bowl-like depression, leaving a five-foot-wide ring of level ground around the room’s perimeter. Remnants of a low wooden railing mark the edge of the depression, but most of the fence has collapsed. A large chair sits in the center of the room next to a table heaped with doubtful-looking cuts of rancid meat. It looks like it's been regularly used over the last few weeks, but nobody is currently here.

*Updates the map*

Wrinkling her nose at the meat - and the rumble in her stomach even such fetid flesh produced - Shutai checked out the rest of the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Disgusting, disgraceful what they have done here. This master continues to hide from us. Let us keep up the search."

Taka too takes a look around before they take off to the next room.

perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25

Already resigned to the variety of terrible aromas to be found in the castle's basement, Aleksson begrudgingly helped survey the area.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 | 18 vs. traps

Digging through the room, you eventually found something rather interesting hanging on a wall - a morningstar made of cold iron and glowing with the light of a basic enchantment. Judging by the smell, it was something a troglodyte had been using.

Taka approaches the morningstar using detect magic and attempts to identify it.

Spell Craft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"An interesting find. It smells of filth."

He turns his nose up at it a moment in disgust, before continuing to look at it.

"Such a weapon does not play to my capabilities. Either of you would be a better choice than I for taking it."

Shutai looked at it. Well, she could most likely make use of such a weapon in a pinch, but she would hardly be skilled with it. Taking it anyway, she used Prestidigitation to clean the worst of the muck from it.

With no other passages remaining she moved towards the room just north of the prison once more, and checked the East door of the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

The room at the end of the squiggly path above V8, to be clear.

It has a simple +1 enhancement on it.

An intricate iron screen blocks further progress into this large chamber, although a locked wooden door painted with the image of a tall, beautiful blue-skinned woman sitting on a throne stands in the middle of the screen. Beyond, the room stretches dozens of feet to the east, supported by stone pillars and with deep funerary alcoves to the north and south. The far end of the room seems to have partially collapsed into a large cavern in which faintly glowing motes of light swirl and dance in the air.

Taka approaches the door.

"Locked like the others. Shutai can you pick it? I will stand watch as you work."

Aleksson looked closer at the strange door before Shutai began work on it - he was both wary and curious about the painted image.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 | 15 vs. traps

Shutai nodded, producing the lockpicks from her pouch once more and moving to the door. Kneeling, she examined the lock and the door, and appreciated the artwork.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18+1 if traps are about
Disable Device: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

The lock opens with a satisfying click, allowing the door to be pushed open. As it moved, however, a nimbus of light appeared a little further in - and the image of a blue-skinned woman who matched the image on the door appeared and looked at you for a moment.

"I am Pharasma." the image said. "Beyond this place lies a sacred burial grounds. Discard your weapons and enter peacefully, and I will give you my blessings. Keep them... and face my wrath." the image vanished.

Aleksson disarmed himself of all weapons without hesitation. Once inside, he looked to the others with confidence, "Surely these rules will be universally enforced." He then snooped around the burial chamber, but did not disturb the final rest of those within.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 | 22 vs. Traps

K.Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"Pharasma? Hold a moment Aleksson this seems to be a trick. The goddess Pharasma is an ashen skin Garundi woman. Just be prepared."

Taka looks to the spiritual claws provided by his honorable ancestor.

At least I will still have these.

He pulls the katana from his belt and leans it against the wall before following Aleksson in.

Shutai stared at the painting. She did not, for a moment, believe it. On the other hand she didn't especially use weapons, and the others seemed to think this was a good idea. Laying the mace on the ground she entered, and prepared to turn and run if needs must.

It was true that Pharasma was most often depicted as Garundi - the key part being "most often". As one of the most universal goddesses, she was depicted in many forms by many different groups (usually resembling them). A blue-skinned form is unusual for this region, but not outright wrong as a whole.

As you move forward and past the crypts, the floor of this vast cavern descends in two twenty-foot drops into a large, eerie grotto. The walls drip with moisture and bear strange and disturbing cave paintings of towering four-winged humanoid shapes. Tiny motes of glowing light drift and bob in the air, giving the place an almost nauseating feeling, as if the cavern is viewed through a dreamlike haze.

Shutai glanced around the cavern. Well, the crypts certainly fit the theme, but Shutai was reasonably sure that souls didn't bother with them in reality. She also did not like the strange motes, and was worried as to what they breathed in. Her mask was entirely made to stop people seeing her face, not anything else. But she followed, anyway, one eye out for danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Aleksson followed near behind. "What do you make of this, Shutai?" He looked at the sizable drops heading to the grotto below, and considered how weak they both felt from the poison. "I'd hate to anger a god, but exploring any further without weapons seems reckless."

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 | 16 vs. traps

"I do not believe there is a god in this place," she replied. "If a temple in a city, well maintained and full of the devout does not appeal, I cannot imagine this place doing so. Additionally, I cannot imagine Pharasma forsaking her duties to journey here."

Aleksson shifted uncomfortably. A sharp lean favored his left side, and resembled a twisted branch more than anything else. "Forgive me, I... know little of deities. I once befriended an acolyte of Yamatsumi, but my practice is the practice of my tribe, where we pay respect to the kami inhabiting the world around us. If Pharasma would ignore what takes place in this crypt, I'll fetch our weapons." Sensing a misunderstanding, he adds, "Yes. Likely there are wards to hinder my completion of the task. That concerns me less than the option before us."

The answer came from above - in the form of a ray of scorching flames that lanced down towards Aleksson.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 for Fire Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 5) = 12

Highlighted by the glow of the flames and floating near the ceiling was some kind of swollen cephalopod with ten writhing tentacles and a hideous face that had milky-white eyes dotting its body. It bellowed something as it attacked, but not in a language any of you recognized.

On the bright side, the party can act now!

Shutai cursed as the attack came. She was somehow not surprised, but it was still unpleasant. And the blast had been potent...so Shutai hurled one in reply.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 5, 5) = 16

"A trick indeed, Kelda retreat for our bows I will attempt to distract it."

Taka studies the creature for a moment and draws a flask of alchemist fire waiting to see if the ray from Shutai had any effect.

K.?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 to identify
Move: Action Study Target
Standard: Draw Flask

Kelda perked up even more at the mention of the caravan, and noted something about helping as a guard as she ducked out of the room, following your directions out of the place.

Thought you were mistaken for a while now, but didn't bother to fact check it till it mattered. Kelda's gone. Aleksson's useless without a weapon though, so...

Animus Gained: 4
Aleksson choked down a scream as the flames lanced across his body. He scrambled to the gate where they had left their weapons, cursing that his armor did little to protect him from the attack, but plenty to slow him down.

Maneuver Gained: 1d4 ⇒ 3 - elemental strike

Ah, I didn't realize she left us. Good catch.

Shutai, you should remember to say WHICH ranged touch attack you're using.

The creature was a Decapus - a type of evil native outsider, but this one looked larger and stronger than most of its kind. Without hesitating, it sent another bolt of scorching fire at Aleksson, clearly trying to bring him down before he could retrieve any of your weapons.

Ranged Touch Attack (Aleksson): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Unfortunately for it, the blast splashed harmlessly against the ground, even as Shutai's snowball struck it... for vastly reduced damage. Apparently, it was resistant to the cold.

Fort vs Stagger: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Sorry, it was, as you guessed, Snowball.

Shutai cursed. Her offensive options were limited, even when she had most of her spells. Reaching for the Alchemist's fire, she drew a vial and threw that. Perhaps the creature would less resistant to fire.

Alchemist's Fire: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Renal, I'm not sure where you link points but I can't see it here at work it's blocked but this is the Decapus Says its an aberration with no resistances. I assume my Knowledge check was high enough to identify it's resistances. Just curious as Taka would not waste the alchemist fire if it does no good. Also can I have a small retcon because I'm dumb. I meant to use my standard action in round 1 for Divine Favor so I can draw and throw this round. I will post round 2 as if we did this if not the throw will take place in round 3 as I will cast this round thank you.

Taka draws and looks at the vile in his hand a moment instilling a bit or arcane energy into it and hurls it toward the creature.

Move: Draw Flask
Swift: Arcane Strike
Standard: Throw

Ranged Touch Alchemist Fire: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 19 40ft: -6, 30ft: -4, 20ft: -2

Fire Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Animus Gained: +1

Narrowly leaping over a second blast, Aleksson skidded to a stop, picked up his & Taka's bows, and turned to run back towards his allies.

Maneuver Gained: 1d3 ⇒ 2 | eldritch shield

@Taka: My link points to a picture... and this is very much a non-standard creature (I didn't make it harder, by the way, it's like this in the book). You can figure out its normal traits, but unusual variant creatures are much harder to identify. ...It is the book's boss, after all. XD They're meant to be tough.

@Aleksson: I think it's one move action for each item picked up. The way it's worded suggests that, anyway. Which is a slightly arbitrary restriction, but I believe it was put into place to stop weird dropped/picked-up combos. XD

Shutai hurled her flask of Alchemist's Fire with reasonably good accuracy - but the flames splashed harmlessly against the beast. It didn't seem like fire was going to be very helpful... not at that low amount, anyway, and the creature floated down right above her before lashing out with a tentacle.

Tentacle (Shutai): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 for Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 = 10 plus Grab: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Incidentally, Taka, since you saw Shutai's flask flail, you can take a different action instead, and I'll retroactively apply the effects in addition to your normal post. XD

Shutai attempted to break free. But with the poison draining her strength...

Grapple Break: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Oh sorry, my tone didn't mean to be that of questioning. More just wanted to know what Taka knows, but if it is outside the bounds of knowledge that is fine as well. That is one thing about PbP and text in general it is hard to read tone of how or what a person is saying :) Meant no offence.

Round 2 Retcon

Taka curses as he sees the fire have little effect on the creature.

"Aleksson hurry up." He shouts before attacking the creature.

If the Creature can be reached Taka will step under it and attack with his claws.

Attack w/Arcane Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Attack w/Arcane Strike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Damage: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Counts as Magic
Damage: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Counts as Magic

If Creature is not in Range Taka will instead cast Long Arm to give him the added reach needed to attack.

I'm cool with that. My personal impression of it was more of an oversight, considering there's no rules for related stuff, such as handing someone an item.

Animus Gained: +1

Round 3
Upon seeing the creature float down into range, Aleksson stashed Taka's bow and picks up his own wakizashi. "As fast as I am able, Taka."
Maneuver Gained: 1d2 ⇒ 1 | copycat strike