GM Rednal's Legendary Planet AP (Inactive)

Game Master Rednal

I should, since one character worships Yidhra and I have another in mind. I love dichotomy and paradox in a character. But I also hate it.

After his watch and the sleep that followed, Isen rose early to prepare. Hmmm...if we could spare the time, perhaps night would give us an advantage? it would depend if the beast can also see in the dark. If we get a good look at it, maybe one of us can determine it's nature, and we can return later.

As he considered, he painted the village before them. It might be interesting, he had decided, to keep a visual diary of sorts. Once the others were ready, they would be off, of course. It was simply something to pass the time until they awoke. But it soothed him, if nothing else.

Craft (Painting): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Vincent rose early and spent his morning praying while repairing his armor and making minor repairs and adjustments to his augmentations. He spoke briefly with Axis when the strange creature made his appearance, and was happy that it liked the gift it found the previous night.

After about an hour, he packed up his things and waited for the others to be ready to go track down the beast. He hoped he'd have the opportunity to make a friend, but was prepared to fight if he was forced to defend himself.

Rednal killed my Cleric of Yidhra. I still hope he gets another chance, in some game. Also was to become Envoy of Balance with Twinned Channeling. Multi-axis-paradox.

Phai was only using her art to keep track of all the creatures and plants they came across that she did not know, but when Isen started painting, she still had enough general knowledge of the involved techniques to spark an short yet interesting conversation about lights, angles, and perspectives that left them both feel inspired.
Craft(Painting) Aid Take 10: 10 + 10 = 20

As she meditated in the evening, re-considering the days events as she regained her spells by tapping into the residual life force of the plane, all that was to do in the morning was getting up and eating breakfast.
Having done that, Phai was ready to head out and deal with the threat to the community.

While the others spent the morning praying, crafting, and painting, Child went to the market, fetching a few salted slabs of chag meat for the road to supplement his already-extensive rations of camel jerky.

True to his promise, Wuli showed you most of the way to your destination, but refused to go any further once you were half a mile or so away. "I watched that monster feast on my friend Jorval’s guts, and I ain’t gettin’ any closer than this. His den’s at the far end of the Gash. Good luck to ya." he said as you parted.

As you arrive... well, this broad, hook-shaped gully is about 10 feet deep, surrounded by tenacious scrub growth and stony boulders. A number of chitinous oval disks lie scattered on the ground along with bleached bones denuded of flesh. A stiff desert breeze brings the stink of rot.

*Updates map*

Nodding to the others, Isen moved forwards, keeping one eye out for any issues or problems that might occur, and moving as silently as she was able.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Child drew his fauchard, dismissed most of his armor, and took to the air, scouting twenty feet above the others while buoyed by swirling winds.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

After casting some long-lasting spells when they split from Wuli, (1 hour/level+ duration, if any, still need to pick out my spells :P - I'll do so tonight) Phai followed a few steps behind Isen. The Elf seemed adept at sneaking.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

@Child: You sure you want to scout flying? Up in the air, in plain view? That kind of sounds like "I hide in the crowd, then step out onto the red carpet and sneak up to the king in plain view of the guards, but hey, I made a stealth check." I mean, I'm not sure how meaningful it is to try and maintain Stealth without any means of masking your presence/cover/...maybe just be ready to fly up but keep to the ground for now?

I guess I can keep a bit low. But Child wants to prioritize sight over stealth.

Vincent cast honeyed tongue, checked his shield, then walked along the upper edge of the gully. Much easier to jump down into the gully if needed, than to try to climb out.

Would you like to try any stealth of your own, Vincent? I feel like I should note that if you're generally close to the group, then everyone needs to be stealthy or the clanking will let others know at least one person is present.

That#s OK, in this situation those of a stealthy nature refer to such people as a distraction. Or maybe bait?

Unless someone requests that I don't, I was hoping to approach rather openly so I can try talking to the creature. If it just attacks on sight, I'd also rather be its primary target, or bait, as Isen mentioned. =P

That works for me.

Same, also, I am very ranged...I don't have to shadow Vincent to provide covering fire. I can stay nicely back or to the side, letting him work as a distraction as I sneak closer.

*Moves you guys around on the map* o wo~ ...Incidentally, you should definitely move yourselves if there's a particular place you want to be in, just to be sure you actually get the benefits of that.

As Child flew and Isen and Phai tried to make themselves quiet, Vincent clanked ahead of the group... and it wasn't long before a loud roar shook the canyon and a volley of spikes shot out of the cave and towards Vincent... who, rather fortunately, wasn't surprised at all.

Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Suh-wiiiiiing and a miss. XD

A leonine creature with the powerful wings of a dragon and the face of a man stalked out of the cave a moment later, bellowing loudly, "Does my next meal bring itself so willingly to my doorstep? I so love to play with my food as the chase builds a larger appetite. Yet, I can hardly turn away such easy prey... especially something which smells so tantalizing and different."

Oh, missed the map.

So it speaks common, eh? Child lazily glided closer to the cave, moving his Fauchard to his left hand and drawing one of his chakrams.

"We came to talk," Child replied, "About your peaceful relocation to another canyon. Would be a shame to have to kill something so uniquely spiky."

Casting Enhanced Diplomacy on Vincent as I glide past him, for a +2 bonus, which should be +4 with my auto-success Aid Another—though it might not be a *real* diplomacy check since we seem to already be in battle

Smell, huh? Should have seen that coming. Isen moved out of cover, since the thing likely smelled them "Sadly, as a hunter of obvious intelligence, you'll understand that the hunting here is sparse. A creature of your appetitie cannot be sustained much longer. We have some to suggest that we locate a better, more suitable hunting ground, or I'm afraid we may be forced to ask you to leave more strenuously."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Those look like my attack rolls =P

"It's your recent choices in prey that bring us here. We hoped that an intelligent creature such as yourself would be willing to listen. Your hunting of the village's livestock is causing them to starve. If you continue much longer, the ranchers won't be able to sustain the beetle herd and there will be food for neither you nor them. I would like to propose an alternate option. In the end, I think you'll find the arrangement to your benefit."

Diplomacy (1/2): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 29
Diplomacy (2/2): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 32

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Looks like Axis doesn't know much if anything about this creature, so it'll be staying put in tattoo form for now.

Phai keeps standing where she is.
The creature had attacked, as such, it seemed prudent to stay armed.
Very carefully, she observed what the beast would do next.
Move action to study Target, Ready action: If the creature "attacks"(performs a clearly hostile action intended to harm or impair one or more of us) one of us, I'll cast Find Fault targetting it. (Result equals DC 25 Knowledge Check)

As you spoke to it, the manticore shot into the sky, quickly rising some fifty feet or so as it flapped its rather sizable wings. "Hah! What care do I have for those too weak to fend for themselves? I can smell how foreign you are... the strong eat, and the weak are eaten." it growled. "That is the way of the world."

"I think you misunderstood me. We are not here to plea for mercy on their behalf. We are here to stop the damage you are causing. I prefer to find a peaceful and mutually beneficial outcome, but if you prefer to see things as a pure test of might against might and no compromise possible..." Vincent shouted to the flying creature and drew his heavy blade before adding, "We can take that route as well."

Phai remained focused on the beast.
If they had known it would be at home, she could have cast more buffs.
But it was not good worrying about that now...she considered casting one now, but the way it was focused on Vincent, the creature may not yet have taken notice of her...which casting surely would do. Worse, the creature could interpret her action as hostile, ruining Vincents attempt to find an amiable solution.
Luckily, there was no need to hurry.
Maintaining my ready action.

"Plus," Child added, "You can smell how different we are. You're dealing with the strong now, not the weak, and so we're offering you some choices."

Isen smiled charmingly. "Our preference is non-violence, but our skillsets mean it's certainly a plan B." Drawing his own sword from the nullspace in which he kept it, he added, "Although I suppose I should mention we have no intention of eating you if negotiations do go well. We have something of a social taboo against eating someone you've had a conversation with."

We have something of a social taboo against eating someone you've had a conversation with.

We do? ^_^ But then all that meat will go to waste...try a little bit, maybe?

What do the beetles eat? If they're carnivorous... kind of serves him right.

Shakes continued rising, and was now over a hundred feet into the air - although his voice was loud enough to easily reach you. (Not a surprise, with lungs that big.) "Then I will enjoy ripping the flesh from your bodies!" the manticore answered as it ascended. It didn't seem terribly interested in doing what you'd told it to - and was definitely maneuvering into a position that was more advantageous for it.

"Well, we tried..." Child muttered, and tapped into a few of his crystals, until he took up a dozen feet of the air, clad in stone, and holding a 20-foot spear wreathed in flame.

Standard action to cast Metamorphosis to large size, move action to form offensive armor, swift action elemental assault.

AoO (if relevant; reach is 20'), champion, offensive: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 31
Fauchard damage: 2d8 + 5 + 1 + 4 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 8) + 5 + 1 + 4 + 5 + (4) = 33

"Disappointing, though not unexpected. I'm sorry that you have chosen not to heed our advice to find a better path," Vincent sighed, then tucked his sword away, raised his hand towards the flying spiked creature and began his incantation.

Smite Evil on the manticore. Assuming it works, AC is 26/16/24.

Spell Failure (10%): 1d100 ⇒ 69

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (2, 3, 1) + 3 + 5 = 14

Three beads of golden light launched from Vincent's outstretched fingers and streaked unerringly through the air to strike the spike-tailed creature.

"Do you really believe that going up there changes things?" Isen shrugged, and tossed a bolt of magical force at the creature.

Destruction: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 4d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5, 5, 1) + 4 = 16

This creature had given significant trouble to the townsfolk.
It could pay to be prepared.
Phai casts a Spell on herself, possibly, but not definitely, giving away her position, trying to shift behind cover before doing so.
I was near Isen and have not spoken up, as such, would try to maintain stealth. Standard to cast Heroism. Lucky Alpha strike is one thing, but I doubt this thing is going down so easily...or if it is, probably his mum will show up soon after and be very angry.

Smite works.

Twenty feet was pretty good reach for a weapon... but a little less useful when your foe was a hundred feet up and still rising, which put it well out of stabbing range for Child-of-Planes. Vincent's magical missiles didn't worry about accuracy, at least, while Isen's blast fizzled out in the air long before it could reach Shakes. Rather than attacking, the beast continued rising, until it was 150 feet up in the air and looking the long way down towards your group.

"Seems to be working pretty well, if you ask me!" Shakes told Isen.

"For now," Isen replied with a smile. He gestured above the creature. "But please, do feel free to flee us. Most people do." Nodding amiably, Isen sauntered to where the creature had been. "Now we've taken this nest, I'm sure the next will be no harder to track. Do you like these Canyons? Well, I'm sure we'll find out."

The creature still seemed content to stay out of their reach, observing. Aside from the initial barrage, it had not attempted to attack them. Surely, that would have been within it's capabilities, if that spike attack was anything to go by.
Phai felt herself growing lighter as she magically changed the physics affecting her to allow her to fly freely through air.
I think it's weird. Now, as a player I know about the creature, but even in-character, I would assume that he could have shot more spikes while rising - unless he was in a hurry to get up there, in which case 150 feet does not seem too impressive for 3 rounds...but I am reluctant to strike first while you guys are still bantering.
Also: Standard Action to activate Flight Hex.

Flying upwards is actually really difficult! He's at half speed, and if he runs, he's flat-footed, making him an easy shot for anyone with a bow less than 200'-300' away. I could chase after him, but I'd be sacrificing all my armor...

Child drifted 15 feet up, and idly hurled his spinny metal disk at Shakes.

Chakram (4 range increment penalties): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 4 + 3 = 13

Vincent tucked his shield away and pulled out a bow, but decided to rely on magic for a while longer.

Spell Failure (5%): 1d100 ⇒ 82

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) + 3 + 5 = 11

Better watch out, I hear death by papercuts can be pretty rough.

AC 24/16/22

Flying upwards is only difficult if you are not well-prepared to do so :P Subjective personal gravity helps a lot too, if you can simply fall upwards - either way, it seems an awful use of action economy to spend 3 full-round actions to give your enemy a -2 on attacks courtesy of the most popular ranged weapons range increment. It seems...ineffective - even omitting the straight-up part, and using moves to put both horizontal and vertical distance between oneself and enemies would allow him to more effectively counter us. He could move upwards, circling us like an A-10 shooting spikes, trying to keep a distance from us that puts us in that same range increment while he slowly gains height. Know what I mean?

Gee, I wonder why he's doing it this way. o wo~

As Vincent's missiles landed, the manticore finally responded... by sending a flurry of spikes down towards the group, focusing on the one who seemed most capable of striking him.

Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Ranged Attack (Vincent): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
*SNKAHAHAHAHAHAHA*

And... well... for the sake of Shakes' pride, let's just refer to it as "not striking his target".

Well, I'm burning through my champion ranks, so uh...

The spirit that coursed through Child's mind was beginning to grow... annoyed. A powerful beast for an enemy, and yet it hovered, high overhead, launching pathetic attacks at the party below. And so, at its compulsion, he dismissed his armor and, lightened, shot up into the sky.

Reconfiguring to light armor (currently 50' flight speed), then taking the run action)

Child gains 100' of altitude, but current AC is 12.

"Oh!" Isen called out as he watched. "Flying doesn't seem to be going so well for you, either." The Elf laughed, a low, nasty snicker as he moved along the passage.

When the creature attacks Vincent again, spikes slamming into the ground near him, in a manner that COULD be, but probably is not a warning shot, Phai steps from her cover and initiates Counter-Battery-Fire.

Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Attack, Studied Target, Heroism, Range: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 23 Damage, Magical Piercing: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Attack, Studied Target, Heroism, Range: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 9 Damage, Magical Piercing: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Vincent decided to test the range and returned the barrage with an arrow of his own.

Mwk Longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 2 + 4 = 11

Vincent wasn't any better at shooting than the manticore it seemed.

Spectacular. AC 24/16/22

Phai's first arrow hit - but most of Shakes' attention was on Child-of-Planes, and it didn't hesitate to launch a barrage of deadly spikes at him as he rose.

Ranged Attack (Child): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Ranged Attack (Child): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Ranged Attack (Child): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Ranged Attack (Child): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 for Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Against all odds, nope!

That, at least, was rather more successful than his attacks against those on the ground had been... and seemed to renew the Manticore's confidence somewhat.

Well uh, that's exactly half my HP, so... noooope...

Child-of-Planes, regretting the error, dashed backwards, disappearing into the canyon behind Phai.

Vincent tried again to attract the manticore's attention.

Mwk Longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 2 + 4 = 13

"Perhaps I should just stick to magic," he muttered to himself as another of his arrows failed to even reach the manticore's altitude.

Still considering my action...150 feet is exactly medium range for spells. - Casting a Spiritual Weapon would add more chances to hit and more DPS, but if he so much as "5-foot-flies" upwards, it would be out of range, unless I move up myself before casting, which would mean exposing myself(as alternative: shoot 2 arrows and step back into cover). Do Child and Isen have meaningful ranged options or would they need to fly and close the distance in near-melee range?

Child has 20' of reach. Other than that, he needs to hide in a corner and cry.

I was afraid so. That makes exposing myself by flying up a bit and casting not a very desirable course of action - worst case, he moves out of range and attacks, and I need to spend a new turn getting to cover and healing, while nobody else has reliable means to attack it.
Phai maintains her barrage of arrows for a moment longer, then, when the creature seems to prepare another attack, steps back into cover.

Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Attack, Studied Target, Heroism, Range: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 15 Damage, Magical Piercing: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Rapid Shot Deadly Aim Attack, Studied Target, Heroism, Range: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 20 Damage, Magical Piercing: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14