GM Sappy's Harrowing - Heart of the Cards (Inactive)

Game Master Sapiens

Marinda goes upstairs to make sure the Paladin hasn't missed anything interesting.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Assuming he hasn't

[b]"I'm sorry Sir Knight. My ears must have been playing tricks on me. Well, if we're done here perhaps we should proceed to the door across the way?

Ebony and red leather wash this apartment’s furnishings in darkness. A body swathed in red and black lies slumped over the altar dominating the room’s center.

"This fellow has been dead for long years now." says Algon, standing over the body with a grim face. "Though perhaps what you heard was his ghost, yelling for revenge? Shall we fear a phantom aggressor?"
The thought seems to shake the paladin, who draws his sword nervously.

Those of you who aren't paying attention to him, discover something of a more prosaic value: a sacred symbol of Asmodeus, made of tin and gold, at the neck of the disseccated corpse.

There are no other exits from this room.

Edda spits in disgust.

"A devil-worhiper here? If anyone deserved their fate...wait, what kind of alter is that?"

"Eh, better t'leave it be," Niklos whispers to Edda. "Even I know better than to steal from a god, at least in their own house... not to mention the very real chance there's an angry ghost trapped in here, or the corpse decides stretch its bones. I'm all for gettin' rid of active threats, but there's no reason to poke the hornet's nest, savvy?"

Turning to the fictitious knight, the scoundrel beams in mock adoration. "Yes, this evil-doer seems well and truly vanquished, Sir Algon! They must have taken their wretched life, knowing you were questing for their master's head! Shall we secure the opposing wing, as well? Then, we will be free to continue pursuing your draconic nemesis in earnest..."

That would be I15, specifically. Was the upper floor of the chapel I3 or I4, or is it not on the map?

You were in I3, I forgot to uncover it.

You retrace your steps, Algon looking over his shoulder for ghostly, non-existing Asmodean priests. As you get to the opposing wing, you hear voices from the inside, dripping sarcasm and sourness. They sound like a bickering couple.

Edda moves to enter the door.

"Let's get this over with. I'm ready to slay a dragon."

Niklos takes his place at one side of the doorway, assuming Sir Algon is going to charge in at the head of the group.

I'd take a more stealthy approach, but I assume these doors are just as heavy as the opposite ones.

Edda and Algon open the door quite blatantly, and the first thing to strike you is the stench. Oversized vats, racks, hearths, and an assortment of cutting tools suggest grim activities in this dark, reeking chamber.
Inside, you spot two large humanoid, powerful-looking figures. One is a muscular, horned male with fire-red skin, and the other is a female, her skin the color of ocean water. They are apparently in the middle of a shouting match as you break in, but they stop arguing as you appear.

Surprise round! All of you go can go!

"Hello dears. I couldn't help overhearing you. Perhaps I could act as an impartial judge and help you to resolve your issues?"

Diplomacy! Good idea! These fake-people are such idiots. Who has the The Twin card?

"What're we s'posed to be now, marriage counselors?" Niklos mutters to himself. "This place never ceases to amaze me..."

The fact that we're already in initiative makes me suspect that diplomacy isn't going to work, but Niklos will hide behind the corner so as to not ruin Marinda's chances. Algon might just blow things, regardless.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

Let's give it a shot.

"Intruders! Prepare to di-" roars the fire creature, imperiously, before being interrupted by the water one (Those trained in Knowledge(planes) will recognize them as an efreet and a marid).
"So typical. The first creatures in a hundred years who are not bound and tied and don't shout murder, and you want to attack. You'll never change, will you?"
"Weren't our orders to kill intruders?" spits back the man, turning to face her. "Will you never do the reasonable thing?"
"I'm just saying that she sounded like she wanted to help! Maybe I'll find someone who listens to me, every once in a while!"
"Because it's always about you, isn't it? You've got to hold the center of attention!"
Algon, his longsword half out, stares at the couple, a battlecry choked in his throat. He seems conflicted on how to act. Niklos, in the meantime, has slipped unnoticed behind a vat of something best left undescribed.

"Please, please. There is no need for this to end in violence. I promise you that we won't attack you if you don't attack us.

Doesn't that sound better than fighting us? We're fairly powerful, the sheer fact that we have made it THIS far is proof of that. If you fight, at least one of you is likely to die. And then you'll NEVER get the chance to settle your differences."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Edda tries to help.

"She does kinda have a point. Doesn't she?"

Diplomacy(Aid Another)-Unskilled: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Yeah right...

The efreeti seems to think over Marinda's words. "When I fell in love with Essessol... Ah, it was eons ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday. The Patchwork Lord had just hired me, promising the Realm's only supply of actual, living subjects to torture."
His expression turns to reminiscing, almost dreamy.
"And she was there to take care of the minds as I was taking care of the bodies. I remember that she drowned a man in a dream, over and over, until he got so afraid of water that he never drank anymore."
"Oh, Agrasug." The marid's face sweetens at the love dripping from her husband's words. In the meantime, Hrain finds and plays the Marriage cards. The two don't seem to notice the magic resonating around them. "You were so passionate in those days, fiery like a storm. You made my blood boil with just a gaze, metaphorically, as you did literally to those prisoners. However did we lose those precious days and years of steamy harmony of fire and water?"

Agrasug holds Essessol's hand, causing a puff of steam. "My darling, to me you are always as splendid and majestic as the day we met. Maybe the human is right. Let's try to recapture the feeling of the times we fell in love..."
"...as we did once, torturing trespassers to the edge of death and sanity." finishes the woman, beaming.
Apparently, the two have managed to set their problem. It is a wonderful triumph of love, but bad news for you as they seem more intent than ever on doing something deeply unpleasant to you.

That roll was not quite enough to also get them to stop attacking you, sadly.
Niklos, you are up!

Ok, that was intensely disturbing :-). Well done?

Good try, good try.

Hearing the counselling session go awry, Niklos leaps out of his hiding spot and flings a harrow card at Essessol. "'Til death do you apart, eh?"

Deadly Dealer Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Deadly Dealer Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6
Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Sneak Attack Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 6) = 21 +4 bleed damage

I'm unsure where I'm supposed to be on the map, exactly, but I'll five-foot step into view and attack, without cover if at all possible.

That's a total of 29 damage, barring resistances. I'll impose a -2 to her AC (-4 against myself) using Debilitating Injury, as usual.

Struck unexpectedly, Essessol looks at Niklos with a look of hunger, before shattering a water pipe with a fist. A tidal wave of stale water washes over the room, hitting you with the force of a stampede. The only ones who manage to keep their balance are Edda and Marinda, as Algon and Hrain take the brunt of the wave for them.
"Marvelous job, my dearest!" coos Agrasug, hovering over the water surface. "Let me pick up the two that you missed!"
Three incandescent rays shoot forth from the efreeti's outstretched hand. Two find purchase in the enchantresses, while the last crashes harmlessly on a rogue water jet, vaporizing it.
12 fire damage to Edda, 15 to Marinda

"Take their heads Sir Algon! They attack us for no reason!"

Edda then immediately casts a new spell, targeting her fiery attacker!

Snowball RTA with PBS!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage(Magic/Cold): 5d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 6, 6) + 1 = 27

Swept off his feet by the sudden torrent, Niklos yelps as he splashes backwards into the drink. Leaping back to his feet, the scoundrel sputters curses even has he lunges at Agrasug with his rapier. Unfortunately, he is still quite out of balance after his recent tumble and fails to hit anything vulnerable.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Rapier Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11

If at all possible, I'd like my turn to be after Algon and Hrain, so they can benefit from Essessol's lowered AC.

Marinda will stare at the efreet and then start laughing

"You really shouldn't have fought us, you know. At least you will die together"

Evil eye (-4 to AC) on the Efreet. Will save DC 19 to reduce duration to one round. Cackle to extend duration

She also 5ft steps back

Hrain charges forward next to Niklos, supporting the rogue by swinging at the efreet.

Terbutje attack /w Brutal Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
-->Damage: 1d10 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31 and battered
Shield attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
-->Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Hrain, you started prone because of the water. But I realize I didn't write it, so it's ok.
Agrasug turns his falchion against Niklos, but then he's struck by two angry, heavily bladed paladins. He doesn't stand a chance. It's actually Edda's snowball to finish him off, the ice overpowering and quenching his flames. His body falls into the water with a sizzling of steam, already dissolving into steam.
"What have you DONE?!" screams his wife. "It'll take Marzalee ages to bring him back! I'll have to sleep alone for all that time!"
With an imperious gesture, Essessol commands the water to rise. The spray turns into a flood, reaching to your thighs and flowing into the courtyard. Then she dives underwater.
All the room is difficult terrain because of the flood.

"Don't you worry," mocks Niklos. "You'll join 'im soon enough!"

The scoundrel struggles against the torrent, using the quickly evaporating fire genie as a spring-board to launch himself at the former's now-submerged widow. He stabs his rapier into the deluge, trusting its elven enchantments to drive the point home even through the thickest of obstacles.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Rapier Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Rapier Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
Rapier Crit Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11

That's 24 damage in total, assuming the critical hit is confirmed.

Edda readies an enchanted Harrow card...

Holding my action to throw the card as soon as she shows herself...

"True love can never form from such evil! This is a mockery of the stories!" screams Hrain as he goes after the watery tart, swinging hard.

Terbutje attack /w Brutal Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
-->Damage: 1d10 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22 and battered
Shield attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
-->Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Unless my attack downs her then I'm out of martial focus for the moment.

"No, I'm sorry Hrain. The stories are clear. Evil people CAN love. Given they have no limitations, perhaps they can love even more than good people can.

I don't condone evil, of course. But I have no doubt that she loves her husband. We still have to kill them but lets not fool ourselves"

With that, Evil eye (-4 to AC) on Essessol . Will save DC 19 to reduce duration to one round. Cackle to extend duration

"Bah. Love is one thing. True love is another. On this the stories are clear, but now is not the time for debate!"

All the attacks save for Hrain's terbutje find their target, but Essessol is undeterred. As the water keeps rising, she stabs at the paladins, once at Algon and once at Hrain. Twin clouds of blood and ink blossom in the water around them.
20 piercing damage to Hrain.

Note: rules are murky about what sort of cover water gives, and whether it applied to you as well, in the last round. In the end, I decided to give her concealment instead.
You are currently underwater: if you stay on the bottom, you count as having firm footing but have to hold your breath. Otherwise, you can swim up. The environment counts as rough water (Swim DC 15 to move). Quick links: Underwater Combat and Swim

Swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Swimming up to the surface, Edda activates her flying hex again, to keep herself from drowning, floating all the way to the ceiling.

"Trying to drown a pirate's daughter? You really are crazy!"

Very much in contrast to Edda's graceful emergence, Niklos is quickly and unceremoniously swallowed by the rising waves. He does far more to put himself under with his floundering than to extricate himself from this sudden, watery predicament.

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Uh, Niklos doesn't know how to swim, apparently. Does he get swept out of the room by the current, or merely jostled around where he is?

Marinda will stay on the bottom of the water for the moment, just holding her breath. She will also channel to heal, excluding the enemies

channel: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4, 6) = 19

Hrain swings at the liquid woman once again, his strength seeming somewhat diminished.

Terbutje attack /w Brutal Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
-->Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 and battered
Shield attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
-->Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Terbutje attack crit confirm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
-->Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

She is in vortex form, but too small to grab any of you. Niklos, you are already underwater, so you just fail to get to the surface.

Targeting the swirling water, Edda tries to hit the woman with her most powerful hex!

Edda's hex fails to take hold of the genie's mind.

Hrain kicks off of the floor towards air, realising he is a little too encumbered for a dip in the local cursed pool.

Swim - ACP: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Failing, he tries again to reach the surface.

Swim - ACP: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Finally managing to right himself, Niklos struggles to swim towards the exit.

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Its boring but effective

Marinda cackles to maintain her hex and throws a smaller channel, excluding the 2 outsiders

channel: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 6, 2, 1) = 16

Niklos manages to swim out of the door. The water rushing in the courtyard deposit him on the ground, fresh air hitting his lungs.
Algon stabs in the middle of the vortex: it's hard to see if he did any damage, but it looks like the blade met with some resistance. One moment later, Essessol takes back her shape. "You make us remember our love only to separate us again? You shall pay for such an insult!" and punctuates her words with two stabs at Marinda with her trident. (37 damage)

Marinda, your sheet says you have 5 channels for 6d6 and 7 for 3d6: you have currently used 2 6d6 channels and 2 5d6, which I am not sure where they come from. Were they supposed to be 3d6 ones?
Also, I think you healed yourself enough to be at full health before the attack, so this should bring you to 30.

"Watch out Marinda!"

Swooping lower into range for her spell, Edda hits the woman with FIRE!

Burning Hands! Reflex DC15 for 1/2 Fire Damage!: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 1, 3) = 13

Caster Level Check(Casting Fire Under Water): 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 4 = 17

Never mind. I guess I just can't hurt her while she's underwater.

Hrain flails around attempting once again to free himself from the water.

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

Sorry, I missed one of the places on my sheet (now updated). I She has 2 pools of channel and the Phylactery adds to both of them. So, 1 is at 6d6, the other at 5d6

"Can't one of you kill this thing? Fighting underwater is NOT my strong point!"

She again channels, this time throwing a larger one

channel: 6d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 4, 1, 5) = 15

And continues to cackle

Where is the water coming from? Is it a magic effect I can dispel?

Niklos struggles to his feet, pulling off his soaked coat and squeezing it out on the floor. He yells obscenities in the general direction of the genie, drawing on the foulest insults from a variety of different dialects and tongues. Thankfully, the worst of this vulgarity is muffled by the rushing of water.

Yeeeah, I'm not going to be of any use in there. I'll delay until further notice. Kick her ass!

Note: even if you are on the bottom of the room, you can attack upwards.

As Edda plunges into the water to summon fire, she only manages to create a harmless puff of steam. Perhaps reminded of her recently departed husband, she turns her trident to Edda and strikes twice at the witch, drawing blood with the first strike. The second is intercepted by Algon's sword, metal clanging underwater.
14 piercing damage to Edda.

Flying up and out of the water, Edda immediately turns toward tryinhg to make this situation right and draws three cards!

Harrow Casting Draw#1: 1d54 ⇒ 42 = The Owl: increases the spell’s effective caster level by +1
Harrow Casting Draw#2: 1d54 ⇒ 51 = The Courtesan: the save DC of the spell increases by +1
Harrow Casting Draw#3: 1d54 ⇒ 52 = The Tyrant: the save DC of the spell increases by +1

Dispel Magic Caster Level Check!(With Harrow Casting Bonuses): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14

I really hate the board dice rollers right now!

Hrain gives up trying to swim in his heavy armour and focuses on getting rid of the elemental who is generating the hindering water.

Terbutje Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
-> Terbutje Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Shield Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
-> Shield Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7