GM Tyranius Mists of Mwangi Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

As the noise of battle continues the party hears a whimpering and hoarse shrieking from one of the cabinets in the room. Oh Gods!

Tophor lets loose two blunt arrows. The first arrow goes too high striking the ceiling while the second arrow slams into the man's chest causing him to lose his breath momentarily.

Utabe steps back and fires her arrow as Kiddrik steps forward with his longspear. Both attacks miss as they were not as coordinated and stumble into each other.

Drystan readies his crossbow as Kharine runs past theape-man in an attempt to trip him. He sees an opportunity and slams a fit into the side of her head. Kharine easily dodges the attack

AoO vs Kharine: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The ape-man slams his fists at Kiddrik in a rage. The ape-man's fists pound on Kiddrik's armor instead.

slam vs Kiddrik: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

--------------------------
Monster (E)-(DEAD)
Monster (W) -slam (-17 HP)
----------------------------
Brother Tophor-
Kiddrik-
Drystan
Kharine-
Utabe

The farm boy once again switches to his close-combat technique, slinging his shield onto his forearm as he lashes out with a blunted round-house kick.

Move: prep shield. Standard: nonlethal unarmed strike
Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
nonlethal damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Grunting in frustration, Tophor sends another pair of blunt arrows careening in the general direction of the ape-thing.

Bow Flurry 1/2, blunt, nonlethal: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 4 = -1
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Bow Flurry 2/2, blunt, nonlethal: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 1 - 4 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Move Action: Favored Target - Monster
2H Power Attack + Favored Target: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 11
damage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 3 + 1 = 11

Not to be a jerk, but how long should we wait for the other players before trying to move things forward in some way? I hate for this encounter/game to drag out unnecessarily.

I will wait 24 hours before I post defensibly for them. If they miss 2 without telling me then I will drop them and move it forward.

Brother Tophor sends two more arrows careening toward the ape-man, who ducks out of their path.

Kiddrik kicks at the ape-man and strikes a nearby crate instead as Kharine also misses the creature with her powerful attack.

If they don't post by this evening I will place on defensive and move it forward. We are getting close to the end.

--------------------------
Monster (E)-(DEAD)
Monster (W) -slam (-17 HP)
----------------------------
Brother Tophor-
Kiddrik-
Drystan
Kharine-
Utabe

Apologies for my tardiness. I've had company staying with me, and things have been hectic! (Although I will point out that I did post yesterday.)

Utabe carefully tracks the apeman's movement as it dodges blows from the rest of the party. She waits for her moment-- knowing the creature will take a tiny moment to take stock of its success. When that happens, she pulls back the string of her bow, and...

Longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Utabe fires an arrow. The arrow slams into the ape-man causing hi to fall to the ground in a heap. As the creature hits the ground mist begins to escape from his mouth shrinking the man back to normal size.

Combat Over

Utabe does not put down her bow, but scans around around the room with weapon raised, looking for the other voice she heard.

"There's someone else here," she whispers to the group. She quickly searches the room, looking for the source of the sound, or anything unusual.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"So it would seem." Stepping carefully toward the cabinets, Tophor calls out to the occupant that called out, during the fight.

"You, there - it's safe. You can come out, now."

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Drystan scans the room for traps and magic. "Weird place for whatever those were to be holed up. Of course, everything about this place is weird," Drystan says.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 Additional +1 trapfinding/+2 stonecunning if applicable

As to not being around yesterday: I was at work for 16 hours and our internet was down yesterday. I went to sleep after getting home because I had to get back up for work 6 hours later.

No problem, everyone. I didn't mean to be a jerk. I've just seen way too many PbP's die a slow death of lack of player momentum. RL stuff is RL stuff. I certainly don't want anyone to get left out. :)

"I'm guessin' that whatever this mist does to them to make 'em look like apes also messes with their brains ... so they might not have known how to get out."

While Drystan does his unique search, the farm boy takes a moment to whisper a strengthening prayer. Cast CLW on self 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6. Once Drystan is finished with his scan, Kiddrik steps over to the cabinet, pulling it open with the toe of his boot to keep a bit of distance in case this is another

Drystan, Utabe and Tophor all can tell that the whimpering voice seems to be coming from the cabinet in the SE corner of the room.

As Kiddrik attempts to open the cabinet he realizes that it is secured shut.

"Perhaps we should try prying it open?"

Tophor tries calling out again in a soothing tone.

"Hello? The creatures are gone - we are here to help. I am Brother Tophor, of the Brothers Cailean. What is your name?"

Diplomacy to calm the stowaway: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 <-- Ah, well...

I'll wait to see what the reaction is from the mystery voice. I found nothing else unusual, other than the stowaway?

The hoarse screaming continues as whimpering and sobs area heard within.
Leave me be..... Leave me be.....

Utabe loooks high upon one of the cabinets and notices that there is a scrap of Mwangi cloth inscribed with strange writing. The cloth seems quite ancient and it's original inventory tag states that it was catalogued along with the "Tik Taan Idols courtesy of Lugizar Trantos".

After digging around the papers on the desk Utabe finds a sack containing 500gp and a weathered leather scroll tube on top of one of the shelves which contain three scrolls.

"You must come out, friend. We need to know what caused this, and how to stop it. If you stay in there, it's only a matter of time before one of those things comes back and finds you."

"My friend here is right, mister!" Kiddrik says as he sets his spear down. "We're here to help, but we can't help if you don't let us in. So open up so we can chat proper."

He waits to see if honeyed words do the trick.

Diplomacy (to get him to open the door): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

If they don't, Kiddrik shakes his head. "Fella, you might want to scoot back in there. We're opening this thing up."

He grabs the handle (or frame, if no handle is available) and heaves backwards in an attempt to force it open.

Str check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Kiddrik grasps the handle to the door and rips it open. Inside is a blubbery, obese scribe cowering in the corner of the cabinet. Tears streaming down his face as his jowls quiver. The obese man begins to compose himself as he sees that you are not trying to kill him.

The... The... The offices suddenly flooded with a strange mist early the morning. The blubbery scribe begins to recall as he quavers and shakes. The tendrils of the mist seems to pour down Kadarnik's and Yannis' throats moments before they went stark raving mad and beat Milgen to a pulp. The scribe states as he points to the bloody mass of flesh in the corner of the room. Nigel was taking stock of the pieces in storage in the East Exhibit Storage Room room. I hope he is alright.

The scribe continues to explain how he believes that the Tik Taan Idols were responsible for the museum's current predicament. I smelled something wrong with those hideous monkey-faced things as soon as Lugizar brought them out of his pack. I've a nose for trouble. I do! No one listens!

The obese man begins to shake even more. I .. am sorry but I need to get out of here. Thank you for helping me but I need to leave. The man says as he looks sad and fearful of his friends bodies lying on the floor before him.

Kiddrik listens to the man’s retelling, then scratches his head with a whistle. ”Monkey faces, huh? I guess we know what to look for.” He picks up his longspear as he offers the cowering man a hand up, ”This Nigel. He the curator? Could you describe him to us?”

When Nigel’s described, does it match the description of any people/bodies we’ve come across yet?

"Fella, if you want, we can try to get you outta here, but I would suggest you not run off alone."

"Perhaps we can help this gentleman out through the window? I expect that's safest way out of the building," says Utabe, suddenly worried that this could be construed as a threat. "I don't mean that metaphorically. I mean we can gently help you climb down and out."

She would leave the diplomacy to Kiddrick. Her mind was more occupied with the items she had found while searching the room.

"Before you go, sir-- do you recognize this cloth? It appears to have been catalogued with the idols you described earlier. Although the idols themselves are missing, now."

Utabe shows the cloth and cataloguing information to everyone, along with the gold and scroll case.

Can anyone read the scroll? Are these magic or informational? Could someone detect magic on the cloth and scrolls?

Saldak describes Nigel to Kiddrik. Yes... Yes .... Nigel was the curator here.

Nigel's description does not match any of the men that you have come across so far

Yes pleas hurry.. Get me out of here.... The quavering man says ashe begins to shake once again.

Tophor would prefer the scribe examine the scroll, but if he cannot, Tophor will check it out.

"I have some limited experience studying ciphers; I could take a look."

Decipher writing/code: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"Let me have a look at that thing, good sir," Drystan says, grabbing the proffered scroll and examining it. "Can't make heads or tails, sadly," he says.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Would Read Magic give Kiddrik any insights into the scrolls? If so...

Kiddrik mutters a few words as he looks over the dwarf's shoulder. As he looks, he mutters to the group. "Utabe is right. Finding those monkey heads seems the best thing to do. Hey, um ... guy ... where are they? We'll help you out the window once we know what were lookin' for."

His answer(s) pending, I'm ready to move on once everyone else is. And if we do that, Kiddrik will rear-guard while we move for that final door.

Saldak turns to Utabe Yes, that cloth served as not only
a warning against the idols’ corrupting powers, but also a
powerful chant that dispels their influence over men. Saldak explains how the cloth works to Utabe as The rest of the party looks over the scrolls in the case. One second... Saldak says as he digs through a series of notes scattered across the floor. That case contains a scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of false life, and a scroll of dispel magic. Now may we please leave.....

Read magic lets you read any scroll. I just don't happen to know that spell.

Sorry, I should have been more clear. Kiddrik has and is casting Read Magic. Now to spoil that spoiler. :P

Is there something specific the scroll reads, or is the information in that spoiler enough for us to use it? It certainly has the instructions.

"This scroll mentions something called 'Tik Taan', and it can be used to help us break the enchantment on a single person under the grasp of the mists. I think I can use it if the time comes."

He looks up at the quivering museum worker. "Yah, sure, we'll get you outta here. Keep in mind once you're out, we can't look after ya."

If the man still wishes, Kiddrik will go to the window, open it, and help lift the man out.

"So," he says, readying his spear once again and dry-wiping his hands, "We ready to go see this last room in this place. Hopefully our boy Nigel is in there."

Utabe helps the wailing gentleman out of the window, and then follows Kiddrick out of the room, being sure to readjust the cloth around her mouth to protect her from the mist.

She also calls Oko back to her.

That is all it says for the cloth so those are instructions enough

The man thanks you as he climbs out of the window and darts into the woods, heading for the nearest town.

A long hallway leads to this grand hall, wherein the Blakros
Museum shows off its finest collections. Mock vines cling to
the walls and hang from the fifty-foot-high domed ceiling,
and huts of grass are strewn about the open area. At the
center of this sprawling chamber, a miniature replica of a
traditional Mwangi ziggurat rises out of the mist to a height
of nearly twenty feet. At the top of the ziggurat, a rail-thin
elven gentleman is strapped to an altar, his bare chest
painted with strange sigils and monkey paw-shaped blots
of paint.

The room is filled with a cacophony of noise as the walls are lined with more apes, baboons and other monkeys than you have seen yet, spitting, howling and cavorting about the ziggurat.

Soon a terrifying howl shatters the noise, bringing the room to a temporary silence as the primates scatter to reveal the largest ape yet, the gorilla Da'Tunga!

The rest of the monkeys are now scattered an take up the 5 foot area near the walls around the room on the North, South and Eastern wall

In the chaos you are able to catch a small glimpse of movement, something darting amongst the apes, grass huts and mist.

Brother Tophor
Utabe
Kharine
-------------------------
Da' Tnga
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik
-------------------------
Tik Taan
-------------------------

Move Action: Favored Target - Da'Tunga
Free action: 5-foot step forward
Standard action: Ready 2H Power Attack vs Da'Tunga, trigger attack if he threatens Kharine's spaces.

Brother Tophor
Utabe
Kharine -5 foot step/ ready action
-------------------------
Da' Tunga
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik
-------------------------
Tik Taan
-------------------------

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

"What is that thing? It seems to be some sort of fetish, moving toward the big one..."

Moving to get a clean shot, Brother Tophor darts next to Kiddrik and fires a quick shot at the massive beast.

Move adjacent to Kiddrik and Drystan; target Da'Tunga

Bow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"That is a very large gorilla," stated Utabe, and she would know. She moves to get a straight shot at the animal, hoping to fell it quickly.

Move to one square north of Tophor.

Bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Brother Tophor and Utabe each move into a better vantage and fires an arrow at Da' Tunga, lodging arrows deep into the gorilla's arm and side.

The enraged gorilla rushes forward as it slams it's fists into Kiddrik but smashes a small grass hut near him instead as it roars in fury.

Slam vs Kiddrik: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

The man on the ziggurat that matches the description of Nigel seems to be frothing at the mouth as he snaps his jaws at the fight below and struggles with the ropes.

Brother Tophor-bow/move
Utabe- bow / move
Kharine -5 foot step/ ready action
-------------------------
Da' Tunga (-15 HP)move / slam
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik
-------------------------
Tik Taan
-------------------------

Kiddrik is out of pocket today, but said I could post on his behalf. I believe he had an AOO for the gorilla's charge, yes?

Kiddrik stabs at the charging gorilla with his longspear, then pivots under the beast's fist and returns a punch of his own.

.
.

Longspear AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

5' step east

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d3 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

As Kiddrik strikes at the rampaging beast his longspear punctures something vital in the gorilla's chest causing it to fall to the ground wheezing for breath.

Combat is still going

Brother Tophor-bow/move
Utabe- bow / move
Kharine -5 foot step/ ready action
-------------------------
Da' Tunga (-15 HP)move / slam
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik -longspear aoo / unarmed
-------------------------
Tik Taan
-------------------------

Drystan moves around the edge of the battle, getting into a position to cast color spray. "úða lit" he intones, as a riotous blast of color erupts from his fingertips.

Move to the square southeast of Kiddrik. Assuming the ape charged, it would be one square northeast of him. Color spray directly north, should miss everyone but the ape assuming I read all the actions right. The DC is 15.

The ape is down Drystan as per the post above

Brother Tophor-bow/move
Utabe- bow / move
Kharine -5 foot step/ ready action
-------------------------
Da' Tunga (DEAD)
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik -longspear aoo / unarmed
-------------------------
Tik Taan
-------------------------

Drystan will move to the same spot and instead ready an action to color spray the other guy if he tries to close in and attack

Thanks, Lekku, for bottng me. Sorry everyone for dropping off radar without a heads up (my vacation unexpectedly started a few days earlier than I had intended).

No prob.

"Kiddrik, about that scroll - should we try it on him?" Gesturing with his bow, Tophor indicates the man writhing at the top of the ziggurat.

Drystan moves around the building as the small idol casts a spell as it runs through the mist trying to hide itself once again

Brother Tophor
Utabe-
Kharine -
-------------------------
Da' Tunga (DEAD)
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik -
-------------------------
Tik Taan
-------------------------

Move: Down/Right, Right, Down/Right, Right

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Utabe notices the small idol casting spells.

"In the back, is that idol alive?!?"

She moves to get a better shot on the idol (four units east) and fires an arrow.

Bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Drystan keeps watch over the bound man, still ready to stun him if needed.

Standard: Ready Color Spray, same as last round.

My perception bonus beats the DC

Move Down, Down, Down/Right, Right, Right, Right

"There! The idol is alive!" Careful not to touch the thing, Tophor moves around the ziggurat and takes aim at the idol-creature.

Bow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Kiddrik nods at the team's suggestion, drops his spear and draws the cloth from his belt. Doing his to ignore the frenetic energy of the fight, he begins incanting the words on the scrip, completing the ritual.

Draw that cloth from his belt, and cast the spell from the cloth to dispel the effect from Nigel. If Kiddrik can also 5' step to melee range and deliver the touch (if necessary), he'll also do that.

Kiddrik -The cloth acts like a scroll of break enchantment so you have to cast use it with all of the prerequisites that a scroll holds.

Utabe runs around the Ziggurat and slams an arrow into the wooden idol with an audible THUNK! as Brother Tophor does the same but misses into the mist.

Kiddrik, Drystan and Kharine edge closer to the Ziggurat keeping a close eye on Nigel.

As the arrow visibly wounded the idol it's eyes glare at Utabe as she begins to feel her skin take on a wooden appearance Need a Will save from Utabe or take the -4 to Dexterity.

Brother Tophor
Utabe-
Kharine -
-------------------------
Da' Tunga (DEAD)
-------------------------
Drystan
Kiddrik -
-------------------------
Tik Taan (-10 HP)
-------------------------