Hadassa's Legacy of Fire

Game Master jhpace1

(Continuing without Amir.)

Khayal moved to attack the criosphinx on the rocky ledge, but his blades missed the creature's feet. Bartan's playing card hit the beast, the faux snake head biting into the sphinx, causing it to roar again.
Fort Save DC 13: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Paige's aggressive thundercloud formed above the criosphinx's head, but Cyrix jumped out of the way.
Reflex Save DC 17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Amid Hajar's shout, Yazi charged, but missed.

Cyrix jumped straight up as his leonine body and wings would allow, going to flight. (Khayal and Yazi get an AoO, sphinx's AC is now 1 point lower.)

ROUND TWO
Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Yazi: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Amir: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Monsters: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

(Khayal and Yazi's AoO.)
(Paige, Amir, Khayal, Hajar, Bartan, Monster, Yazi.)
(Encounter Map updated.)

Hajar watches the creature take flight and readies an attack to hit the creature if it comes down to attack Paige.

"You can still surrender, noble creature! You will find that you are no match for us, and we really do not wish to harm you!" Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Bartan pulls out another card, casts a spell, and tosses it.
Harrow card: 1d4 ⇒ 3 => The Liar (Chaotic Evil, Charisma) Matches his alignment on one axis, 19-20 crit
Bartan stops for a moment and stares at the card. He then mumbles under his breath "Perhaps I am more bloodthirsty than I thought. Lady Irez seems to have called my bluff on that matter."

card toss: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 plus shocking grasp: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) = 8

Yazi is obviously wearing off on him :3

As the sphinx takes flight Yazi reflexively brings her sword up in a glancing swipe.
AoO: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11

Slashing as the sphinx flaps its wings to get into flight kukri: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 311d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
confirm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 291d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Khayal manages to nick an artery just as it flaps away.
First crit in the last 40 pages

Heartened by his precise hit Khayal readies for when the sphinx comes back down. readied Kukri: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 211d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Khayal smiles at Bartan's quip to himself and at the impact such a little card seemed to have on such a big creature.

I can't really think of much for Paige to do. Should have entangled him!

Paige maneuvers the thundercloud to put the creature right in it's eye. THUNDER THUNDER CRASH...3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2) = 10. (move action)

She 5ft steps back to a safe distance, ready to dive under the wagon if the creaure swoops... (readied action)

(Waiting until tonight for Amir to catch up.)

He is back?

(I'll e-mail him.)

(Continuing on...)

The aggressive thundercloud followed the sphinx.

Reflex Save DC 17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Khayal's aim was better, hitting the criosphinx's paw with one curved knife and even getting in a flank strike even as the beast jumped upwards. (Okay, who gave the 5th Level Fighter +12 weapons? 31 points of damage. Curses...)

While Amir and Hajar watched, Bartan's playing card hit Cyrix for more damage.

Bleeding from where the dark-skinned fighter had struck, the criosphinx flew straight up into the air, the beast hovering, choosing a target on the ground.

Yazi's greatsword missed, again.

ROUND THREE
Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Yazi: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Amir: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Monsters: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17

(Paige, Monster, Hajar, Amir, Bartan, Yazi, Khayal)

Only the crit should have hit so far. The second attack was a readied action for if he comes back into range. As far as +12 to hit, 5 BAB, +1 enhancement bonus, +4 Str, +1 weapon focus, +1 weapon training(weapon master).
Seeing the sphinx eye targets below, Khayal calls out. Here birdie birdie

thundercloud 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 2) = 13

Paige casts WAVE SHIELD ready action: as soon as it becomes clear who the sphinx is targeting Paige will hand that person the shield.

Hajar shouts Fly away Sphinx, only your doom waits for you here.

Hajar holds but will act if the Sphinx comes down.

Bartan simply readies a card, not trusting his throwing ability with a range penalty. Readied Standard action to throw a magical (but not spell-containing) card.

Paige's thundercloud drifted after the sphinx. (60-ft movement vs. 20-ft. movement)

The ram-headed sphinx, still hovering, chose a target, and started to dive downwards.

Everyone else appears to be taunting the criosphinx. (HP adjusted back, Khayal.)

(Amir, Yazi)

Is it obvious what target he picked or can Yazi make a Perception check to see? Basically she want's to position herself in the way and attack as it swoops.

haha, we are going to have to resolve all these readied actions as soon as the sphinx comes down...

(Now that Pazio is back up. It crashed hard last night, I'm glad my post went through just before the gremlins took over.)

(You'll have to wait until the next turn to find out where the sphinx will attack. In Hollywood you could tell, but not in game mechanics.)

Fooie, Have to wait till he attacks then to do something.

*shrugs* I tried.

ROUND FOUR

Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Yazi: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Amir: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Monsters: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19

(Khayal, Monster, Amir, Yazi, Bartan, Paige)

Khayal delays until the Criosphinx comes back down.

(Since everybody's holding their breath...)

The ram-headed sphinx folds his wings and makes a dive towards the humans below. As he fell, the beast aimed his horns at Khayal.

Gore attack, swooping charge +20 ft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Dmg: 6d4 + 18 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 3) + 18 = 30

Nearly landing, the criosphinx bowled over the fighter, and continued in his dive, coming straight at the paladin next.

"Baa-ha-ha-ha!" the sphinx crowed. "What flies and hits like a bou-lder?"

Bartan, seeing the sphinx smack right into Khayal, tosses his card, hoping to take the beast down for good.

Harrow card: 1d3 ⇒ 2 => The Mute Hag (Neutral Evil, Wisdom)
Matches his alignment on one axis, 19-20 crit

Readied card toss: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13

"The same thing that flops like a bloated corpse!" Yazi growls as she swipes at the Sphinx, any reverance she had for the creature gone now that it had attacked Khayal.

Hajar spins Tempest around in a forward slash Tempest: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Tempest: 2d4 + 11 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 11 + (5) = 20 the 1d6 is cold damage

Ahaha! Paige had a readied action to hand her wave shield to Khayal as the monster flew down... Khayal! Catch!

Reeling from the blow but happy the water had some effect,
Khayal attacks with both his kukris hoping to slice another deadly blow.
+1 Kukri: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 251d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
+1 Kukri: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 131d4 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Even as Cryix hit Khayal, with a splash of summoned water drenching them both, the fighter got one good hit in. The ram-faced monster didn't stop, even as Yazi hit him from the other side. The creature, now on the ground, galloped towards the paladin, who hit him first.

The druid's cloud drifted lower, trying to keep up with its' target. Bartan's card missed as well.

ROUND FIVE

Init:
Bartan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Hajar: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Khayal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Yazi: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Paige: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Amir: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Monsters: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20

(Khayal, Monster, Paige, Hajar, Amir, Bartan, Yazi)

Twice more Khayal attempts to slice deep into the sphinx's hide.
+1 Kukri: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 131d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 w/ flank
+1 Kukri: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 221d4 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 w/ flank

The real shame here is that if your kind keeps insisting on robbing innocent passerbys like us your kind will continue come to swift ends...and eventually be extinct. Nature will miss your species. She would be better served with less greedy sphinxes!

"We were paying the toll in riddles! Which. You. Ruined!"

You call those whitty comments of ours riddles? This beast was just buttering us up! We are lucky we struck first! Paige points at the thundercloud, commanding it to strike again. thurndercloud round damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 6) = 13

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8
Confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Critical: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3
19 Damage total, also yay! Finally got to put Eldritch Heritage to use ^w^

"I like my riddles!" Yazi growls out almost in a pout as she continues to attack the sphinx.

(Let's sort all this out in order.)

Khayal hit the sphinx on its' flank, and the beast turned towards the river, cancelling its' charge. "Bah!" it said, stopping. "Fine! This game gets me no meat, so I will t-ell you what lies-" Whatever the criosphinx was going to say next was cut off by Yazi, who came in close and thrust her greatsword up and along the sheep-headed neck. Blood spewed all over the ground and the fighter, and the sphinx, its' tongue lolling out of its' mouth, fell to the mudbank of the river, dead. The sphinx couldn't even manage another "le-dle".

(Normally Hajar, Amir, Bartan, but you're out of melee, now.)

(Sending a second e-mail to Amir.)

... You a!*!@+@ :3 *shakes fist*

The adrenaline carrying her along it takes a moment for Yazi to realize the sphinx had been talking when she ran him through. "Oh gods... He was stopping..." The tremble in her voice matches the one taking over her hands as she drops her sword, placing the still shaking hands on the sphinx's body as she drops to her knees. "I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I'm sorry."

Hajar walks over and lays his hands on the Cryosphinx. LoH: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

I will save him if I can Mistress.

Not sure if it helps, but Yazi looks upset so Hajar has to try.

Yazi's eyes rapidly dilate and grow hopeful as Hajar steps up and she sees the healing warmth flow out from his hands.

Khayal lowers his swords, certainly is an interesting group he got himself into.

Hajar's attempt is too later or not enough divine power; the sphinx is gone.

Strange that after a week, this was the only beast you encountered in the Brazen Peaks.

(Do you want to camp, bury the sphinx (bigger than a camel), or go on to a new campsite?)

Perhapse you find that not very druid like of me, friends. But these Brazen Peaks are filled with evil. Nature demands the balance. We must bring it if possible. I hope you understand. Paige fetches water for the donkeys, who appear pretty shook up by the whole affair.

Paige votes for camping.

Slowly the hope dies out in Yazi's eyes as Hajar's power fails to bring the beast back. Letting out sniffles and hiccups of sobs she runs her hand over the creaature's back in a calming motion.

And then Paige speaks up.

The sad sounds stop, being replaced a few seconds later with a low cackle, too rhythmic to be a chuckle. "Evil?" she mutters inbetween the cackling as she stands up and drifts over to the druid, letting her hands rest on the smaller girl's shoulders. "He wasn't evil. He was going to let us pass after the riddles. We were having fun. Riddles are fun."

Ever so slowly as she speaks her hands begin sliding up from Paige's shoulders to the girl's neck. "You ruined that, you made him attack us."

Ever so slightly her fingers grip around the girl's neck. "But even then he stopped, he surrendered, he was going to help us. He was... But I was too caught up... And I ran him through, after he had surrendered. I killed someone who wasn't fighting back. I killed him. YOU made me kill him."

Trembling she keeps her fingers firm but not tight around Paige's neck.

EDIT: *grumblegrumble*stupid typos*grumblegrumble*

Do not blame your act upon me, Cavalier! No one can MAKE another do ANYTHING. Each of us chooses freely. And you chose life for your friends over death. Do not regret your choice! This creature is powerful. I can sense the divine energy flowing though it. I will state no more overt apologies for my actions than I have already stated. If you think I have upset the balance of nature than kill me. Paige draws a sacred daggar and offers the hilt to Yazi. For if my death serves nature than I accept it without complaint.

Yazi, such spelling errors? Are YOU drinkin' haha!?

... No! *discreetly breathes on hand, sniffs*

Yazi arches a brow at the druid's reasoning before leaning in close to her face. Her hot breath heavy and enveloping as she speaks. "Oh but I can. I can make you cry. I can make you scream. I can make you hurt." Stopping she'll kiss the druid as deeply as she can before pulling away. "I want to, I really want to do all those horrible thoughts in my head right now, allto you... But I also don't want to do that to you."

Hajar watches the two females, deeply disturbed.

We should go. Carrion animals will investigate this area soon.

Lets move forward.

Bartan is also fascinated by the exchange between Paige and Yazi. He makes a mental note to pull Yazi aside later and speak to her about this event.

"I agree. We should move ahead... whether the sphinx was actively trying to kill us when it was taken down or not, the fact remains that it was a threat to our survival. We did what we had to in the situation as it was presented."

Letting go of Paige Yazi will turn and give Bartan an empty, dead stare. "You didn't stab him in the back of the head when he wanted to talk though."

Paige will lead the animals, guiding the wagon on foot. I can't take to the sky until tomorrow. We should find a place to rest.

(Just waiting on Amir and Khayal for comments. Otherwise, roll some Survival and Perception checks and I'll counter-roll to move us along.)

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

surviv: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
perc: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19