Jelani's Colonization:Aspis Rising (Inactive)

Game Master Brian Minhinnick

Just a clarification, but Corridan is not so much against diving, as he is indifferent about it. He is simply pointing out the challenge such an endeavor would entail.

Kay. Well in absence of a good plan, and not hearing Iliante to volunteer to go it alone, I will be moving this forward very soon.

Emerion adjusted his lenses.

"The dragon was to young to have a mate and to old to be under a parents care. As to a loss of time, it is but a quarter mile from our present location. The time would not effect our mission. I would also make clear that the consortium is concerned with wealth, a dragon's hoard even a small one is of importance to them at all times. But if it is of low concern so be it. Hopefully the dragon was cunning enough to hide his hoard well. If not wise enough to choose it's targets more carefully. At the very least his territory is open to future ship travel. I suspect that is the reason we were attacked."

He puts the map away. He would have to request certain spells. Returning on the consortiums investment as soon as possible would benefit all. Still the dragon organs were something, a small start is better then none.

Onward Ho! x3

<< Obari Ocean | 21:45 | Warm, 70° F | Starday, Rova 21th, 4713 AR >>

The sun set while Emerion harvested the dragon's organs and cast his lengthy spell. After viewing the map, the general consensus was that the risk involved in following it outweighed any potential reward.

The mercenaries return to drinking in the over crowded holds. The sailors cautiously reemerge onto the deck, seeming much more affected by the loss of their lookout than the mercenaries were the loss of their fellow soldier. They return to their duties somberly, guiding the ship away from the sight of the battle.

Many days pass with nothing notable happening. The ship attains a steady rhythm as each group finds their place aboard the crowded space. Friendships form between crewmen and mercenaries, and many tales are swapped over cheap rum and guttering candles. The weather is mercifully good, and the wind while not perfect, is as anticipated. Everything is going on schedule.

<< Obari Ocean | 02:12 | Warm, 65° F | Sunday, Lamashan 1st, 4713 AR >>

A large, yellow, waxing gibbous moon hangs over the steely grey waves of the Obari Ocean. The Naga's Breath is cutting smoothly across the waves, propelled by the druid's magical wind. Everyone but the skeleton night crew is asleep. The Agents dream. They dream of the endless black sea, of its cold unforgiving depths. A great storm rolls in over the ebony waves and angry clouds darken the sky. A gale force wind blows in, whipping the steely brine into towering waves. Their point of view shifts rapidly, confusedly. The sea sucks impossibly back, deeper and wider than any sea ought to be. It surges up over them, becoming a preposterously large wall of dark, rushing water. Within the wave writhe even darker shapes. Shapes that defy the eye, their curves interlocking in nightmarish contortions. Merely looking at the writhing forms is enough to send shivers of madness into the Agents' dreaming minds. The twisted, threatening shapes and the mere scale of the tsunami looming over them make them feel so small and insignificant as to question the concept of meaning itself.

Begin Round 1
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Perception:
Corridan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Devram: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Emerion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Iliante: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Penance: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Telemakos: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Shinjuko: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

DC is 0, -20 modifier for being asleep. So Corridan, Devram, Penance, Telemakos and Shinjuko made it.

Party 27
Monsters 17
Crew 11

Emerion and Iliante are asleep, someone can wake them by shaking them with a move action, or they will have a chance to hear shouting. The DC will be -10, with a -20 penalty on the check for being asleep.

Everyone else can act. You'd have whatever you normally would when sleeping, so no medium or heavier armor. Move action to grab weapons.

Map

As soon as you come in eye contact you can roll Knowledge (Nature)

If you go within 60' of one, make a DC 14 Fort save or take 1d6 points of strength damage. See stats in my profile for full details.

At first, Telemakos is releaved Oufff, that was an awful dream. This rolling and rocking of the ship does not sit well with my sleep…
Then he realizes that he has been woken up by a scream of terror Oh this is impossible! Under attack again, and we haven’t even landed yet! “Arasmes! Quick, we’re under att…” Oh, of course. I was sleeping. The Planes be damned, he’s never around when I need him!

Telemakos makes a move to wake up Corridan, but he sees his bunkmate as awake as he is. The gnome goes to the door, then comes back to grab the rifle, then finally manages to get out of the door.

Round 1
grab the rifle, then move, ending my movement as near to the deck as I can, so I believe S16. I’m within 60 feet but there’s still a closed door between Telemakos and the hag.

Penance twists restlessly in the grip of the nightmare. Perhaps most of those with orcish blood lean towards the lure of chaos and the draw of doing whatever suits them, but for Penance, the set rules and strictures of his life in Nex formed a pathway: a pathway by which he was allowed to live, allowed some privileges and comforts. He has respect for order... and this frothing maelstrom of nature-gone-mad is not it.

He calls out to Abadar, in his dream-- bellows out for the god-- but his voice is lost in the raging wind.

He sits up sweating, nearly cracking his head on the bunk above. "Godsdammit-- the hell was that?"

The big half-orc rolls out of bed-- at least he's finally gotten his sea legs, after a fashion-- and lurches against the wall, grabs for his sword and the cabin's door. Move action to grab weapon, move action to open cabin door, since I doubt they are left open at night. If they are open, he would move out onto deck into the first adjacent square to the enemy.

Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 *facepalm* Ouch.
Str Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6 ....seriously? *double facepalm*

He gasps as he feels the strength of his body being ripped away, the sword becoming suddenly impossibly heavy in his hands. At least, he thinks with inappropriate black humor, he's not wearing his heavy armor...

"'Ware the ship!" he shouts, hoarsely. "Trouble! Some-- some sorta strength-sappin' gods-damned witch-thing!"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Even with the -20 hat beats the -10 DC, so you wake up this round. Go ahead and act.

Devram wakes up at the same time as his bunkmate and drops to the floor. "You heard that too?" he asks and he draws his dueling sword. He follows Penance to the door.

If Penance takes the move action to open the door, Devram can go through it with his.

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

-Posted with Wayfinder

Cries of alert and worse coming from beyond the aft cabin, Shinjuko snaps awake out of her bed in an instant. Her hands quickly and nimbly retrieve her Yamakawa tachi from its delicate perch atop the young woman's iron footlocker. Muffled exclamations coming from the adjacent room informs her that at least Telemakos too has noticed the distress aboard the ship. She gives the wall two sharp taps with the hilt of her sword as she passes beyond her doorway, allowing the gnome and Corridan to know that she too is responding to whatever threat looms without. She prays that the earlier fear of more dragons is not the culprit at play here; an older brine dragon would likely be more than the ship could handle.

Her barefooted steps carrying her quickly and silently through the adjoining hallway, she presses her back to the wall beside the double-doors leading onto the main deck. Once more utilizing the pommel of her now unsheathed blade, she leverages the nearest door open and peeks outside to see what madness has befallen the Naga this night.
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Shinjuko is going to try and go the subtle route, using the wall next to the doors as cover to hide behind (not before peeking out to see what's going on, of course).

Move Action #1: Retrieve Noriki no meiyo.
Move Action #2: Move to T17 and open the adjacent door.
Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 (pass)
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

You're awake too Nim.

Round 1

Iliante startles awake heaving his breaths at the shouting that he hasn't fully digested. His automatic training kicks in as he swings out of his hammock, shoulders his haversack, and readies his weapons. He sleeps with his armor. His thoughts swirl through his mind as his conscious attempts to catch his unconscious actions. What the hell was that? repeats more and more frequently as he becomes more aware of his current reality.
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Get out of bed, equip, and attempt to decipher the ruckus.

Awakening from the strange dream only to hear cries for help coming from the main deck, Corridan takes but a moment to clear his head before jumping out of bed, bare feet touching the wooden floor almost without making a sound. Thanks to his cautious -or, as some might say, paranoid- nature, he tends to sleep with his light mithral shirt and his pair of daggers on him, at least until he finds himself in more private accomodations, and it is a habit he is thankful for at the moment.

Hearing the taps coming from Shinjuko's room, he nods in acknowledgement and, looking at Telemakos briefly, the tailor starts making his way towards the source of the commotion, following the Tian woman's example and moving as silently as he can, inwardly thinking that perhaps he should start sleeping with his boots on as well. As he comes to stand next to her, he chances a glance outside the door, spotting what look like two monstrous old women, as well as a fallen sailor. So ugly they are that there is a chill running down his spine as he looks at them, but he thankfully manages to fight it off.

"At least it is not another dragon, I suppose," he whispers to Shinjuko, his soft-spoken words accompanied by a shrug.

Round 1

Hit Points 23/23
Ki Pool 3/3
AC 19/T 15/FF 14, CMD 19
Fort +3/Ref +9/Will +2 (+4 vs. charm and compulsion)

Move Action: Move to R17.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Emerion snaps awake at the noise as well as the vivid dreams. He quickly gains his wits and realizes they are under attack again. Feeling slightly off from the disturbing dream he ignores it none the less. He spies Iliante already preparing as well having awken before him. This time he would prepare a little more then last time before hand, getting up from his bunk he begins casting a defensive spell on himself. Thinking of what creatures may await them on deck.
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Cast Shield

Round 1

At first, Telemakos is releaved. Oufff, that was an awful dream. This rolling and rocking of the ship does not sit well with my sleep...
Then he realizes that he has been woken up by a scream of terror. Oh this is impossible! Under attack again, and we haven’t even landed yet! “Arasmes! Quick, we’re under att…” Oh, of course. I was sleeping. The Planes be damned, he’s never around when I need him!

Telemakos makes a move to wake up Corridan, but he sees his bunkmate as awake as he is. The gnome goes to the door, then comes back to grab the rifle. Clutching his firearm, the gnome makes his way into the passage, and opens the door that leads the the deck's antechamber.

Penance twists restlessly in the grip of the nightmare. Perhaps most of those with orcish blood lean towards the lure of chaos and the draw of doing whatever suits them, but for Penance, the set rules and strictures of his life in Nex formed a pathway: a pathway by which he was allowed to live, allowed some privileges and comforts. He has respect for order... and this frothing maelstrom of nature-gone-mad is not it. He calls out to Abadar, in his dream-- bellows out for the god-- but his voice is lost in the raging wind. He sits up sweating, nearly cracking his head on the bunk above. "Godsdammit-- the hell was that?"

The big half-orc rolls out of bed-- at least he's finally gotten his sea legs, after a fashion-- and lurches against the wall, grabs for his sword and the cabin's door. He goes out into the short hallway, and throws the door to the main deck open. His darkvision illuminates most of the deck in black and white tones. Standing immediately next to him is a sailor. The man grasps his cheeks, an expression of frozen horror on his face.

Across the deck, no more than fifteen feet from Penance stands a horrible creature. If it stood straight, it would be a good foot taller than him, but it is hunched over, its long clawed fingers even with its knees. Sea water and kelp drip off of its scraggly long black hair, which hangs down obscuring a hideous face. The thing looks like a terribly old, ugly, woman. With pitted black and purple skin, so wrinkled and cracked that she resembles a corpse. Her small evil looking, piggish eyes glint jet black in the light of the moon. Opposite her on the other side of the deck is another of the creatures. They could be twin sisters, the second creature is barely different from the first.

Penance gasps as he feels the strength of his body being ripped away, the sword becoming suddenly impossibly heavy in his hands. At least, he thinks with inappropriate black humor, he's not wearing his heavy armor. "'Ware the ship!" he shouts, hoarsely. "Trouble! Some-- some sorta strength-sappin' gods-damned witch-thing!"

Devram wakes up at the same time as his bunkmate and drops to the floor. "You heard that too?" he asks and he draws his dueling sword. He follows Penance to the door. He can barely see in the dim light of the moon, but the mere sight of the shadowy dripping crones is enough to assault his body. The duelist draws on his inner reserves and fights off the horror, remaining strong.

Cries of alert and worse coming from beyond the aft cabin, Shinjuko snaps awake out of her bed in an instant. Her hands quickly and nimbly retrieve her Yamakawa tachi from its delicate perch atop the young woman's iron footlocker. Muffled exclamations coming from the adjacent room informs her that at least Telemakos too has noticed the distress aboard the ship. She gives the wall two sharp taps with the hilt of her sword as she passes beyond her doorway, allowing the gnome and Corridan to know that she too is responding to whatever threat looms without. She prays that the earlier fear of more dragons is not the culprit at play here; an older brine dragon would likely be more than the ship could handle.

Her barefooted steps carrying her quickly and silently through the adjoining hallway, she presses her back to the wall beside the double-doors leading onto the main deck. Once more utilizing the pommel of her now unsheathed blade, she leverages the nearest door open and peeks outside to see what madness has befallen the Naga this night.

Iliante startles awake heaving his breaths at the shouting that he hasn't fully digested. His automatic training kicks in as he swings out of his hammock, shoulders his haversack, and readies his weapons. He sleeps with his armor. His thoughts swirl through his mind as his conscious attempts to catch his unconscious actions. What the hell was that? repeats more and more frequently as he becomes more aware of his current reality.

Awakening from the strange dream only to hear cries for help coming from the main deck, Corridan takes but a moment to clear his head before jumping out of bed, bare feet touching the wooden floor almost without making a sound. Thanks to his cautious -or, as some might say, paranoid- nature, he tends to sleep with his light mithral shirt and his pair of daggers on him, at least until he finds himself in more private accomodations, and it is a habit he is thankful for at the moment.

Hearing the taps coming from Shinjuko's room, he nods in acknowledgement and, looking at Telemakos briefly, the tailor starts making his way towards the source of the commotion, following the Tian woman's example and moving as silently as he can, inwardly thinking that perhaps he should start sleeping with his boots on as well. As he comes to stand next to her, he chances a glance outside the door, spotting what look like two monstrous old women, as well as a fallen sailor. So ugly they are that there is a chill running down his spine as he looks at them, but he thankfully manages to fight it off.

"At least it is not another dragon, I suppose," he whispers to Shinjuko, his soft-spoken words accompanied by a shrug.

Emerion snaps awake at the noise as well as the vivid dreams. He quickly gains his wits and realizes they are under attack again. Feeling slightly off from the disturbing dream he ignores it none the less. He spies Iliante already preparing as well having awoken before him. This time he would prepare a little more then last time before hand, getting up from his bunk he begins casting a defensive spell on himself, thinking of what creatures may await them on deck.

The hags explode into action upon seeing that they've been discovered. They run for the two sailors who are standing shocked on deck. One of them leaps over the life boat on all fours like an ape, before bringing one thick hand around in a swipe, tearing open the stunned man's guts. The other clambers across the deck, cackling and claws four huge bloody furrows across the face of the garundi woman cowering there.

The injured sailors scramble away from their assailants, screaming for help. The woman runs up the steps onto a higher deck, while the man crawls behind the boat, trying to use it as cover.

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Fort save versus second hag Penance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Pass

Fort save versus second hag Devram: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 Pass

Fort save versus second hag Shinjuko: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Pass

Fort save versus second hag Corridan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Fail
Str damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Round 2, go! Was kinda in a hurry for this post, sorry if there are any mistakes.

It's dim light outside so if you don't have darkvision or a lightsource, 20% miss chance.

Map

"I hate the hell outta tonight," Penance mumbles through the wave of weakness that's still ravaging his limbs. He grunts as he hefts his sword with an effort and glares, yellow-eyed, at the witch who has brought this strange affliction on him.

"Let's dance, sweetheart."

He focuses on the nearer one, stepping the five feet closer to her and trying to bring the sword down though his muscles protest every move he makes. There's one of the sailors near to the witch-thing's claws, and if he doesn't get in there and give her another target, the sailor will be dead... just like the soldiers whom the dragon had killed.

Attacking #1, Smite, 12 STR: 1d20 + 8 - 3 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 3 + 3 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11

AC vs #1 is at 14 due to Smite.

Ah crap I forgot to put their stats in my profile. I'll do that when I get home from work later.

Actually, I am insane. Their stats are definitely in my profile (~_~)*

Telemakos' breath is already short when he gets to the door, his tiny legs having a hard time keeping up with slender Corridan and Yamakawa.
He leans over the door to see what’s going on “Ohoooh that is awful… what-what kind of horrors…?” the gnome shivers as his half-digested dinner comes back in his throat. He wipes a drop of bile from his mouth but manages to resists the repugnant effect of the witches "We must have angered Lamashtu and Urgathoa, if they send their daughters to fight us!” he screams, trying to hide his panic under his flamboyant speech.

What… what kind of beast can face those creatures… they would scare even ‘Ras… he is a big softy after all! So something equally scary, maybe – but people would need to know it is on their side, so… ”Don’t worry Master Penance! Help is on its way! I will summon a fierce ally from Heaven to help you with that!” I think the proper word to access Heaven is пеколот… indeed, that sounds right…

A circle of green flames opens near the hag, and out of it jumps a horrifying spider, as big as a pony. The spider is black and crimson red, has mandibles dripping poison, and stenches like sulfur and blood. Its body is covered in thick, patchy black fur.

Oh. Oh. but I could’ve sworn… the gnome scratches his head Can I even control that?… oh, well it’s attacking the witches, that’s enough… "Everyone, do not worry about the horrifying spider, that is friendly! That is friendly! I know it looks scary but I totally meant to do that! Everything is under control!"

The spider was feasting on the souls of the damned when it got called, and sees no point in stopping doing that. He jumps at the nearest hag, biting her viciously. Bet it tastes just like the souls of the damned, just saltier. Unfortunately the dimensional travel shook the vermin up , and his attack is off target.
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Fort vs hag 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Fort vs hag 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 well these are two wasted saves...

move action to get to the door, ending in S17
Standard action to use Summom Monster II SLA, one randomly templated giant spider appearing in S23
Random Template: 1 celestial, 2 fiendish, 3 resolute, 4 enthropic: 1d4 ⇒ 2 that’s perfect

The spider uses a swift action to activate Smite and a standard action to attack
atk vs #1: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8
The spider now flanks #1 with Penance, I believe

Round 2

Iliante moves out his cabin with his revolver in hand. He moves to get line of sight with hag 1 and will stop at the doorway if possible. What are those things? Nightmares made real.
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Fort save DC 14 vs Horrific Appearance: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
if fail, strength damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
point blank ranged touch masterwork revolver: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28 20/x4 Range 20-ft, Misfire 1-2
if hit, damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12

Emerion makes his way outside his cabin, upon sighting the creatures he is hit with utter revulsion. Despite that he searches his vast knowledge to know exactly what he is dealing with. Casting a spell to strike the creature in the meantime. I should be better prepared, still my spells are limited. I will need to request some from the consortium better suited to this type of mission. He shook his head to remain focused and keep stray thoughts at bay.

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Fort Save 1 vs DC 14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Fort Save 2 vs DC 14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Knowledge (Nature) vs Sea Hags: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Magic Missile vs Sea Hag 1: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1) + 2 = 5

::Facepalm:: Bane of my existence.

Devram steps out of the door and is face to face with a hideous hag. He brandishes his dueling sword and then strikes out at her. "Prepare to die!"

5 foot step to S-25
Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

-Posted with Wayfinder

Shinjuko stifles what might have been a giggle, nodding in agreement with Corridan. Though terrible foes, these were no dragons. Their hunched, twisted visage managed to chill even one so frigid as she, but she would not be deterred by their countenance. Making use of the techniques drilled into her very being, Shinjuko extends her tachi before her, whispering lowly "Yama no kokyū no hiyayaka" as she draws the fold between thumb and index finger across the length of the blade. A sheath of rime encompasses the curved sword, and she wheels out onto the main deck of the ship to rush the nearest of the two sea hags. As her steps carry her closer, frozen tendrils of energy kick up about the length of her forearms and sword like vapors.

She closes the distance quickly, striking upwards across the hag's abdomen in a single horizontal stroke with blinding speed. The same rime that coats her tachi takes hold on the sea hag for only a moment before melting away harmlessly into water. Shinjuko spares this development a brief arch of her left eyebrow before spinning into a low stance, the length of her sword curving behind her slight shoulders as she prepares another strike against her foe.

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Active Effects: Icy Assault (1/3 Rounds); Frostbite (1/3 Attacks)

Swift Action: Activating Icy Assault (attacks deal an additional 1d6 cold damage).
Spellstrike Action:

Round 2 continued

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Fort save DC 14 vs Horrific Appearance Hag 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
if fail, strength damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Summary takes 3 Strength damage to 10 and gives 12 damage to Hag 1. Revolver shots remaining 5/6

Think we're just waiting on Corridan.

Feeling his strength draining a little, Corridan sighs and eyes the hag closest to him. Sparing but a moment to reach a decision, he moves quickly to close the distance with the creature, charging and using the momentum to add some more force into a left side kick, enough to penetrate his foe's defenses and have his foot and part of his shin connect solidly with her ribs.

Round 2

Hit Points 23/23
Ki Pool 3/3
AC 17/T 13/FF 12, CMD 19
Fort +3/Ref +9/Will +2 (+4 vs. charm and compulsion)

Full-Round Action: Charge at Hag 2, ending the movement at S20.

Charge (unarmed strike): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17
Damage (bludgeoning): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Update tomorrow morning after work. Which will be after midnight Friday for most of you.

Round 2

"I hate the hell outta tonight," Penance mumbles through the wave of weakness that's still ravaging his limbs. He grunts as he hefts his sword with an effort and glares, yellow-eyed, at the witch who has brought this strange affliction on him. "Let's dance, sweetheart."

He focuses on the nearer one, stepping the five feet closer to her and trying to bring the sword down though his muscles protest every move he makes. There's one of the sailors near to the witch-thing's claws, and if he doesn't get in there and give her another target, the sailor will be dead... just like the soldiers whom the dragon had killed. His square tipped blade strikes the hag in the shoulder, slicing her down to the collar bone, which shatters under the force of the blow. The hag shrieks and whirls to face Penance, baleful evil burning in her eyes.

Telemakos' breath is already short when he gets to the door, his tiny legs having a hard time keeping up with slender Corridan and Yamakawa.
He leans over the door to see what’s going on “Ohoooh that is awful… What-what kind of horrors…?” the gnome shivers as his half-digested dinner comes back in his throat. He wipes a drop of bile from his mouth but manages to resists the repugnant effect of the witches "We must have angered Lamashtu and Urgathoa, if they send their daughters to fight us!” he screams, trying to hide his panic under his flamboyant speech.

What… what kind of beast can face those creatures… they would scare even ‘Ras… he is a big softy after all! So something equally scary, maybe – but people would need to know it is on their side, so… ”Don’t worry Master Penance! Help is on its way! I will summon a fierce ally from Heaven to help you with that!” I think the proper word to access Heaven is пеколот… indeed, that sounds right…

A circle of green flames opens near the hag, and out of it jumps a horrifying spider, as big as a pony. The spider is black and crimson red, has mandibles dripping poison, and stinks like sulfur and blood. Its body is covered in thick, patchy black fur.

oh...OH! but I could’ve sworn… The gnome scratches his head. Can I even control that?… Oh, well it’s attacking the witches, that’s enough… "Everyone, do not worry about the horrifying spider, that is friendly! That is friendly! I know it looks scary but I totally meant to do that! Everything is under control!"

The spider was feasting on the souls of the damned when it got called, and sees no point in stopping doing that. It jumps at the nearest hag, biting her viciously. The demonic spider bets it tastes just like the souls of the damned, just saltier. Unfortunately the dimensional travel shook the vermin up, and his attack misses.

Iliante moves out his cabin with his revolver in hand. He quickly crosses the hallway and moves in behind Penance. At the sight of the hags, the horror lingering from the dream is compounded a thousandfold and Iliante can feel himself weaken. Despite the weakness, he raises his revolver past Penance's left side and squeezes off a round. The thundercrack of gunfire is defeaning the small space of the hallway. The hag jerks as the bullet tears into her abdomen. It leaves a ragged hole the size of an acorn in its wake, which begins rapidly leaking black blood down the hag's stomach and thighs.

Emerion makes his way outside his cabin, upon sighting the creatures he is hit with utter revulsion. Despite that he searches his vast knowledge to know exactly what he is dealing with. Casting a spell to strike the creature in the meantime. I should be better prepared, still my spells are limited. I will need to request some from the consortium better suited to this type of mission. He shook his head to remain focused and keep stray thoughts at bay. His magical darts fly forward to strike the hag near the bullet wound, leaving to small smoking wounds in her chest. She hisses and screams in pain under the continued assault.

Devram steps out of the door and is face to face with a hideous hag. He brandishes his dueling sword and then strikes out at her. "Prepare to die!" The thrashing hag leaps back out of the way of the blow, hissing at the duelist. He can smell the scent of rotting fish and brine on her breath, as flecks of yellowish spittle fly to hit him in the face.

Shinjuko stifles what might have been a giggle, nodding in agreement with Corridan. Though terrible foes, these were no dragons. Their hunched, twisted visage managed to chill even one so frigid as she, but she would not be deterred by their countenance. Making use of the techniques drilled into her very being, Shinjuko extends her tachi before her, whispering lowly "Yama no kokyū no hiyayaka" as she draws the fold between thumb and index finger across the length of the blade. A sheath of rime encompasses the curved sword, and she wheels out onto the main deck of the ship to rush the nearest of the two sea hags. As her steps carry her closer, frozen tendrils of energy kick up about the length of her forearms and sword like vapors.

She closes the distance quickly, striking upwards across the hag's abdomen in a single horizontal stroke with blinding speed. The same rime that coats her tachi takes hold on the sea hag for only a moment before melting away harmlessly into water. Shinjuko spares this development a brief arch of her left eyebrow before spinning into a low stance, the length of her sword curving behind her slight shoulders as she prepares another strike against her foe. The cut she made along the hag's chest splits open a moment later, exposing ribs and musculature in a long inch deep gash. The hag doubles forward in pain, hissing angrily.

Feeling his strength draining a little, Corridan sighs and eyes the hag closest to him. Sparing but a moment to reach a decision, he moves quickly to close the distance with the creature, charging and using the momentum to add some more force into a left side kick, enough to penetrate his foe's defenses and have his foot and part of his shin connect solidly with her ribs. His kick causes a gout of blood to spurt from the slash across the front of her torso.

The step back from their many foes, glaring at them with their baleful eyes. The one that Penance cut focuses on him, while Shinjuko's target glares at her. The Agents can feel a palpable evil take a hold of them under the hags' gazes. Nebulous distress and a gnawing sense of impending doom grow huge in their minds. Penance is able to shake it off, but Shinjuko feels her focus spiral out of control. Noriki no meiyo was right, she doesn't belong here. She's doomed.

The wounded sailor continues to cower behind the boat, urinating himself.
________________________________

Will save Shinjuko: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Fail
Will save Penance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Pass

You have been cursed Shinjuko. You are staggered until the hag dies, or someone casts Remove Curse on you.

Round 3. Go!

Map

Penance grits his teeth as he feels horror battering at his soul. No way, no how; these monsters-of-the-deep can take his body, maybe-- can steal away the brute physical power that is all most ever see when they look at him-- but they don't get to touch his soul.

He makes to move forward-- then realizes Iliante, behind him, is using one of the firearms. He'll block the fish-man's shot like that. Gritting his teeth, Penance circles around the cowering sailor instead. Move NW, SW.

Come to think of it, it puts the witch-thing back between him and the spider that the crazy gnome's gone and called. Good enough.

"Thanks for my dance partner!" he bellows to Telemakos, and lifts his executioner's sword overhead again, chopping down over the boat to try to hack in the top of the witch's skull.

Attacking #1, Smite, 12 STR, flank: 1d20 + 8 - 3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 3 + 3 + 2 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14

AC vs #1 is at 14 due to Smite/11 vs #2.

That kills #1.

“You are most welcome!” shouts back Telemakos at Penance when the half-orc acknowledges his usefulness. It is a proud moment for the gnome – almost as if he actually did something himself instead of sending a proxy to do his dirty work.
Hah! I think I’m getting the hang of this! thinks the gnome, gaining confidence Now if I could just get this thing to work… he aims his rifle at the witch, only for her to move behind Corridan. Telemakos takes a couple of steps to his left, for the first time leaving his safe spot tucked behind the door – and even getting dangerously close to the ship’s bulwark and the sea below. He raises his rifle, and for the first time in battle, fires.

It goes about as well as one could imagine: the bullet grazes the gnome's very own summoned monster and buries itself deeply into the wooden deck of the ship.

The spider would have many reasons to be confused: the gnome summoned it, and now shoots at it? Luckily, the spider is mostly mindless, so it follows its arcane compulsion to attack enemies. Its bite is precise, and pumps fiendish venom into the witch's body.

___________________

Telemakos: Move action to Q19, standard action to fire rifle at #2
Rifle atk: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 4 = 51d8 ⇒ 8 ainful waste of an 8 on the d8

Spider: 5’ step to T22 (where it should flank with Penance), standard action to attack #2
Bite atk: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 241d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 success
Sea Hag fort save vs Spider's poison: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 101d2 ⇒ 2 great!

Hag #2 takes 3 dmg and 2 points of Str dmg

Devram slides up to the remaining hag in a fancy shuffling maneuver and lashes out with his sword.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

-Posted with Wayfinder

Round 3

Iliante staggers, physically weak with fear, for a point blank line of sight on the last hag. His mind fogged with nightmare. His revolver moving on its own to end the hag. CRACK!
______________________________________
point blank ranged touch masterwork revolver: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18
20/x4 Range 20-ft, Misfire 1-2
if hit, damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11
Summary has 3 Strength damage to 10. Revolver shots remaining 4/6

Seeing one enemy fall he focuses on the next. Recasting his spell. He whispers words of power while moving a hand through a series of motions and signs. The familiar flow of arcane energy building around him, the image of distant glowing stars in his mind becoming real in the form of a pair growing larger. They swirl around him unseen by others until they become infused with his arcane power, bursting into reality they fly like shining comets of purple light into the ugly hag. His lips fall silent, his movements complete.
________________________________________________________________________

Magic Missile vs Sea Hag 2: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

Corridan closes the distance with the remaining hag, this time striking at her with a left jab followed by a right cross. The former, however, is deflected by the creature's thick hide, while the latter fails to connect altogether.

Round 3

Hit Points 23/23
Ki Pool 3/3
AC 19/T 15/FF 14, CMD 19
Fort +3/Ref +9/Will +2 (+4 vs. charm and compulsion)

No Action: Take 5-foot step to S21.
Full-Round Action: Attack Hag 2 with flurry of blows.

Flurry of blows (unarmed strike): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Damage (bludgeoning): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Flurry of blows (unarmed strike): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Damage (bludgeoning): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Hey, how do you guys do the strikethrough?

Brackets with an S inside. Then [/s] to close it.

I'll have a post up first thing in the morning. Hoped to do it tonight, but I'm beat. Just to verify before I pass out though, five-foot steps are fine while Staggered, yes?

Don't want to look it up right now, so I'll say sure! Since they are normally free actions if you don't take a move action that round.

Despair takes hold and begins to gnaw at the recesses of Shinjuko's mind; of her very being. One of the creatures lay motionless on the deck of the ship, cut down by the massive weapon wielded by Penance, but the second yet remains. Its cruel visage and hideous countenance serve as a chilling reminder of the futility of their efforts. By dawn, the entire crew would likely be slain by that same beast. Death looming or not, the young Yamakawa bushi-mahotsukai has always been taught to meet death with courage. To fall in the service of one's superiors is not only expected, but demanded. If she is to perish, she will meet her next life bearing a soul without impurity. She will go down with her sword in her hands.

Willing stubborn knees to obey, Shinjuko adopts a very basic and minimal fighting stance as she steps briskly towards the creature that unnerved her so easily. Noriki no meiyo rests comfortably in the grasp of both hands, trailing behind her right hip as the young ronin-ko prepares a strike intended for the sea hag's crooked neck. Her form is sloppy, but the blue stream that chases her blade lends a moment of ephemeral beauty to the violent spray of blood that soon follows. In a single fluid motion following the strike, Shinjuko flicks the frozen globules of blood from her blade before swiftly returning it to sheath.
__________________________________________________

Shinjuko is stepping up beside Corridan and attacking the remaining sea hag.

Active Effects: Icy Assault (2/3 Rounds); Frostbite (2/3 Attacks); +1 enhancement bonus (1/10 rounds)

Swift Action: Spending one point from her arcane pool to add a +1 enhancement bonus to her tachi.
5-Ft. Step: T21
Standard Action: Attack Sea Hag #2

Attack Roll: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 29 (I think Devram is providing flanking; if not, ignore the +2 from the Attack results)
>Physical Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8
>Cold Damage (Su): 1d6 ⇒ 1
>Nonlethal Cold Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (Target is Fatigued)
>>Confirmation Roll: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 23
>>>Physical Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
>>>Cold Damage (Su): 1d6 ⇒ 6
>>>Nonlethal Cold Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 (Target is Fatigued)

Spell Resistance Check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (Fail)

Total Damage: 15 Physical; 7 Cold

A little busy with school starting and stuff, so I'm just going to do a quick no frills update.

Round 3

Penance grits his teeth as he feels horror battering at his soul. No way, no how; these monsters-of-the-deep can take his body, maybe-- can steal away the brute physical power that is all most ever see when they look at him-- but they don't get to touch his soul.

He makes to move forward-- then realizes Iliante, behind him, is using one of the firearms. He'll block the fish-man's shot like that. Gritting his teeth, Penance circles around the cowering sailor instead.

Come to think of it, it puts the witch-thing back between him and the spider that the crazy gnome's gone and called. Good enough.

"Thanks for my dance partner!" he bellows to Telemakos, and lifts his executioner's sword overhead again, chopping down over the boat to try to hack in the top of the witch's skull. He does so, splattering her brains across the deck.

“You are most welcome!” shouts back Telemakos at Penance when the half-orc acknowledges his usefulness. It is a proud moment for the gnome – almost as if he actually did something himself instead of sending a proxy to do his dirty work.

Hah! I think I’m getting the hang of this! thinks the gnome, gaining confidence Now if I could just get this thing to work… he aims his rifle at the witch, only for her to move behind Corridan. Telemakos takes a couple of steps to his left, for the first time leaving his safe spot tucked behind the door – and even getting dangerously close to the ship’s bulwark and the sea below. He raises his rifle, and for the first time in battle, fires.

It goes about as well as one could imagine: the bullet grazes the gnome's very own summoned monster and buries itself deeply into the wooden deck of the ship.

The spider would have many reasons to be confused: the gnome summoned it, and now shoots at it? Luckily, the spider is mostly mindless, so it follows its arcane compulsion to attack enemies. Its bite is precise, and pumps fiendish venom into the witch's body.

Devram slides up to the remaining hag in a fancy shuffling maneuver and lashes out with his sword. He misses.

Iliante staggers, physically weak with fear, for a point blank line of sight on the last hag. His mind fogged with nightmare. His revolver moving on its own to end the hag. CRACK! The bullet hits her in the chest, shattering a rib and tearing open one lung. Black blood mist puffs from the wound as the hag struggles to breathe.

Seeing one enemy fall he focuses on the next. Recasting his spell. He whispers words of power while moving a hand through a series of motions and signs. The familiar flow of arcane energy building around him, the image of distant glowing stars in his mind becoming real in the form of a pair growing larger. They swirl around him unseen by others until they become infused with his arcane power, bursting into reality they fly like shining comets of purple light into the ugly hag. His lips fall silent, his movements complete. The darts tear into the hag, burning smoking holes through her already ravaged body. She hunches over, barely maintaining consciousness.

Corridan closes the distance with the remaining hag, this time striking at her with a left jab followed by a right cross. The former, however, is deflected by the creature's thick hide, while the latter fails to connect altogether.

Despair takes hold and begins to gnaw at the recesses of Shinjuko's mind; of her very being. One of the creatures lay motionless on the deck of the ship, cut down by the massive weapon wielded by Penance, but the second yet remains. Its cruel visage and hideous countenance serve as a chilling reminder of the futility of their efforts. By dawn, the entire crew would likely be slain by that same beast. Death looming or not, the young Yamakawa bushi-mahotsukai has always been taught to meet death with courage. To fall in the service of one's superiors is not only expected, but demanded. If she is to perish, she will meet her next life bearing a soul without impurity. She will go down with her sword in her hands.

Willing stubborn knees to obey, Shinjuko adopts a very basic and minimal fighting stance as she steps briskly towards the creature that unnerved her so easily. Noriki no meiyo rests comfortably in the grasp of both hands, trailing behind her right hip as the young ronin-ko prepares a strike intended for the sea hag's crooked neck. Her form is sloppy, but the blue stream that chases her blade lends a moment of ephemeral beauty to the violent spray of blood that soon follows. The hag's head goes flyign from her shoulders to plop into the sea. Her body slowly collapses forward onto the deck. In a single fluid motion following the strike, Shinjuko flicks the frozen globules of blood from her blade before swiftly returning it to sheath.

End combat, everyone gets another 1,500 XP.

That puts you all to level 4! Grats :)

Woohoo!

Penance lets his sword-arm drop as soon as the danger is ended. There's not a drop of blood on him but he feels winded as if from a mile's run, his arms trembling with unaccustomed weakness.

He gives Shinjuko a nod across the bloodied deck, acknowledgment of a blow well struck on her part.

To cover up the shaking of his arms, Penance leans against the rowboat, bends down to the sailor who'd cowered beneath.

"You! You hurt?" he asks, eyes raking the sailor for injuries other than his ego. The Garundi sailor with the claws on her face, he also beckons closer.

A little help here, Abadar.

~Had you been steadfast, you would not have fallen to the curse of these witches. But until you learn that your true power comes from a greater strength than your own sword-arm, you will have many such lessons, my champion...

The half-orc grits his teeth. Oh, this is a lesson? You're a sorry teacher. Stick to banking! And let me heal these poor bastards!

The voice in his head doesn't answer with words... but Penance feels the hot glow starting in his heart, culminating in warmth in his hands.

As before, Penance would use his Lay on Hands on injured crew members. If you want me to roll for such things, just let me know.

"Anybody know what the hell those women were?" he asks the others raggedly, as he works. "I feel about as weak as a starved kitten. Someone better tell me I'm not gonna stay like this."

Once the fighting is over and the second hag is dead, Telemakos considers doing with the spider the same pantomime he did with the eagle Maybe I can ride it around for a while, I think there are people who do that… kobolds, or maybe svirfneblins… he looks once again at the Abyssal Spider, who is vomiting digestive juices on the corrupted flesh of the hag. Brrrr… nay, nay, one thousand times nay! I don’t want to touch that! he quickly makes for the spider, clears his throat, and shouts “Your services are no longer required… you are dismissed!”.
The spider keeps doing his disgusting business. The smell of the dead hag, combined with the stench of spider, is not helping the stomach.
"Begone, fierce beast! I release you of your dimensional chains!"
With a sickening slurping sound, the spider starts feeding on the already digested hag flesh. Oh for Asmodeus’ star… can… can I get rid of this horror?

“จะหายไปออก!” the spider goes nowhere and keeps feeding.
“է գնացել մերժել!” the spider has now almost finished dissolving and swallowing a whole leg of the hag, and is skittering towards the next one when…
“се качил разрешен!” the air gets warmer as a circle of green flames appear, swallowing the Spider back to the Abyss.

“There!” exclaims Telemakos “Another job well done!”

________

Wow 4th level already? That's a good one for the Summoner...

Fort Save for Tainted Spirit vs DC 13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Devram is breathing very hard after the fight. He sheathes his sword and leans against the ship's railing, catching his breath. "Whatever they were, they're damned ugly." He looks out to the water. "It'll be good to get off this boat. I feel like a sitting duck here."

Penance can clearly see that man behind the boat is in shock, his intestines are hanging out, and he's nearly bled to death. The woman is in a similar state, touching her ruined face and shaking. When he lays healing hands up them, they look up at him as if he were Aroden returned. They thank him profusely, the man shaking his hand vigorously and the woman inviting him back to her hammock. She's whip thin, tall, and black as coal, with close cropped chalk white hair.

Emerion starts searching the bodies of the sea hags, thankful for his strong gag reflex. Hearing Penance strained voice he answers.

"They are sea hags. Do not worry you will recover from their ability in time with rest. Certain healing magic can restore you faster of course."

While he did not remember much about their kind, something was nagging him. Maybe in time it would come to him.

Bahaha! Thanks for the chance to show off the awkward, inexperienced mama's boy that lurks under Penance's tough-guy front.

"I'll drink to that," Penance says emphatically to Coates' words about them being ugly as sin. He also nods a brusque thanks to Nimlaidas for his words that the weakness will pass.

He focuses on his work though-- the more injured sailor first, Penance's big hands inexpertly scooping the man's bowels back inside his body. It's a far cry from how a true healer would do it, but when you've got a god's occasional power tearing through you, you can take some shortcuts.

"You're my crew. Just saving the Consortium more death-pay than necessary," he mutters gruffly to the man's effusive thanks, while inwardly he feels a glow of warmth and hears the voice whispering well done. A leader serves his men... "Next time, get off the deck, eh?"

When the woman makes her clear invitation, Penance's eyes go briefly wide and for a split-second he looks young. Women are, in some ways, a big mystery to him. There'd been women who had looked at his broad shoulders with inviting eyes, back in Nex, but Adjah had explained bitterly to her son that for a slave, all the ways to say 'yes' always led to punishment in the end: a jealous husband or lover would see him beaten, or worse, if he dallied with their woman. Or what if a girl wound up pregnant by him? Would he bring the same stigma of his own birth, on a child... or make a mother make that choice?

And even once they had been free, in Katapesh-- there'd been too much else to worry about. Watching out from pursuit from Nex. Doing the Consortium's dirty business. And while girls had again beckoned from doorways, the Consortium had taught him to be wary of obligations now, and debts.... so he'd passed on.

Well. No worry about such things right now, and Adjah's advice is days and days of sailing away. Penance clears his throat.

"I'll... take you up on it when I'm back in fighting form, woman," he promises, trying to sound Experienced and Worldly. "Hate for what that witch did to me to ruin a good night, ha!"

Okay, Penance thinks worriedly. Maybe he's bought a few days to try and figure out what the hell he's supposed to do.

~A leader doesn't bed those who must obey his orders, whispers the damned voice.

HOW ABOUT YOU SHUT UP, GOLDEN-ASS?!

....Valkeri. He needs to talk to Valkeri. Yeah. He might know. Hell, even Coates might, he's got to have some experience. He mentally recoils from the idea of asking Nimlaidas such embarassing questions.

Can.....not...resist xD

Emerion adjust his glasses as he eyes Penance for a moment. Clearly sensing something from the exchange of the woman and Penance. He waits until the woman is out of ear shot then raises, walking over to the big half orc. He removes an item from his inner robes, a well made flask of expertly crafted silver and black cold iron. With a flick of his thumb the cap spins clear off, saved from the waves by a thin metal string attached to it. He offers Penance a drink and a few words.

"Good thinking. Swing your sword well."