Hrunndalf helps with the resecration of the Desnan shrine, and touches Zaiobe to stay in the loop on the discussion. As some harsh words (thoughts?) are exchanged, he attempts to defuse the situation with a heartfelt "Thank you for helping us, though it mean risking your life. We shall do our best to keep you safe from Kikonu's wrath."
Hrunndalf agrees to share his Shield wand with Mel. After she's had it, he will attempt to activate it for himself as well.
He also casts Shield of Faith on himself.
He positions himself outside on the balcony, diagonally opposed to Zaiobe such as to catch Kikonu in a flanking position, and to be out of the line of fire of the archers. Due to the extremely limited space and the possibility of damage resistance, he uses his magical morningstar as his main weapon.
"Ready when you are", he rumbles, raising the spiked mace high, hoping to land a telling blow before Kikonu knows what hit him.
|
Zaiobe has made it so retreat toward the sky is very likely: Kikonu moves to engage her, she retreats to sky, he pursues to follow. Given that, proposed layout below has PCs accept that such a flow will occur, and prepare to take advantage of it. Zaiobe would be asked to call Kikonu into the room, which forces him to run a gauntlet to get to her.
Goal with proposed layout is to have Kikonu moving away from our archers and into doorway, provoking AoO from as many as possible while being exposed to ranged characters for at least two rounds (surprise and normal), and having people with 10 foot range start behind people with 5' range. Room is present for Mel and Rhost to step to eiher box him in or step away.
OOOOOOOO
OOOMZOOO
OO_R'_OO
XTKA.DFX
XXL.H_XX
XXXY=XXX
XXXXXXXX
Goal is for Kikonu to appear in the pocket between Kelda and Alaric, get hammered by everyone.
Rhost will place himself where both Hrithik and Hrunndalf have indicated is advantageous -- shielding Zaiobe in the balcony entrance.
Alaric draws the wand of inflict moderate wounds and waits.
"Thank you, Hrunndalf." As she moves, her eyes linger on the center of the group.
Hrithik continues to listen to Liothonae address him for a long time in Thassilonian. He nods and replies.
She speaks so quiet it's almost a whisper...
"My blood flows through her veins.
"Thank you, Hrunndalf." As she moves, her eyes linger on the center of the group.
** spoiler omitted **
Lio approaches Attatoq and Kalimac. Ah kann kahst a spall on Ahttahtoq thot well maike em a little moare dahng'rous. She offers. If accepted, she casts Magic Fang, there is some fancy and mysterious druid ritual involved in the casting, it takes about 6 or so seconds.
Saving Throw Will negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)
Magic fang gives one natural weapon or unarmed strike of the
subject a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls. The
spell can aff ect a slam attack, fist, bite, or other natural weapon.
The spell does not change an unarmed strike’s damage from
nonlethal damage to lethal damage.
** spoiler omitted **
Mel looks over at Alaric, looks down and laughs quietly to herself for a moment until she catches herself.
Kalimac and Attatoq accept Lio's "buffing" of Attatoq. Kalimac readies his sword, as there is little room here with all the combatants to even think of charging with a lance. Other than positioning himself where he expects the front line to be, Kalimac has little care for precise positioning. Were there space to line up a charge, he'd do that. Failing that he's going for the front line.
While Alaric is going to lurch away from the front lines. Because, let's be honest, the cleric in the front?
OOOOOOOO
OOO..OOO
OO_,,_OO
X......X
XX..__XX
XXX”=XXX
XXXXXXXX
O --> air
X --> Wall or impassible
. --> 5' square
_ --> Interior wall. Does not “take up space” so it is possible to stand in its “square”, but you cannot see through it.
,, --> Double doors to balcony (open); can stand in these two squares
“ --> Door into room (open); can stand in this square
= --> Stairway
OOOOOOOO
OOOYZOOO
OO_RM_OO
XTK..FAX
XX.DH_XX
XXXL=XXX
XXXXXXXX
O --> air
X --> Wall or impassible
. --> 5' square
_ --> Interior wall. Does not “take up space” so it is possible to stand in its “square”, but you cannot see through it.
,, --> Double doors to balcony (open); can stand in these two squares
“ --> Door into room (open); can stand in this square
= --> Stairway
Z --> Zaiobe
L --> Liothonae
H --> Hrithik
A --> Alaric
M --> Melinda
Y --> Myriana
T --> Tollin
D --> Kelda
R --> Rhost
F --> Hrunndalf
K --> Kalimac (on Attatoq)
Hrithik is on the north side of an interior wall. He cannot see or move to the stairs to the south.
When everyone is ready, Zaiobe concentrates, sending out a telepathic message to Kikonu.
Then she grimaces. To the people next to her, she says with a touch that Kikonu has said that he will definitely arrive ... shortly.
And you wait.
Time passes.
You start to wonder about the three-minute duration of your spells.
More time passes.
And suddenly, Kikonu appears, stepping out from the dimensions in what is basically Murder Central ... the right-hand central square, immediately adjacent to Hrunndalf, Hrithik, Kelda, Rhost, and Melinda. And in addition, Kalimac and Attatoq need only take a five foot step to be next to him as well. Flanking abounds.
Kikonu, however, does not seem to be surprised. In fact, he laughs hysterically as if all of you swinging weapons towards him is the funniest thing he has ever seen. His own strange weapon is already drawn and at the ready.
So this is how our tragic romance ends! he calls out to Zaiobe on the balcony.
But ... how tacky - we break up, and you bring friends?
At least I'm at no loss for what to do ...
I half-expected this, and brought one, too.
Andril, he calls out towards the stairway,
Come kill.
Liothonae hears something moving up the stairway towards her ...
rounds left on 3-minute buff spells
touch attack on big red includes flanking
damage negative energy +1 orc bloodline
Big Red fort save DC 14
sigh fumble roll
As soon as Kikonu arrives, Mel speaks a single word and a blue flame erupts around her hand. And when swiping at Kikonu, she almost hits rhost instead.
Oh almost forgot init
As Kikonu fights you, dodging, jabbing, and laughing hysterically all the while, he suddenly transforms into a a medium-sized, bird-headed man with sweeping wings. To those of you familiar with the people, he looks rather like a tengu.
He looks around at everyone, trying to make some kind of decision.
I think, when you're all dead, I'll take ... He points to Kalimac, seemingly at random. YOUR form.
I'll do it while your body is still warm.
Then back home to your Hobbit Hole I'll creep,
And kill your parents while they lie asleep.
He seems tickled by the notion.
or knowledge planar? since I don't think tengu can shapeshift
As Kikonu fights you, dodging, jabbing, and laughing hysterically all the while, he suddenly transforms into a a medium-sized, bird-headed man with sweeping wings. To those of you familiar with the people, he looks rather like a tengu.
He looks around at everyone, trying to make some kind of decision.
I think, when you're all dead, I'll take ... He points to Kalimac, seemingly at random. YOUR form.
I'll do it while your body is still warm.
Then back home to your Hobbit Hole I'll creep,
And kill your parents while they lie asleep.He seems tickled by the notion.
"We're here to insure that Kalimac's Hobbit Hole remains inviolate, creature!"
Rhost simply does not have it in him to Rage any more today. He sees Kikonu as a dangerously insane thing, sad and pathetic. He grimly sets his jaw and swings his Earth Breaker in the necessary task.
"We're here to insure that Kalimac's Hobbit Hole remains inviolate, creature!"
Kikonu laughs and laughs at this. He seems to take inspiration from it, and snaps his fingers as he dodges a blow. Music erupts from out of nowhere, as it did in the throne room, and Kikonu begins singing directly to Kalimac as he fights.
No more pretending –
you need to die now.
This is the ending,
so say goodbye, now!
Don’t bother praying
to any god, be-
cause I’m through with playing ...
I want your body!
It really is fairly catchy.
|
|
"Dame Kelda! A monster is coming up the stairs. Please step to where the entraceway archer now stands, and kill the monster. Entranceway archer, please step NorthWest to safer terrain, ready to support Dame Kelda after the monster arrives."
Knowledge (planes):
"Kikonu is an (erotic bird deity). He is (delicious with gravy), (slippery when wet), and (still legal in three states)!"
Halfling: "En garde, b&@#$."
Kalimac Attack:
Kalimac Damage (if attack is successful):
Attatoq Attack:
Attatoq Damage (if attack is successful):
Attatoq Trip (if attack is successful):
Currently, his form is that of a tengu, a race of avian humanoids that have the heads of crows or ravens.
Zaiobe shoots a grateful smile towards you for your words.
Kikonu
Init
kusarigama
Bite 20
Steal voice will save DC 16
Andril
Init
Energy drain fort save DC 14
Zaiobe
Init
Bow
Damage
Kelda
Init
Longsword
Hrithik gives Kalimac a disappointed look as the upper layers of the castle continue to be explored. The quiet discussion in Halfling goes on for a long time.
Kalimac grins at Hrithik. He is obviously not taking the discussion personally, and even seems to be enjoying the verbal sparring.
Hrithik responds with forceful gestures, and at length, in response to Kalimac. He clearly is enjoying himself.
"When exploring a new area you meet new people, who may be hostile or friendly. If you insist on treating them as unfriendlies unless and until they prove their trustworthiness to you, they're unlikely to start out friendly. If they were on the fence, you may have turned them from you needlessly."
"So while the Myri is an explorer trying to make friends, you are on a military mission seeking to pacify the area. In the interest of team cohesion, I think you might profit from trying to see things from her perspective. You may see how you are driving a wedge between yourself and others, and may see other ways to make your point and possibly even swaying people to your way of thinking."
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Move: 5 feet West into Kelda's current space, wave wrapped Alchemist Flask around.
Standard: (Aid Another: Rhost) (+2 from flanking included, AC 10 needed)
Description: Hrithik sidesteps and regards Kikonu, waving a Tien-manuscript-wrapped bundle in his right hand. "I've seen a lot of festering piles of excrement in this castle, but even those diarrhetic blasts out the posterior did not prepare me for this torrential bowel movement. Miss Buttersnips was correct: you are a lamentable failure as an artist." Hrithik then makes a quick jab with the cestus around his left fist, attempting to distract Kikonu just before Rhost attacks from the other side. Unfortunately, the monster is too adroit, and sees the effort for what it is, never wavering in his awareness of the half-elf barbarian.
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|
Hrithik gives Kalimac a disappointed look as the upper layers of the castle continue to be explored. The quiet discussion in Halfling goes on for a long time.
Kalimac grins at Hrithik. He is obviously not taking the discussion personally, and even seems to be enjoying the verbal sparring.
Hrithik stops walking abruptly at one point, turning to look at Kalimac in consternation. The pause lasts only part of a second before he resumes his pace beside Attatoq and continues to spar.
Hrithik thinks for a second, pupils alight, trying to find where to start. After a moment, he continues, "The parts of this abattoir where we keep finding fountains of dried gore, desecrated crypts and temples, and angry spirits screaming out for vengeance against the residents here ... does none of that mean anything? Do they not indicate that this mission is at least in some small part about pacifying the area so these atrocities don't continue? Does the constant lethal aggression from the cultists and their allies to people just walking through hallways not indicate that their reign here would best be brought to a true end?"
"I realize we are just blowing past atrocity after atrocity in rapid succession. Perhaps people are numb, or distracted, but this entire keep and town is a nightmare of mass murder and demon worship."
"My efforts have been to point out the simple Truths splattered on the walls all around us: genocide and decades of serial killing are the primary legacy of those residing here, and bland disinterested tolerance and profiteering from such is the best any resident here has mustered of morality. My effort to point out the simple moral Truths of this place keeps getting framed as "talking for others" ... strongly implying that this group, present company included, doesn't really have much moral problem with those Truths and the people they apply to."
"The only alternatives I can imagine are that many in this group don't want to accept the evidence of their own eyes, nor care to investigate the matter further if that might be uncomfortable ... or perhaps the mercenary alternative that the only thing we genuinely care about is looting the Brinewall treasure for our own selfish reasons and then departing? Please, correct me if I am wrong. I thought more highly of us as people."
"The effort on the part of some of us to unilaterally define our presence here only as exploration, the direct efforts to define my presence and the presence of others in this group solely as exploration, while deriding my efforts as "speaking for others", is pure hypocrisy. These efforts directly presume to speak for me, and repeatedly demand that I accept unwise and morally blind choices, and moreover raise a stink if I do not acquiese to those choices quietly. Team cohesion uber alles. These efforts imply that genocide and decades of serial murder don't really much matter to this group, as long as we get the treasure we seek and stay pleasant to one another."
Hrithik looks deeply into Kalimac's eyes, disbelieving and concerned. "Unless we are having another disconnect, these efforts imply that the Truths of this place don't much matter to you. At least, not anywhere remotely in comparison to the higher priority of group cohesion while we raid for fabled treasure to help our loved ones."
Sense Motive:
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|
Hrithik pauses when Liothonae makes a near-mute whisper. He stops and turns to her, face worried, hand ready to reach out but rigidly unmoving. He looks a question, eyes full of sad understanding, then whispers briefly.
"Coerced, consensual, or complicated?" he mouths sadly. Before Liothonae can respond, he quickly asks further, "May I console you? Respectfully and professionally? Hand to shoulder?"
Hrithik stops walking abruptly at one point, turning to look at Kalimac in consternation. The pause lasts only part of a second before he resumes his pace beside Attatoq and continues to spar.
Kalimac steadily returns Hrithik's gaze. He continues his part of the hushed conversation.
But he is also concerned for Ameiko's sake, and worried about how long this is already taking. Once Ameiko is on the mend he can start thinking about coming back here to do a proper job.
For now, he is just trying to keep his friends alive and in one piece.
"Hrithik, this place needs serious attention. I don't think anyone would argue that point. And there are no end of evil targets that we all agree on: the dire corbies, the ten-handed one, Kikonu. They will be dealt with, and we have been dealing with them."
"The fact that not everyone agrees with you on how to categorize Buttersnips, and thus how to treat her, should not be construed as this team not caring or not being affected by the horrors around us."
"The real problem I see in the group is that we've never discussed how decisions are to be made. When we started out in the swamp in Sandpoint, we went with a group consensus. I think everyone has been expecting it to go the same here. But what happens when one member," he looks directly at Hrithik, "vehemently disagrees with the consensus? What do you do, Hrithik? The edicts of my order are to be loyal to my allies, work to further the aims of my group, protect my allies, and defend their honor. It's a tall order. But maybe you can see why I fret about the split between you and some of the others. Defending both your honors simultaneously could get to be quite the chore."
As Alaric is walking next to her, Mel looks over at him briefly.
Hrithik pauses when Liothonae makes a near-mute whisper. He stops and turns to her, face worried, hand ready to reach out but rigidly unmoving. He looks a question, eyes full of sad understanding, then whispers briefly.
** spoiler omitted **
Mel's voice is quiet but quite sincere, "Kalimac, I'm sure that Mr. Ranbhir's motives are coming from a good place, however, can you please get him to stop speaking as if his decision in this is the final say..." A deep breath, "Because he does not speak for me in this instance, and I don't give a... I will be helping Zaiobe when she chooses to call Kikonu, because that.... well, he deserves death." A longer pause, "Please, since frankly, he at least listens to you... Whereas I am truly beginning to believe he only hears what he wants to when I speak. Thank you."
"I don't know that I can. At least, not in the time we have before facing Kikonu. I can speak to Hrithik with his getting prickily, but that doesn't mean he's listening to me. Or that he's agreeing with me. Like water wears away a stone, I bring him around. But not in the next five minutes. Unless you want me to simply call him out. I don't recommend that; we have enough problems as it is without getting into an argument over who speaks for whom. Zaiobe knows where you stand in this."
Mel smiles softly over at Kalimac, and nods.
"I don't know that I can. At least, not in the time we have before facing Kikonu. I can speak to Hrithik with his getting prickily, but that doesn't mean he's listening to me. Or that he's agreeing with me. Like water wears away a stone, I bring him around. But not in the next five minutes. Unless you want me to simply call him out. I don't recommend that; we have enough problems as it is without getting into an argument over who speaks for whom. Zaiobe knows where you stand in this."
The smile carries in her voice as well, "No, I guess you can't just snap your fingers and fix that." A calming breath, "And no, it's not the time and place for that discussion either. I just really needed to say something," a pause, "And because... if we do anything like this expedition again... We need some kind of group cohesion." She nods, "You seem to be much better at that than me, so I'll leave it in your capable hands?"
Kikonu vs Zaiobe...and us too
note: if evil outsider, please add +2 to hit and 2d6+2 damage
to hit1: Rapid Shot, PtBlank Shot, +2 arrow, Precise Shot
to hit2: Rapid Shot, PtBlank Shot, +2 arrow, Precise Shot
damage1: Pt.Blank Shot, bane
damage2: Pt.Blank Shot bane
init:
Myri immediately decides to test the effectiveness of the arrows. She fires and keeps her fingers crossed (figuratively).
Hrunndalf's had started to ache from holding the morningstar aloft while time trickled by. As soon as Kikonu's form materializes, he gratefully brings its weight down with a vengeance.
+1 Morningstar, two-handed, Power Attack:
To hit: (crit )
Damage: (crit )
Initiative:
+1 Morningstar, two-handed, Power Attack:
To hit: (crit )
Damage: (crit )
Hrunndalf replies with what appears to be Terran verse:
and make our ears and bodies ache.
The only music I'll enjoy
is hearing bones inside you break.
"Dame Kelda! A monster is coming up the stairs. Please step to where the entraceway archer now stands, and kill the monster. Entranceway archer, please step NorthWest to safer terrain, ready to support Dame Kelda after the monster arrives."
** spoiler omitted **
Aue aboute ah shoot et, step bahck, an 'en ye kann stab et. Lio speaks to Kelda for the first time. As she gets ready to face whatever is coming up the stairs she says, Ye ken ye koulde fainde sumetheng b'tt'r tah kolle me 'an summa kinda arch'r. We reahlley needta fennesh thot konversashun. Lio frowns at Hrithik.
Initiative:
To Hit: (+ 4 to hit, + 1 within 30 feet)
Damage: (+ 1 within 30 feet)
Lio waits until she can see (whatever it is) coming up the stairs. When she is sure she has a shot, she takes it, stepping out of the way for Kelda to move in without even looking to see what kind of damage she's done, getting into a position to continue to provide cover fire for the blonde woman.
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Hrithik stops walking abruptly at one point, turning to look at Kalimac in consternation. The pause lasts only part of a second before he resumes his pace beside Attatoq and continues to spar.
Kalimac steadily returns Hrithik's gaze. He continues his part of the hushed conversation.
Hrithik looks at Kalimac steadily, but then later with concern. He bows deeply to Kalimac before continuing.
Hrithik clenches his cestus, "I can't briefly explain how I know what I know. I can't make it quickly clear nor convincing to someone who doesn't share the abilities and background. Battle readouts are quick, but they come from a dozen sources and cross-references. If anyone asked me to seriously justify or prove how I come to them, I would require an hour of lecture if they weren't already an expert. People ultimately just have to trust me to know what I am talking about, or it is interminable formulae and analysis."
Hrithik closes his eyes briefly, tired and frustrated. "Buttersnips is no different. I know it in my bones, but it cannot easily be explained to someone without the background. If the battle readout isn't trusted, I can't easily prove it, we don't have hours for me to justify it, and several of us would rather walk away than listen to the justification, even if there was time. It is beyond exasperating to know something True, to see it slowly unfolding, and have no one take it seriously."
Hrithik is silent for a time, and thoughtful. When he speaks, he is much less agitated. "In the end, you wouldn't have to defend everyone's honor to everyone else. You would probably only need to defend mine to the uncleric, and his to me. I believe that disconnect to be the root of most of the others."
Hrithik nods to Kalimac. "Thank you for your time and concern, sir. You are a good friend and colleague."