Lunar Sloth's Murder's Mark of Crows: Bloodrager Babysitter (Inactive)

Game Master Slothsy

"What will we do? This one proposes to try to hide here somehow and in the night to go to that creature... *click*... not in the way that sellers of tickets offer! "

Takashi was disappointed as they were ushered out of the tent. He didn't have any better idea about whether or not his guess was right than when they started.

He jumped slightly at Chack-Qetchack's question, then glanced around furtively to make certain no one was close enough to hear. When he was done, he whispered back, "Ummm... maybe the sneaky ones of us could do that tonight? But we still have the rest of the day..."

You do still have the rest of the day! There's a number of carnival games around that you could play - there's the King of the Carnival test-your-strength game that Dekarin aced and there's a perception-based "The Lovely Madame Masque" game. You could also see the Harrower, the All-Seeing Hajeck, or visit the rest of the travelling zoo's attractions.

What would you like to do?

"From the look of his crown, Dekarin is already King of the Carnival and I doubt I could top him in terms of brawn. I wouldn't mind giving the Madame Masque game a try and I definitely want to visit the Harrower - professional curiosity and all that."

"Ummm... I'd be curious just to watch you there," Takashi says, hesitantly. "But I'd really like to see what other animals they have."

"Takashi, I will accompany you. I too would like to see the other animals."

Andoliesa nods along. "Yes, I would like to see them too, you know."

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"Can't say that keeping animals in captivity can somehow pleases this one. It is an affront to nature. They were placed in jail, although crimes they did not commit."

*click-click-click* - he excitedly turns his head at different angles, and his feathers stand on end slightly, showing that he is angry from thinking about the zoo.

Then he calms down and delivers a smoother voice - "This one will go with Tchucko."

Dekarin wears his crown proudly, not afraid to show it to anyone and everyone.

"I must admit, I am not interested in the zoo at all, either. There is no animal they have that I haven't seen, or hunted. I shall accompany Tchucko, and see what there is to this Harrowing deal."

that's a hugely arrogant statement!

Andoliesa clicks her tongue and snaps her beak open and shut. She shakes her head, "Really now Dekarin, false arrogance is unbecoming, you know."

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"False arrogance, my friend? Who said anything about it being false?"

Gorum encourages that type of arrogance, and that's how he is!

*Cold look at Dekarin*

"He says that you don't look that experienced... *click*... although, your power is certainly impressive."

Lol! Love these moments of interactions between 'paladins' and characters with CN-alignments.

"Come now child, you can't have really hunted that many creatures in your life yet. Boasting is unbecoming, you know."

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Takashi's feathers were getting a bit ruffled in agitation at the argument in the flock. He didn't really believe Dekarin, either, but didn't think it polite to say.

He felt uncomfortable about Chack-Qetchack's words, too. He'd never really thought about zoo animals that way before, and now he felt bad that he hadn't. He couldn't really do anything about it, though.

I'm away from my chronicle sheets right now, will wait to post until I can incorporate them into his response. Also, he can most certainly have hunted in his "downtime", so.

EDIT: remember, Dekarin is second level. He's not exactly new to this whole adventuring deal.

Okay, so I have Tanaka, Pazacku, and Andoliesa down as visiting the zoo. Dekarin, Chak-Qetchack and Tchucko are visiting the Harrower.

The Zoo

A portable fence of wooden posts and a rope cordon off this section of the circus. Several wagons constructed to serve as animal cages line the perimeter, with an occasional haystack piled between them. In the center of the area is a large tent whose wall flaps have been lifted up and tied off to allow easy viewing.

Inside the zoo, two cages command the most interest; a cage holding a manticore (with its tail spikes sawn off) and one labelled “Baby Dragon”. Inside the cage is an immense lizard whose feet end in sharp talons. Drool falls from its mouth as it sits in a sunbeam.

The All-Seeing Hajeck

This ratag tent is the abode of a Varisian harrower, the All-Seeing Hajeck. A heavy incense burns within, a deep cinnamon burning at the nostrils. The tent flap Nearby, animals roar in the travelling zoo.

Past the barely-parted tent flap is a dark room where an older Varisian woman naps, snoring loudly. The incense is nearly overwhelming in this room. She jolts up with a start as the flock enters and narrows her eyes.

"You've come early." She pulls out her deck of cards and begins to shuffle, the rhymthic scraping of the cards accenting her words. "I take it you want to know what lies ahead? Your fortunes and woes?"[/]b

She gives a careful sniff and looks at Dekarin, [b]"You have the scent of destiny on you... or perhaps it's simply funnel cake. Ask the cards and they'll tell you. Have you done a Harrowing before, crow? These cards are my children and lovers; they whisper to me their secrets, and I, in turn, tell you. But, like children and lovers, sometimes they speak harsh truths. People don't always like that. It's up to you to decide."

She smiles and begins to place a grid of nine cards on the table, her fingers beating a quiet rhythm with each card.

Ugh. Andoliesa does not have Knowledge, Nature.

"Hmmph." Andoliesa shakes her head and lets out a little squawk before screeching "I bet Dekarin has not hunted such creatures as these before."

Takashi looked at the baby dragon with some confusion. "I thought dragons had wings..." he murmured, sounding disappointed.

Looking slightly offended at the use of the words "funnel cake" and "crow" to describe him, Dekarin nonetheless sits down at the table opposite the old lady, and waves a hand over the cards.

"Let's see what the cards have to say about me, no?"

Tchucko stands back and watches as Hajeck performs a reading for Dekarin. He watches her work and tries to determine if she's a genuine seer or just a con-artist like he is when he reads people's "fortunes" back in Absalom.

He's going to Take 10 on his Profession (Fortune-Teller) check (if that's OK), so with a +5 modifier his skill check would be a 15.

"This must be a baby dragon, doesn't look as ferocious as I thought it would

"Hmm. I thought dragons had wings?"

Takashi looks over at Andoliesa. "Oh, you thought so, too? Maybe... they grow in later?"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

It is impossible to assert with confidence what Chack-Qetchack is looking for. Perhaps he is trying to see an obvious fraud of fortune teller.

At the zoo

The baby dragon crawls over to the bars near Tanaka and fills its throat with air, releasing it a slow growl. The nearby display with a pair of celestial mules nervously stomp as it does so. Around, children ooh at the display.

At the Harrowing

"Very well," she says with a grin growing, yellow teeth showing. "Let us start at the beginning. What do you seek?"

"Easy. Glory for me and my companions, and honor in battle." Delarin answers immediately.
"And perhaps a fitting death for a warrior such as myself."

Surprise!

She smiles and chuckles, "Yes, of course. How foolish of me. I shall start with drawing a single card from the strength suite - a warrior's path is guided by strength, and you are formidable yourself. However, not all strength is physical. There is strength of honor and character. The path ahead will offer you the way to test your strength, but not every challenge is what it appears to be."

She draws a single card from the deck, places it in front of Dekarin on her small wooden table and flips it over. She frowns and looks at it for a moment.

"The Cyclone. Troubling, troubling. The cyclone is a force that tears through whatever it meets, a disaster born from the hearts and minds of men." Hajeck shakes her head. "This is not a fortuitous card to draw, crow. This is not good sign at all. The path ahead has many challenges for you."

Takashi feels vaguely disappointed by the baby dragon, so he wanders over to look at the manticore.

So, it seems like things are stalling. Let's move on to something everyone can enjoy! As an important note, the harrower's tent is about a round away from the zoo.

As Takashi wanders away from the baby dragon to look at the manticore, he notices (with probably some disappointment) that its signature tail spikes have been cruelly sawed off. The manticore itself sits in the corner, its head tucked away from the visitors banging mugs against the cages and children throwing small sticks at it, trying to provoke it into moving. When the manticore does move, the crowd boos as it simply re-settles in sleep. A particularly good throw send a mug bouncing off of the manticore's head, spilling beer over the cage. The thick smell of yeast grows as the manticore shakes it head to dry itself.

The general chatter of the crowd behind grows louder. At first, the difference is minimal. With each passing second, it grows. A few panicked statements rise above the crowd until it's clear, even in the fortune teller's tent, what the crowd is saying.

"The dragon! It's on the loose! It got out! IS IT GOING TO EAT ME?"

Andoliesa looks around for the Dragon. There are children about. It might eat them! She tries to move toward wherever the Dragon seems to be, preparing to intervene.

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Hearing the noise, Chack-Qetchack soon realizes that somewhere there is a trouble. He stands and listens carefully (spinning the head at different angles, as usual), while others communicate with the fortune teller. But when to the common noise was added the cries about the "dragon", everything falls into place.

"We need there. Here's your chance to die a glorious death, Dekarin!" - and after these words he runs toward the source of the noise.

'Empyreal Lords, this one gives his life for the cause of good! This one may falls in this battle, but the evil will be slain and innocent will be saved. Guide this claws, Tanagaar!'

Takashi whirls, his head darting back and forth as he takes the scene in. Nervously he looks for the other Tengu, far from confident in facing a dragon by himself. As soon as he sees some of his companions, he heads towards them.

Pazacku heads towards the screaming, pulling the release to free his scabbard from his armor.

Time for Initiative!

How I run initiative: I have rolled initiatives for you and have grouped you according to results. Your actions happen in the order in which you post - essentially, I treat each group as though you're delaying until you hit "submit". I bold the names of who can act. For example, Pazacku and Takashi are up to attack. For maps, please click on the slide show linked by name / here. Our current map/fight is page three. Please RP out combat and feel free to use OOC chat if needed to clarify the actual mechanics behind what you're doing. If you have any questions, let me know.

The Baby Dragon - Round 1
Pazacku, Takashi - Your Turn!
Baby Dragon!!! SO CUTE
Tchucko, Chack-Qetchack, Andoliesa, Dekarin

The baby dragon is not hard to find; the people screaming and running from the creature. Note: All the squares except for the ones adjacent to the baby dragon contain crowds. It takes 2 squares of movement to enter a square with crowds. The crowds provide cover for anyone who does so, enabling a Stealth check and providing a bonus to Armor Class and on Reflex saves. A child cries; his leg has a nasty bite that bleeds. A man scoops down and picks him up, giving a strangely stifled, "It's going to eat us all!"

Near it, one of the carnies holds out a large bamboo pole, anxiety tearing across his face. The zoo keeper ducks behind a tent yelling, "Don't kill it! This is our fourth biggest attraction!"

init, Pazacku: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
init, Tchucko: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
init, Chack-Qetchack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
init, Takashi: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
init, Andoliesa: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
init, Dekarin: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Pazacku moves up to the "dragon" with his katana in one hand and scabbard in the other, they are out but not raised.

Double move up to creature, drawing my weapons as part of the move.

"Easy friend, I do not wish to hurt you" Pazacku says in a calm even town.

Silently calling on Desna's blessings, Takashi follows after Pazacku. He seems oddly able to move through the crowds, able to find gaps between people with supernatural ease. Using his 'Agile Feet' Travel domain power--I'm assuming the crowds act like difficult terrain for purposes of the power, allowing him to follow Pazacku in a single move.

As Pazacku confronts the dragon, Takashi stands behind him. "Luck of the stars be upon you," he prays, touching the paladin's back.

Using his 'Bit of Luck' Luck domain power on Pazacku, allowing him to roll twice on any d20 rolls until the next round.

...And now Pazacku has apparently changed where he moved, so I don't need to use 'Agile Feet'.

The Baby Dragon - Round 1
Pazacku, Takashi
Baby Dragon!!! SO CUTE
Tchucko, Chack-Qetchack, Andoliesa, Dekarin - Your turn!

The dragon opens it mouth and lets out a strange hiss as Pazacku approaches. It lunges forward and tries to bite him, but Pazacku can predict the creature's movement and dodges out of the way.

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Silently calling on Desna's blessings, Takashi follows after Pazacku. He seems oddly able to move through the crowds, able to find gaps between people with supernatural ease. Using his 'Agile Feet' Travel domain power--I'm assuming the crowds act like difficult terrain for purposes of the power, allowing him to follow Pazacku in a single move.

As Pazacku confronts the dragon, Takashi stands behind him. "Luck of the stars be upon you," he prays, touching the paladin's back.

Using his 'Bit of Luck' Luck domain power on Pazacku, allowing him to roll twice on any d20 rolls until the next round.

...And now Pazacku has apparently changed where he moved, so I don't need to use 'Agile Feet'.

sorry takashi, I forgot my speed base speed was reduced to medium armor. so I adjusted my route.

sorry takashi, I forgot my speed base speed was reduced to medium armor. so I adjusted my route.

No problem, we're just too fast on the posting. :D

Andoliesa murmurs a quick prayer to Grandmother Crow and then tries to push her way through the crowd.

standard action blessing of protection
Move towards the Dragon

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Chack-Qetchack rushes forward, but freezes in indecision when he reached Pazacku. He hopes that his friends will find a way to subdue the creature without killing it.

Tchucko pushes through the crowds to get closer to the creature that's gotten loose. He fixes the "dragon" with his stare and begins working to lower its mental defenses.

Double move to make it through the crowds. Swift action to active Hypnotic Stare. The "dragon" takes a -2 penalty to its Will saves, and is not aware that it is being affected by the stare. I have the Painful Stare ability which allows me to use a free action to add 1 to any attack damage against the subject of my stare. I can only do it once per round, and I'll trigger it on the first successful attack against the "dragon".

Bloop bloop, waiting for Dekarin to post. Botting will commence in twenty four hours.

Looking at the breakdown of turns, Takashi and Pazacku can go ahead and take their actions, since the party is now grouped as one.

Oh, wait a second. I thought the fortune-teller's tent was like, so far away. That's why I haven't posted yet. I didn't think Dekarin and those with him would be part of this.

Pazacku moves to the dragon and swings his scabbard at the Dragon.

Attacking with non lethal. And using the Bit of Luck power

attack-non lethal penalty: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15
attack-non lethal penalty: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15

Takashi winces a bit at the sight of Pazacku whacking the dragon, given the , but then catches on. "Oh, just knock it out! Okay! Um... I think it's best if I just keep helping you do that..." he caws, none too confident in his own combat abilities.

He again follows behind Pazacku and touches him, murmuring the same prayer.

Bit of Luck for Pazacku again. I think it's funny you rolled the exact same number twice last time.

The fortune teller's tent is right next to the zoo; getting there is as simple as walking out the door. Do you want to participate?

The baby dragon hisses as the blow connects with its ribs.

Well, I'm fairly certain Demarin might kill it immediately, but he'll at least leave the tent to see what's going on.

Emerging from the tent, the tengu's hands quickly find his sword, drawing the massive thing as he exits the tent to see what all the commotion is about.

Moving 60 feet (a double move) towards the screaming and dragon thing, and drawing greatsword.

The Baby Dragon - Round 2/3
Pazacku, Takashi, Tchucko, Chack-Qetchack, Andoliesa, Dekarin - Your turn!
Baby Dragon!!! SO CUTE

The dragon darts about, staring down Pazacku. It lunges forward again to bite and its teeth close around Pazacku's midriff. However, his studded leather armor absorbs the blow and he's able to shake the terrible dragon off, leaving only great globs of slobber behind.

Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Andoliesa moves closer, she whispers a quick prayer and then slashes at the Dragon with a claw.

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