Round 3, Init 20
AC = 25
HP = 119/162
Weapon Equipped = +1 Flaming Burst Falchion
Condition(s) = Hasted
Bane = 5/8
Tsin doesn't hesitate, as she hears Quinn pop over to the other side of the doppel-dragon. "Thank you, Quinn. Careful you don't get smashed now. We'll need your hale healing shortly."
Her full attack, including the hasted strike, comes out. The sudden second breath attack within seconds largely throws off her set of swings.
Round 2, Init 20
Feeling no effects of fire, Zephtyr fights on.
to hit; (-PA)
magic damage.
to hit; (-PA)
magic damage.
to hit; (-PA)
magic damage.
AC: 7 armor+2 dex+3 dex(form)+1 ring+5 barkskin+3 NA(form)= 31AC DR 5 bludgeoning
HP 117/143
Speed: Fly (120') perfect + 10' (Gr. Longstrider) = 130' fly perfect
[ dice]1d20+19-3[/dice] to hit; (-PA)
[ dice]1d8+9+6[/dice] magic damage.
to hit; (-PA)
magic damage.
+10 BAB +8 Str +1 amulet = +19 to hit
1d8 + 8 str damage +1 amulet = 1d8+9
Barkskin (extended-280 minutes)
Resinous Skin (extended-280 minutes)
Gr. Longstrider (14 hours)
Resist Cold (30) - 0 minutes
Echolocation - 0 minutes
Elemental Body 1 (druid lvl 6): Air elemental: If the form you take is that of a Small air elemental, you gain a +2 size bonus to your Dexterity and a +2 natural armor bonus. You also gain fly 60 feet (perfect), darkvision 60 feet, and the ability to create a whirlwind.
Elemental Body 2 (druid lvl 8):Air elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +4 size bonus to your Dexterity and a +3 natural armor bonus.
Elemental Body 3 (druid lvl 10):Air elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +2 size bonus to your Strength, +4 size bonus to your Dexterity, and a +4 natural armor bonus.
Elemental Body 4 (druid lvl 12):Air elemental: As elemental body I except that you gain a +4 size bonus to your Strength, +6 size bonus to your Dexterity, and a +4 natural armor
AC: 7 armor + 3 shield + 2 dex + 1 ring +3 barkskin =26
HP 143/143 - DR5 piercing
[ dice]1d20+16+1[/dice] to hit; (bless)
[ dice]1d6+6+2[/dice] magic damage.
+9 BAB +6 Str + 1 Mwk +1 magic = +16 to hit
[ dice]1d6+6+2[/dice] damage;
Endure Elements (24 hours)
Barkskin (extended-280 minutes)
Resinous Skin (extended-280 minutes)
Gr. Longstrider (14 hours)
Resist Cold (0 minutes)
Resist Fire (0 minutes) -Mal
Stoneskin (0) Mal
Mage Armor (+4)
Endure Elements
Druid Spells Prepared (CL 14th; concentration +18)
. . 7th—animal shapes[D], fire storm (DC 21), heal
. . 6th—fire seeds(2), mass fly[D,APG] (DC 20), quickened resist energy*,
. . 5th—beast shape III (animals only)[D], fire snake (2, DC 19), wall of fire
. . 4th—air walk, echolocation, flame strike (2, DC 18), freedom of movement, summon nature's ally IV*[D]
. . 3rd—fly[D], greater longstrider*[ACG], resinous skin* (x2)[UC], sleet storm, spike growth (DC 17), wind wall
. . 2nd—barkskin* (2), feather fall[D], fog cloud (2), resist energy
. . 1st—calm animals[D] (DC 15), liberating command[UC] (2), obscuring mist, produce flame* (2)
----
"Blasted draconic devils! Making trouble even here!"
HP: 77/77
AC: 15 (11 T / 14 FF)
Fort: +8 // Ref: +9 // Will: +15 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 10: Cold
Energy Absorption: 12/42 absorbed
Pearl of Power I: 1/1 used
Pearl of Power III: 0/1 used
wand of scorching ray: 14/50 charges used
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (4+2+1): endure elements [X], feather fall [ ], protection from evil* [ ], mage armor [X], shield [ ], snapdragon fireworks [ ] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (4+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], resist energy* [ ] [ ], scorching ray [ ] [ ] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (4+2+1): dispel magic* [ ], fireball [ ] [ ], haste [X] [ ], magic weapon (greater) [X], protection from energy [ ]
Level 4 Prepared (4+2+1): dimensional anchor [ ], dimension door [ ] [ ], remove curse [ ], stoneskin* [ ]
Level 5 Prepared (3+1+1): break enchantment* [ ], dismissal [ ], lightning arc [ ], teleport [ ] [ ]
Level 6 Prepared (3+1+1): disintegrate [ ] [ ], flesh to stone [ ], greater dispel magic* [ ] [ ]
Level 7 Prepared (2+1+1): mmm [ ], resonating word [X] [ ], spell turning* [ ]
Protective Ward used: 0/10
Ongoing Effects:
mage armor (Pemsworth)
mage armor (self)
greater magic weapon (Hektir)
haste (2/14 rounds): +1 to hit, +1 AC, +1 ref, +30ft move
Quinn continues to stand in the corner slapping the dragon.
Malavarius: 10
Pemsworth: 14
Quinn: 6
Antagonist: 19
Hektir: 20
Tsin: 20
Mal speaks his deadly word, but he apparently mispronounced it, or it doesn't work in Russian or something, as the gorynych seems to shrug off the spell, and the worst of Pems' magic.
Still, between the halfling's evil eye and Quinn's magic, it's hampered enough for Tsin's blade to cut it twice, its attempts to weave out of the way not quite successful. Hektir lands a couple blows of his own, though again it seems to do less harm than he would have expected.
Seeming to feel its fire is effective, two of the heads breath again, the third snapping once more at Quinn.
NA: 123, -4 to AC until Pems' next turn
Round 4, Init 20
AC = 26, Hasted
HP = 107/162
Weapon Equipped = +1 Flaming Burst Falchion
Condition(s) = Hasted
Bane = 4/8
Tsin watches as the dragon manages even more breath, while her own blade's fire does nothing to injure it. She gladdens as the creature continues to bleed, but she doesn't let up until it's dead. For Mal's enhancing magic, she feels less inclined to immediately chastise the old man as soon as Alexei is finished.
"Just..."
"...die already..."
edit:
Tsin slays the beast.
As the dragon falls, Malavarius spins to regard Alexandra. "Can you explain what the blasted devil is going on?"
It takes a little bit to coax the Tsarina's ghost back out, as Malavarius discovers when he can finally see around the dragon that she fled into the other room.
"I do not know," she says. "I and all my family were killed. Rasputin must have somehow saved Ana, though, because she is his daughter. I don't know how as I remember ..."
She chokes off a sob.
Meanwhile, the girl looks horrified at everything.
"My brother! What has happened here?" she cries.
"And ... I think I remember you," she says, turning to Alexandra's ghost. "Like from a dream."
Zephtyr roars and punches the dragon's dead body again and again, taking out his ire and rage at being tricked.
"You don't get to fool me like that! You hear me you...dummy!" Zephtyr holds back on the more aggressive cursing because of the children present.
Eventually, he calms down, his airy billowings slowing to a less agitated state. He looks at Mal, the ghost, the girl, then Pems.
"Yeah, what is going on?"
Pems sighs and translates, adding "This Rasputin is truly a monster, to tear asunder families and cause such horror. He's almost as good as the witches in Irrissen, Hektir."
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Quinn sends out waves of healing and boisterous bragging to the party. "A fearless, reckless slapping, distracting the beast from Tsin, Cayden would be proud!"
Tsin sidesteps, as the behemoth collapses. As Hektir steps up to make sure the work is truly done, she moves away, looking for cloth in the room to wipe the dragon blood from her blade. She half pays attention to the exchanges in russian, until the Tsarina reminds them that this girl is Rasputin's daughter.
"What does that mean again? Is she the rightful heir to some country in this world? Do we care, once we return to ours?" Tsin sheathes her blade once more, and takes a seat, listening to the conversation between ghost, daughter, halfling, and elder. With her eyes closed.
"I think it means she's Rasputin's daughter. And Baba Yaga's granddaughter. She's of their line. She must be valuable or else why keep her alive? I think she's a bargaining chip with the old witch or Raspy." Pems reasons.
"She is the last living heir here, in Russia," the Tsarina agrees, "though perhaps not if anyone knew of her true parentage."
"I'm sorry, dear," she adds, turning to her shocked daughter.
It would also mean she's technically Baba Yaga's granddaughter, and potentially the heir to Irrisen, if not even more than that.
"Well, that's all fine and dandy, but how in the blazes does keeping her safe stop Rasputin? And why can't she recall anything? There's no magics clouding her mind that I can see."
Tsin sighs low. "It won't do to let her wander about in camp here. I suggest we tuck her away in Baba Yaga's Hut, while we figure out as much as we can here. We don't need an additional cat to herd."
"Rasputin seems to know enough about the Hut, but I imagine he'll leave it be for now. We still have ample stones to overturn here. The one-legged man's stolen soul? Vampires? Rasputin himself? I don't know where to continue, if we're being honest."
Int -
Zephtyr spits, trying to find fault with Tsin's logic, but failing.
"Yeah, the Hut. The Hut might be safe enough...except for all the times we've been attacked within. Might be that the Hut will know to protect her."
Zephtyr spits.
"Them vampires should be dealt with next. Then the rest. We have a lot to do to clean up all this witchy business."
"The hut?! Rasputin took it right out from under us! Good heavens, if any place at all is safe for her, it'll be in my tower not that chicken-legged monstrosity."
Quinn nods sagely. "Yep, Mal's tower is the safer place, the hut nearly killed us a few times. Maybe she'll find Mal's hat while she's in there."
Zephtyr spits.
It's an amulet of proof against detection and location.
Tsin finds a small bleed on her shoulder, but is otherwise healthy. She thanks Quinn for the robust healing.
"The hut?! Rasputin took it right out from under us! Good heavens, if any place at all is safe for her, it'll be in my tower not that chicken-legged monstrosity."
Tsin stares blankly at the old mage. "I am not fully aware of the permanence of your creation, and to what risks the girl is exposed, if you can't remember where you put your rooms."
When the matter is decided where to store the heiress, the swordswoman is ready to head out once more.
"Let's explore the dullahan camp. We've weakened them, I think, so we shouldn't meet much resistance there, as long as the other soldiers don't recognize our treks."
Malavarius harumpfs, "Well if it's so dangerous Tsin, you're welcome to find your own lodging when we're done with whatever other strangeness we're to get tangled in today!"
HP: 77/77
AC: 15 (11 T / 14 FF)
Fort: +8 // Ref: +9 // Will: +15 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 10: Cold
Energy Absorption: 12/42 absorbed
Pearl of Power I: 1/1 used
Pearl of Power III: 0/1 used
wand of scorching ray: 14/50 charges used
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (4+2+1): endure elements [X], feather fall [ ], protection from evil* [ ], mage armor [X], shield [ ], snapdragon fireworks [ ] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (4+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], resist energy* [ ] [ ], scorching ray [ ] [ ] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (4+2+1): dispel magic* [ ], fireball [ ] [ ], haste [X] [ ], magic weapon (greater) [X], protection from energy [ ]
Level 4 Prepared (4+2+1): dimensional anchor [ ], dimension door [ ] [ ] [ ], remove curse* [ ]
Level 5 Prepared (3+1+1): break enchantment* [ ], dismissal [ ], lightning arc [ ], teleport [ ] [ ]
Level 6 Prepared (3+1+1): disintegrate [ ] [ ], flesh to stone [ ], greater dispel magic* [ ] [ ]
Level 7 Prepared (2+1+1): mmm [ ], resonating word [X] [ ], spell turning* [ ]
Protective Ward used: 0/10
Ongoing Effects:
mage armor (Pemsworth)
mage armor (self)
greater magic weapon (Hektir)
Quinn heals up the last up the scrapes ad bruises before the party ventures forth.
Zephtyr whirls, ready to go to #14.
He spits.
From cracks in the former abattoir, you can see the flaps of a dozen canvas tents whip stiffly in the cold wind. One looms over the others, its roof partially collapsed by the weight of heavy snow. The ground in this yard is churned by the passing of heavy horses, and the fire pits dotting the area have long since grown cold. Six of the headless horsemen linger here, seemingly waiting for orders.
"Well if it's so dangerous Tsin, you're welcome to find your own lodging when we're done with whatever other strangeness we're to get tangled in today!"
Tsin rolls her eyes, and holds her tongue. She lessens her irritation with the mage by picturing him with rouge on his cheeks, and berry stain on his lips, his hair slowly being braided by the girl, as they trade school stories about how the other girls can be so mean to them at times.
When they discuss how they'll enter the camp, Tsin indicates that she'd like to be within striking distance of a dullahan as soon as possible. If Quinn can do so, she'll prepare herself with a Protection from Evil before sent in. She doesn't argue, as long as the men organize. With the recent slaying of the gorynych, and previous encounter with the dullahans, Tsin is supremely confident, as long as the bullets fail to fly.
"Here we go then. Be ready!"
HP: 77/77
AC: 15 (11 T / 14 FF)
Fort: +8 // Ref: +9 // Will: +15 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 10: Cold
Energy Absorption: 12/42 absorbed
Pearl of Power I: 1/1 used
Pearl of Power III: 0/1 used
wand of scorching ray: 14/50 charges used
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (4+2+1): endure elements [X], feather fall [ ], protection from evil* [ ], mage armor [X], shield [ ], snapdragon fireworks [ ] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (4+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], resist energy* [ ] [ ], scorching ray [ ] [ ] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (4+2+1): dispel magic* [ ], fireball [ ] [ ], haste [X] [ ], magic weapon (greater) [X], protection from energy [ ]
Level 4 Prepared (4+2+1): dimensional anchor [ ], dimension door [X] [X] [ ], remove curse* [ ]
Level 5 Prepared (3+1+1): break enchantment* [ ], dismissal [ ], lightning arc [ ], teleport [ ] [ ]
Level 6 Prepared (3+1+1): disintegrate [ ] [ ], flesh to stone [ ], greater dispel magic* [ ] [ ]
Level 7 Prepared (2+1+1): mmm [ ], resonating word [X] [ ], spell turning* [ ]
Protective Ward used: 0/10
Ongoing Effects:
mage armor (Pemsworth)
mage armor (self)
greater magic weapon (Hektir)
You arrive in the largest test, ready for another fight for your lives ... only to find it apparently empty.
Instead it contains personal effects and medals of various sorts pinned to the frozen canvas’s interior. A steel box sits below a writing table.
Pems nods to the others and moves to the steel box, inspecting it and if it's trapped, disabling that before breaking the lock.
Perception (box)
Zephtyr hovers nearby, scanning the area for trouble and about 25' away from the exploding box of doom.
Perception (danger)
The box contains four metal egg-like things.
In addition, as Hektir looks around, he doesn't find trouble, but he does notice an old photo of a man in a military uniform (though without any armor, which seems dangerous) standing guard over a family in regal garb. You recognize two of the family members: Alexei and Anastasia.
Zephtyr whirls over to the painting to pick it up. He puts it carefully into his polymorphic pouch.
"This is interesting. No doubt, but many mysteries remain."
Tsin flusters, as they find nothing immediately to fend off. She moves to the entrance of the tent, and peers outside.
For the abandoned tent, she's pleased, at least, that any engagement outside the tent will see nothing untoward join the fight. With her Protection still going, she's ready to bolt out of the tent, and close the distance with a headless man as quickly as possible.
After pocketing the amulet, Quinn joins the group and they pop from place to place.
Quinn takes time to search the room as people admire the art and grenades.
Malavarius immediately begins casting a spell as soon as he and other appear within the larger tent, "Burn, you devils!" but his motions and incantation slowly stall as he comes to realize the tent is empty but for him and his hangers on. He let's the magics dissipate harmlessly with a quiet and surprised, "Oh."
"Well. Ha ha! There you go! Safely and secretly inserted behind the dullahan lines! Splendid!"
As Tsin looks out, she notices a ragged-looking goat with rotting, maggot-infested flesh, stone-like hooves, and dead white eyes stands silently chewing its cud, staked to the ground with a worn rope in a muddy circle in the middle of the Cossack camp. A lantern with a sickly glow hangs from the goat’s neck.
You guess it's a dusha koza, like a lantern goat: Undead wanderers thought to be the coalescence of souls of people who died while lost in the wilderness. Just as normal goats sometimes drift from the shepherd’s care and fall prey to the dangers of the wild, so too do humans and demihumans often meet with a dire end while trekking alone in the hills. Whether they die of exposure or become a predator’s meal, these lost travelers usually journey in spirit form to the afterlife. Some, however, if they perish too close to a lantern goat, find their souls drawn into the fell receptacle the creature wears around its neck.
"Quinn, what do you make of that goat? There's something off about it..."
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"Goat? Why I never! Zeno! Blast it, look at what your childish name calling has done now, you- you- you.... mean-spirited magpie! All the magics I bring to bear and this is the thanks and respect I'm give-" The wizard's rant stalls as he catches a glimpse of the decaying goat through the tent flaps as Quinn sidles up beside Tsin for a glance. "Ah. I see. A goat indeed!" A sharp crack echoes through the tent as Zeno's beak meets the crown of Malavarius' head, followed immediately by a stifled, "Ouch!"
Rubbing his head and looking grumpily up at Zeno, Malavarius adds, "That's a lantern goat! Or, wait. No. Not quite. I think it's a dusha koza. They collect souls in those lanterns hanging from their necks." He gasps then, whacking Pemsworth atop his new skull, "Do you know what this means?! That blasted thing might have the soul of that fellow we're looking for! The one with the prosthetic!"
Zephtyr spits, an airy rain spreading out from his head.
"Goat? That's good eating. That goat is soul food, huh?" Zeph wonders aloud. "We have those suckers who are starving from the attacks of the vampires. Might be that a nice goat goulash will restore their spirits."
"Do goats usually come with lighting? Is that normal? I mean, I was never as 'into' goats as Hektir and the other manly men, but I'm pretty sure they don't usually have lanterns 'round their necks." Pems muses, wondering if this is what Hektir meant the time he drunkenly told a tale about lovin' nannies.
Zephtyr spits.
"Well, do we kill it or eat it or move on?" Zeph looks at Mal for a bit more.
"Kill it. Kill it with fire. Unless it has keen senses, we might avoid a direct confrontation altogether, if we remain hidden inside this tent." Tsin sounds as if she doesn't quite believe her own words, but it's a start.
"It's like a lantern goat, but this one looks all rotted and undead. I doubt it's edible, Hektir. But let's try something a bit quieter than the fire this time, yes?" The wizard then intones a spell and gestures at the dusha koza.
HP: 77/77
AC: 15 (11 T / 14 FF)
Fort: +8 // Ref: +9 // Will: +15 (+1 vs spells, SLAs, & Su abilities of evil arcane spellcasters)
Resist 10: Cold
Energy Absorption: 12/42 absorbed
Pearl of Power I: 1/1 used
Pearl of Power III: 0/1 used
wand of scorching ray: 14/50 charges used
Cantrips Prepared (4): detect magic, open/close, prestidigitation, read magic
Level 1 Prepared (4+2+1): endure elements [X], feather fall [ ], protection from evil* [ ], mage armor [X], shield [ ], snapdragon fireworks [ ] [ ]
Level 2 Prepared (4+2+1): glitterdust [ ] [ ], resist energy* [ ] [ ], scorching ray [ ] [ ] [ ]
Level 3 Prepared (4+2+1): dispel magic* [ ], fireball [ ] [ ], haste [X] [ ], magic weapon (greater) [X], protection from energy [ ]
Level 4 Prepared (4+2+1): dimensional anchor [ ], dimension door [X] [X] [ ], remove curse* [ ]
Level 5 Prepared (3+1+1): break enchantment* [ ], dismissal [ ], lightning arc [ ], teleport [ ] [ ]
Level 6 Prepared (3+1+1): disintegrate [ ] [ ], flesh to stone [X], greater dispel magic* [ ] [ ]
Level 7 Prepared (2+1+1): mmm [ ], resonating word [X] [ ], spell turning* [ ]
Protective Ward used: 0/10
Ongoing Effects:
mage armor (Pemsworth)
mage armor (self)
greater magic weapon (Hektir)
"Quinn, what do you make of that goat? There's something off about it..."
"Wait, you think I actually studied religions?" Quinn looks to Hektir to share in the laughter, but gets distracted by Mal's excellent explanation of undead goats with lanterns.
"Wait, you think I actually studied religions?" Quinn looks to Hektir to share in the laughter, but gets distracted by Mal's excellent explanation of undead goats with lanterns.
Zephtyr chortles airily at the thought. Of course neither Quill nor Hektir studied anything in any dumb school. Real men don’t need edumications to be smart.
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”Wait, you think I actually studied religions?”
Tsin doesn’t take her eye from the goat, but takes a cue from Malavarius. ”No, I would have thought you had a deeper connection with it, given the number of them you’ve buggered.”
”This is a rare occurrence, priest. You can accomplish necrophilia and bestiality in the same humping.”