Motteditor's Reign of Winter PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

My cloak takes a standard action to activate and, given the speed with which we entered, I figured hadn't happened; so, no miss chances vs Malavarius. He remains wholly placed, as it were. He does, however, have Spell Resistance, so your baddies will need to be rolling that at least if Mal's affected.

Malavarius frowns at the div before him and deftly casts a spell, causing a jolt of lightning to leap between three of the divs in a sudden, thundering flash.

Concentration Check (DC 21): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25
CL Check vs SR: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (4) + 21 = 25
Lightning Arc: 15d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 1, 6, 3, 4, 4, 6, 1, 4, 2, 1, 6, 6) = 58 Ref Save DC 23 for 1/2 damage
Should be able to get Red, Green, and Mametqul

BoF: +2's

Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Pems grunts as he gets hit and ice tombs the next female!

Will check AC.

OK, Mal. We should all totally pretend I know cloaks of displacement required activation and didn't operate continuously like minor ones.

Round 2, Init 11

Realizing the thorns of her skin have no impact whatsoever on her assaulter, Tsin tries to free herself from the Pin.

Break Grapple: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

"A little help here?"

BoF: +2s

Before Tsin starts struggling, Quinn calls to her. "I've got you, Tsin." He hops through space to appear beside her, places a hand on swordswoman, and they both pop out of space to appear on the other side of the big div.

dimensional hop to move Tsin out of grapple and into flanking with Hektir, Quinn remains by her side

edited for poor spelling

Should Tsin find herself freed within the instant, no need to struggle, she focuses on Mametqal with full fury.

Can you double hop like that?

Round 2

Apetir continues to hack and claw the most wounded of foes.

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 21 + 1 = 31 to hit;
1d6 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 magic damage;

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 21 + 1 = 31 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 magic damage;

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 21 + 1 = 29 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 magic damage;

BoF:
bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 21 + 1 = 29 to hit;
1d6 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 magic damage;

Dimensional hop is a move action, so I guess you could do it twice.

Pems entombs another of the divs as Quinn bamfs away, reappearing next to Tsin just long enough to grab her and pop away again, reappearing on the other side of the div. She brings her blade to bear, cutting deeply into Mametqul -- though the creature's tough skin seems to resist the flame and even the weapon itself. Hektir bites at him, drawing blood only thanks to Tsin's distraction as the div turned to protect himself. I wasn't sure if Quinn meant to set up flanking on Mametqul or the shira div. I went with the latter because I think it was more beneficial for you guys (sorry if that's not what you wanted!).

Mal's spell catches two of the remaining outsiders -- their numbers dwindling pleasantly rapidly, though they still seem a threat -- though both avoid the worst of it, and then seeming to almost ignore the pain other than a few flinches they have resistance.

The nearest div responds by clawing again at Mal 13 hp total, while the remaining shira closes in to continue its assault on Tsin. It claws her -- nearly catching her throat -- and grabs her, this one also ignoring the stony thorns 15 hp, grappled.

Mametqul slashes at Hektir, this time landing a vicious blow that causes him to exult 35 hp. "You are as traitorous as Baba Yaga herself, but just because you dispatch my harems doesn't mean you can defeat me!"

Apetir takes 25, via DR.

Round 3

Growling and snarling in response to Mametqul's respons, Apetir continues to hack and claw at the jerk holding Tsin.

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 21 + 1 = 35 to hit;
1d6 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22 magic damage;

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 21 + 1 = 41 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18 magic damage;

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 21 + 1 = 33 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 magic damage;

BoF:
bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 21 + 1 = 30 to hit;
1d6 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 magic damage;

you've the right of it on both accounts, Mott, move actions and attack the BBG

BoF: +2s

Quinn again grabs Tsin and they pop away from grappled harm and into perfect attacking range. "Get it, Tsin, head on a plaque, just like the vision!" With a lingering touch he imparts healing from Cayden. dimensional hop again

Cast on Defensive, Critical healing, don't fumble: 1d20 + 15 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 5 + 4 = 42

Heal Critical Wounds, Tsin: 4d8 + 15 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 4) + 15 = 31

Malavarius tugs on his beard in frustration and he glares at the div that continues to harass him. "Blasted div, go bother someone else!" He then gestures at Mametqul, and sends an emerald beam lancing through the press of bodies toward the greater div.

Concentration Check (DC 23): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31
CL Check vs SR: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28
Disintegrate (Fort Save DC 24): 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 4 = 25for: 30d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 5, 4, 1, 4, 2, 6, 5, 6, 5, 3, 1, 2, 1, 5, 6, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 2, 4, 5, 4, 4, 3, 2) = 99or on successful save: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 4, 5) = 24

BoF: +2's

Mametqul save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 Just checking since it could have sped things up a bit, but Mal's spell's not enough to kill Mametqul without a lot more happening.

Round 3, Init 11

Tsin steadies herself, getting used to the priest's quick blips of repositioning, going from mauling hugs, to liberating escorts of divine magic. "Your ability to leap is proving quite useful, Quinn. Just be careful not to get grabbed yourself. These things are unforgiving in their desire to live."

Another series of swipes cascades from Sever. She doesn't really care if the blade finds the side of a Shira Div, or a Mametqal Div. She gives in to Cayden's and Quinn's will, wherever she arrives. She indulges in an additional swipe, too. Blessing of Fervor for an Additional Attack

Sever, Power Attack, Bane, Possible Flank: 1d20 + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 30 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 1d6 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 14 + 12 + (1) + (1, 6) + (1) = 39 damage, including Fire, Bane, and Precision

Second Attack: 1d20 + 19 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 19 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 29 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 1d6 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 14 + 12 + (5) + (4, 6) + (5) = 51 damage, including Fire, Bane, and Precision

Third Attack: 1d20 + 14 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 19 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 1d6 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 14 + 12 + (4) + (3, 3) + (3) = 46 damage, including Fire, Bane, and Precision

BoF Attack: 1d20 + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 30 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 1d6 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 14 + 12 + (3) + (2, 4) + (2) = 42 damage, including Fire, Bane, and Precision

Pems stares hard at the Div, trying to evil eye his AC! Will DC 22!

Guys, there are multiple divs. Please specify which ones you mean!

Pems turns his dark gaze on the div, who shudders as the curse settles on him. It's a prelude to a few disastrous moments for him, as he survives Mal's spell only to fall prey to Tsin and Hektir's attacks which would have done a lot less without that evil eye; that might've been a fight winner. Still he withstands the assault and turns his attention to the swordswoman, bringing his own falchion to bear. His aim is as deadly as hers, and the blade cuts deep once, twice, three times 18, 20 and 15 hp.

The remaining pairaka claws twice more at Mal 15 hp as the shira steps up and turns its attention to Hektir, though isn't able to bite or claw through the ape's tough hide.

Round 4, Init 11

Tsin doesn't object at all as Quinn whisks her to the backside of Mametqal, the opposite side from the pawing divs that keep ensnaring her. "Well planned, priest. We should be done here shortly."

Sever continues to seek out the area around the div's shoulders. She steps into flank with Hektir for greater effect.

Sever, Power Attack, Bane(Outsider), Flank: 1d20 + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 25 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 14 + 12 + (2, 1) + (6) + (1) = 38 damage, including Bane, Precision, and Fire

Second Swing: 1d20 + 19 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 19 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 33 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 14 + 12 + (1, 2) + (5) + (1) = 38 damage, including Bane, Precision, and Fire

Third Swing: 1d20 + 14 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 14 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 28 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 14 + 12 + (6, 4) + (2) + (3) = 44 damage, including Bane, Precision, and Fire

Blessing of Fervor Attack: 1d20 + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 43 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 14 + 12 + (5, 3) + (5) + (2) = 47 damage, including Bane, Precision, and Fire
Confirm Critical?: 1d20 + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 24 - 4 + 2 + 2 = 28 for 2d4 + 14 + 12 + 1d10 ⇒ (1, 2) + 14 + 12 + (10) = 39 damage, including Fire

Tsin is able to finish off the div, nearly severing his head, and leaving you with just two more enemies in the tent.

Round 4

Apetir continues to hack and claw at the foe near Mal.

He grunts encouraging at Mal.

Maybe we shouldn’t have rushed in here, huh Mal? Maybe next time you’ll show more sense.

bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 21 + 1 = 23 to hit;
1d6 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 magic damage;

claw: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 21 + 1 = 42 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 magic damage;

claw: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 21 + 1 = 41 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 magic damage;

BoF:
bite: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 21 + 1 = 31 to hit;
1d6 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23 magic damage;

Pot crit:
claw: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 21 + 1 = 37 to hit;
1d4 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 magic damage;

Quinn shifts away from the remaining divs and expends another burst of healing energy for the party.

Channel Heal, selective: 8d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 6, 5, 3, 1, 2) = 25

Malavarius shoots the div that keeps clawing at him an incredulous look, "Just what is it you're hoping to accomplish, hmm? There are only two of you left now and all you're doing is scratching my nice, new robe. Go away!" The old mage then casts another spell, and threatens to set a lethal round of tremors and vibrations loose within the chest cavity of one of their remaining foes.

Concentration Check (DC 22): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (4) + 22 = 26
CL Check vs SR: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Resonating Word (Fort DC 25): 5d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 2, 4) = 18 sonic damage and staggered for 1 round; successful save = half damage (9) and no stagger

I'll target the healthiest remaining foe, though foreknowledge of Hektir's crit makes me want to focus on the dander-cloud one

BoF: +2's

Pems watches in awe as his companions hew through the divs with the ease of a hot knife through butter. He points at the Div woman adjacent to Mal and tries to Ice Tomb her! Fort DC 22, 3d8 ⇒ (4, 8, 2) = 14 cold damage

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Hektir tears apart the remaining paraika and you're able to collectively stop the shira before it can cause anymore harm, leaving you alone in the tent with the entombed enemies.

You each feel a wave of both frustration and satisfaction wash through you, a feeling of overwhelming emotion adding up to, "Well, finally!"

Pems shrugs and starts sawing through the neck of the div, Mametqual with his short sword.

Apetir considers tearing the tent apart in general irritation and annoyance, but slowly relaxes. He hunts through the bodies and tent for things of interest.

1d20 + 31 ⇒ (10) + 31 = 41 Perception (w/Detect Magic)

When he finishes, he will watch Pems saw through the neck. He won’t stop the process, seeing as it might be important to the little gnomeling.

I once new a rabbit that loved chewing through necks. Very vicious. Big teeth.

Mametqul’s attire and accoutrements are worth a total of 7,000 gp, plus his falchion radiates magic +1. The pairakas and shiras also wore jewelry, though that would involve freeing them from their icy tombs. The silk pavilion is an ordinary field tent, though of extremely high quality. It and its furnishings are worth 8,000 gp, though when packed up they weigh 2,200 pounds and would fill two large wagons.

Tsin cleans her blade on the div's silk, and watches the halfling hack through the neck bones. She thinks on supervising, but sometimes it's best to just let them figure out the better manners of passing the knife through the sinew.

She looks to the Crown Bearer, expecting to see the item placed on the head in short order. Then, it seems that they'll require a cabinet, somewhere, in which the combination will be placed.

Malavarius shakes his fist at the frozen div beside him and rants at it a bit longer, seemingly unaware that she can't hear him at present. "See? Look at you now! You're a giant, silly ice cube! And for what?!" Throwing up his hands in disgust he strides past the entombed div shaking his head, but he stops short as Pemsworth's grisly task comes into view. "Oh. Good heaven's, Pemsworth, you've not cut through that bit of spine yet. No, lad, lad, tugging on it like that won't do you any good. Oh, for pity's sake, Tsin, help the lad! I can't take Mametqul's jaw flapping open and shut like that every time his head is jerked from side to side."

"He's almost through, as soon as he stops sawing on the cervical bone, and goes around it." Tsin doesn't look up from Pems's work, while he's at it. "I wouldn't put your thumb... so close there..."

Pems sighs and adjusts his grisly work to the satisfaction of the spectators. Once he finishes, he holds it up. "Now we just need the crown and a cabinet. Look around and see if you see one." He describes it from his vision.

Quinn searches the tent diligently for the cabinet and any other hidden treasures.

Perception: 1d20 + 30 ⇒ (7) + 30 = 37

Looking around as Pems saws at the creature's neck, Quinn doesn't find anything else, though he does see the ornate wall cabinet from the vision. Setting the crown atop Mametqul’s severed head and placing the head in the cabinet as you saw, the back of the cabinet opens and you can see the familiar pool ahead of you. You can take stuff if you want (i.e. the tent, assuming you can carry it all), but not the head and crown).

Malavarius watches the passage open and frowns, ”Bah. Blasted crone and her gruesome trophies.” As the group gathers up what spoils they choose to claim, he turns to Quinn and advises, ”Lad, be sure you ask Cayden for the means to cleanse various diseases when you next commune with him. Besides that episode with Hektir and his offal, some of those divs are nortorious for carrying all manner of filth and plagues in their bodies.”

OK, going to assume you're not taking the tent and that you head through the cabinet with no further preparations.

As you emerge back near the sacred pool, the portal immediately closes behind you. A moment later you feel the empathic urge to submerge the head, the crown, and the matryoshka doll in the bubbling waters of the pool.

Apetir waits until everyone is healed before helping move anything.

Apetir watches others interact with the cabinet waiting to see what happens from 30’ away. He will cast Fire Seeds as he feels perfectly reasonable in expecting that he won’t like what happens here.

Submerge it.

Quinn calls upon Cayden for healing energy.

Channel Heal: 8d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 5, 6, 4, 6, 6) = 39

Then adds an extra burst of healing for Tsin.

Cure Moderate Wounds, Tsin: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 6) + 10 = 19

no Cure Disease for today, can get those after next rest

Tsin decides to do the matryoshka doll the honor of the baptism. "I'm sure this will be the final task, before Baba Yaga returns." Tsin speaks sardonically, the likes unheard of in this realm.

Malavarius shrugs and produces the doll, extending it to Tsin. "As you like, my dear." Missing the nature of her comment, he adds, "But there's likely a great of work we've yet to do, you do realize. We've got all the dolls inside that one to contend with yet."

"How many dolls inside dolls, would you gather? Two? or Twenty? How many layers of imprisonment would you yourself have placed on such a powerful entity? Are we helping her from her side of the dolls, with every doll we crack open?"

Malavarius frowns in thought, "Hmmm. Well, Vigliv had mentioned a few more tests when we opened the first of those riddlesome dolls. The first step was to take Baba Yaga's fate into our own hands, which we did in opening the first of the dolls. In taking the crown, I'd guess that's the second task: finding her power. So, we have yet to find her death, her life, and her blood. One, two, three." He ticks each off with a finger. "Three more dolls within that one would be my guess." As he finishes, for a brief moment, he looks like a wizened owl who just finished a sweet treat.

Pems sighs. "No matter how many dolls, we have no choice but to follow the path, lest we never escape from this geas."

I will be away from easy keyboard access from 12/21 - 12/26. I will most likely be unable to post. Feel free to NPC me as needed.

As Tsin dips the matryoshka into the water, the doll splits open once again with a crack, revealing another smaller doll within. You again feel yourself filling with more strange power, almost as if the mantle of Rider sits more securely on each of your shoulders Everyone can choose to gain either DR 5/— or spell resistance equal to 12 + your character level.

A few moments later, Vigliv appears once again from the bole of the tree.

“Your bravery has won through, even against the treachery of those who would steal your prize. But your quest is not yet done," she says. "You have recovered Baba Yaga’s fate and her power, but now you must seek out her death. As she rose in power from a mere mortal, Baba Yaga used great magic to ensure that death would not be able to swiftly find her through misfortune or betrayal.

“Baba Yaga placed her death in an athame, a witch’s knife, which she then hid in a chest within a corpse, which she buried under an oak tree on the mystical island of Buyan. Even if Baba Yaga was slain, her death would still need to be recovered and released back into her body in order for her to truly die. And so Baba Yaga plucked the island from the ocean and stored it in one of the many hidden realms of her hut so that none could stumble across it, and her death, without first facing her power.

“Now, to free Baba Yaga from her prison, you must go to Buyan, find her death, and bring it back here to her cauldron. She is gaining greater awareness as you free her and will be able to guide you to some extent; heed her counsel. Now go; the death of Baba Yaga awaits you.”

She retreats back into the tree, but Tsin -- still with the doll in hand -- hears a feminine voice -- weathered, but still strong -- in her head: “North and east across the stream... climb the cliff to find the path...”

"When you can PLUCK AN ISLAND FROM AN OCEAN, who the heck are you afraid of?!?" Pems mutters.

Choosing Spell Resistance! SR 27!

Just a reminder that I will probably routinely forget your SR, so be sure to remind me. :) Also, for those that take DR, I'm always going to expect you to apply it. I'll try to remember to break down hits against you into individual amounts, but I won't be subtracting DR from them.

selecting the SR option

"Once we get back to Heldren I'm going to take advantage of that geas spell. Look at the lengths it forces us to go to, we could easily have the greatest tavern in the realm constructed without having to worry about wages, unions, or laziness. I'm sure Cayden would agree that it's a fine plan."

Apetir shrugs as if trying to get the mantle of the Dark Rider off his shoulders as he no longer (and pretty much has never) wants it. Will choose SR.

He watches as the dolls opens to reveal yet more challenges. He beats his fists in angry frustration until Quinn's words put him in his place. He shuts up and stops moving.

Apetir makes the sleepy/drowsy motions with his hands, suggesting the party rest before taking on a new and probably more dangerous quest.

Just don't forget that SR will count against your allies' and your own spells too unless you lower it, which IIRC is a standard action. (I think that's my memory of how it works; maybe not your own spells?)

You're correct, Mott, though I humbly submit that dropping it as a free action and raising it as a standard has proven to be a houserule that my players and I have enjoyed.

"North and east across the stream... climb the cliff to find the path..." Tsin returns the matryoshka doll to Mal's hand. "It's speaking out, and directing us to the next destination."

She looks in the general direction of the cliff, and shakes her head. "Three more times..."

Tsin feels something reach out to her, offering her one of two gifts. Not both, when things like that should be possible, vital protections for the substitutes for Baba Yaga's Riders. Protections that would help to ensure the completion of their oath. She feels the strangeness wash over her, letting it decide which form it will take.

1- DR, 2- SR: 1d2 ⇒ 2 SR, it is.

"Given the monkey's mannerisms, we're to rest first? What, if anything, do we understand of Buyan? Was it once an island of Golarion? Or did Baba Yaga pluck it from another world?"

Uh, if it’s a standard to lower, then Hektir will take the DR. Actually, definitely switching to the standard DR-. Won’t stack with his currently apy DR, but that’s fine. Sorry fo the confusion.

Apetir looks to rest before the next task.