Motteditor's Reign of Winter PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Zeno stops his excited hopping for a moment, cocking his head to the side, "Do you mean that creepy disembodied voice asking for help? It better not be the ghost of that weasel!"

Tsin wakes with a start, letting her eyes adjust to the firelight. She hears Zeno describe disembodied voices and can only draw one conclusion.

"The meat was cooked properly on the first two spits. You'll have to inquire with Quinn regarding the last one."

Tsin fumbles with her sheathe, and scans the periphery of the camp.
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Quinn mumbles in his sleep, "weasel poltergeist, mean tree, mmmm, steak on a stake"

"Please, they're going to hurt me," the voice replies to Hektir. "You won't let them do that, will you?"

As she finishes talking, a ray of freezing air and ice suddenly shoots forth from where the voice is, in the darkness beyond the torchlight, toward Tsin, freezing the butcher's apprentice. 6 cold damage

Before she can react, another ray hits her, chilling her even more. 2 cold damage

1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 1 = 26
1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 1 = 16
2d3 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 1 = 24
1d3 ⇒ 2

Bottom of Round 1 now; you're all up -- though I don't know when I'll get to update next.

Round 1, Initial 20

Tsin spins around, seeking to place the point of origin, and, finding none, takes total defense, 5' stepping behind cover should she be so lucky.

"Now what?! The complete and utter nerve of these fey!"

Pems sits straight up, only to see Tsin get hit. He throws off the sheets and stands up, drawing his sling and bullet.

Malavarius stumbles out of his tent, his beard and long white hair both in a tangled, frizzy mess. Still dressed in the grey, cotton onesie he prefers for his sleeping garments, he spins around a few times trying to locate the source of the disturbance. "What what! What?! What's all that racket, hmm?! What the blazes is going on out here? It's the middle of the night!"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

move action: emerge from tent
standard action: look around!

round 1

With all the commotion Quinn can't help but wake from his weasel musings and stumble to his feet. "Has that troll witch come to confront us at last?"

Round 1, Init 11

For some reason I was waiting for Motte. Hmm...going to post though not sure.

Hektir spits, awaiting his turn to act, holding his flame fist above his head.

"Sure, come closer and we'll talk about helping you?"

Hektir walks out to where the voice came from.

Mal, you can barely make out in the gloom 30 feet from your campfire the form of what look like a young girl with pigtails.

She gestures and a ray of cold races out from her, hitting Quinn, the cold leaching into his bones. 1 hp

"Look," the girl calls out. "They want to hurt me. Help me, please!"

1d5 ⇒ 3
1d20 + 7 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 2 - 4 = 15
1d3 ⇒ 1

Quinn absorbs the chill without flinching. "Here now, little girl, we would be glad to help you. Come and sit close to the fire, no need to be chilly out there alone. We won't let them hurt you."

(is the 1 damage after Quinn's resist cold 2)

Pemsworth shudders as the little girl hits Quinn with another ray of cold. He slowly loads his sling and waits for his chance to strike.

"Who wants to hurt you? Why are you throwing frosty rays about, hmmm?" Suspicious of witchery, Malavarius then intones a spell (protection from evil).

Motte, is there any check I can make to draw some kind of connection between my recognizing the description of the guardian doll earlier and this creepy girl now?

Hektir holds off blowing up the 'girl' with fire for a bit longer, hoping that the others have better luck chasing their white whale/waif than he had with the white weasel.

Keep talking Captain A-blab.

No, Quinn, before. And, no, Mal, though you can certainly be suspicious. Can't see enough though to know whether its the same girl or doll at this point..

In that case...
Malavarius also trundles through the snow, peering through squinted eyes and bushy eyebrows at the figure lurking just beyond the reach of the firelight. Move 15 feet closer

Quinn continues to placate the ghost child witch, "Come on, sweet pea, have a seat by the fire with us. Do you want some of my trail rations? Why are you here in the snowy woods, you should be at home. Do you want us to help you get back home?"

Round 2

Hektir keeps his Produce Flamed hand up in the air and looks back and forth between Quinn, Mal, and the girl.

"Are we attacking yet?"

Hektir moves to stand in front of Mal, protecting the old man.

Hektir takes total defense.

Pems, his hackles rising and his sense tingling, decides to break the moment and force the issue. He fires at the floating girl.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Tsin continues to place things between herself and the chilly child. She hisses at the others to land on the side of caution. "Can it be reasoned with??" Tsin has Pems's answer when she watches him attack, selfishly comforted by someone else drawing its attention.

Tsin also continues to take Total Defense.
Also reveling in Cold Resistance 2, so she's been punished 4hp of frost, 20/24

Pems' stone hits the girl -- which Mal can see, barely in the gloom, is actually the doll from the cabin -- but seem to have no effect, other than causing her to wobble a little in mid-air.

Still, if nothing else, it appears to be enough to throw off her aim, as a ray of cold directed at Pems hit harmlessly in the snow at the halfling's feet.

1d4 ⇒ 3
1d20 + 7 - 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 3 - 4 = 12

Round 3

Hektir spits as Pem's stone does nothing.

"Maybe fire. Fire is always good."

Hektir tosses his ball of fire at the girl.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 touch to hit;
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 fire damage.

"Look here!", Quinn barks angrily at the girl/doll, "We've offered you comfort and warmth and all kinds of finery befitting a young lady lost in the snow, and you repay us with chilly frost barbs! We'll have none of these shenanigans!" Striding forward, Quinn prepares a vicious slap for the smarmy brat.

"Augh! Blasted witchy devils! That's no little girl, it's the guardian doll from the hut! What did you fools do in there to draw it forth?"

He reaches into his sleeve for his wand, then grubmles loudly as he realizes he is still in his pajamas. With a scowl at the doll, he sweeps the droopy wool cap from his head and intones a few arcane words. A moment later a sparking effigy of Zeno emerges with a loud "POP!" and careens toward their animate foe.

Snapdragon Fireworks (fire): 1d4 ⇒ 4 + dazzled for 1 minute; Reflex Save DC 16 for 1/2 damage + negates dazzled condition

Round 3, Init Mal-

Tsin hears Mal identify the aggressor as the now animated marionette, so she breaks from cover to attempt to break it apart. "So, it can be smashed, Mal?" Tsin looks like she's being weighed down by rocks in an futile attempt at a charge.

Falchion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 for 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10 damage

It's 15 feet in the air.

Don't forget the -4 to hit with ranged attacks due to the weather. And concealment for those without lowlight vision.

Hektir's blast of flame soars past the doll, briefly lighting up the night before it fades away, but still coming closer than Pems' sling stone.

Mal's blast of flame rockets toward the doll, but instead of exploding as it has every other time, it seems to fizzle as it comes in contact with her, leaving nothing but a few sparks. She apparently has some sort of spell resistance.

Quinn and Tsin move toward the doll, which struggles to get her mid-air rocking under control. She's spending the round getting herself under control; but note that she's 15 feet up.

"Far worse awaits you if you continue on," she calls. "Turn back and you may be allowed to live!"

I should make a Caster Level check then, yes? Or is this like a golem's super-unbeatable-spell-resistence?

Yes, caster level check, please.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
pbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbt!

Sorry; I already did the caster check for that round -- I thought you meant caster checks going forward (but, hey, you got a bad roll out of the way).

Round 4

Hektir spits and moves closer to the doll.

Ain't no doll better than me. Unless it one of them fancy Taldan-house dolls with the pretty hair...

Hektir's hand gives off 20' light so everyone should be able to see the doll at 15' up.

After everyone else has gone, Hektir will hurl fire again at the doll.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 touch to hit;
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 fire damage.

Awh...piddlespot!

Pems winces when the "little girl" begins to threaten them. "What did they do to that poor little girl to cause her to behave like this?!?"

Pems fires another bullet. Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 for 1d4 ⇒ 3 damage!

Round 4

Spotting the creature in Hektir's light, Quinn draws and loads his crossbow. "It's the doll with the magical mirror eye, likely the witch spies on us even now!"

Round 4, Init after Mal

Ugh. Minor retcon, if you'll allow, Motte. Tsin's approach and disappointment at not having a grounded target would have brought her to sheathe her melee weapon last round.

Tsin follows suit, either sheathing and drawing, or drawing and firing her longbow.

Longbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 4 = 12 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage

"Playing with dolls, really?"

No problem, Tsin

The snow throws off Tsin's aim as her arrow goes flashing by the doll, followed in quick order by Hektir's flame. As Quinn reloads, Pems has more luck, but his stone seems to not affect her wooden form at all and bounces off harmlessly. she has some form of DR

"Hmmph! Blasted doll, causing all sorts of problems," Mal complains, launching his second fireworks spell of the day at the girl. This one fizzles out again as it hits her, only a few sparks lighting up the night.

"Please, old man, stop hurting me," she cries out, gesturing again. Mal suddenly feels his throughts turning toward the small doll. DC 11 Will save vs. charm person; don't forget you've got protection from evil up, which will help you.

Mott, don't forget my caster level checks get my Int mod added into them too! Also, I'm back from my Independence Day travels - sorry if I held anything up!

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
... bleep! So, if I understand PfE correctly, in failing the save the effects of charm person remain suppressed until PfE expires. At that point, if the charm is still going, it kicks in. That sound right?

"Stop hurting you?! Blasted contraption, stop hurting us why don't you?!"

Round 5

Hektir spits and recasts Produce Flame, using it to highlight the target (20' light).

"C'mere, I want to show you something."

Pems curses as his shots seem to do nothing. He feels a deep cold in his core, and pulls on it, releasing a ray of frost at the doll!

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
ICE: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Feeling all sorts of helpful, Tsin draws another arrow back, hoping to pierce the woody frame.
Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 4 = 19 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 damage
Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 4 = 4 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 damage

Mal, it looks like you get a second save at +2 to suppress it: Second, the subject immediately receives another saving throw (if one was allowed to begin with) against any spells or effects that possess or exercise mental control over the creature (including enchantment [charm] effects and enchantment [compulsion] effects, such as charm person, command, and dominate person. This saving throw is made with a +2 morale bonus, using the same DC as the original effect. If successful, such effects are suppressed for the duration of this spell. The effects resume when the duration of this spell expires.

And, whoops, did forget to add your Int bonus -- which is important. Both fireworks will hit, and cause the doll to scream in pain, though both times she seems to move enough to avoid the worst of the damage!

Tsin's arrow hits the doll as it bats out sparks from Mal's magic, but she barely seems to notice as it shatters against her wooden frame. It does seem to attract her attention, though, and she just ducks Pems' ray as it flashes by a moment later, followed shortly afterward by Quinn's bolt.

Hektir produces flame again, which seems to draw the girl's ire. She sends a ray of frost toward the tracksmage, hitting him with chilling accuracy. 2 hp cold damage

At Mal's attempts to reason with her, she wails, "They're trying to burn me! Please don't let them! Please? I just want to go home!"

Second Will Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Sheesh! The d20bot is not liking me lately!
"I'm trying to burn you, you blasted witchy marionette!"
Malavarius sends another firework up at the doll.

Caster Level check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Snapdragon Fireworks (fire): 1d4 ⇒ 2 + dazzled for 1 minute; Reflex Save DC 16 for 1/2 damage + negates dazzled condition

You've already cast your allotment of fireworks, Mal. You cast it once and then I cast it for you when I DMPC'd your character.

The duration is 1 round/lvl and once per round, as a move action, the caster can designate a square for a firework to detonate in. So I cast it, then technically you DMPC'd the 2nd round of the first casting.

"You ugly little doll, be gone!" Quinn shouts in frustration as he unleashes another bolt at the floating doll.

Crossbow (+4, -4): 1d20 ⇒ 6
Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

"Damn winds and snow, I can't hit a tree in the forest."

Round 6

Hektir tosses fire again.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 touch to hit;
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 fire damage.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 SR

Ah, right you are, Mal. Duh. That's part of what I like so much about that spell too!

Tsin's arrow. Pems' ray, Quinn's bolt and Hektir's fire sail harmlessly past the doll, the snow continuing to play havoc with their aim.

Mal has slightly more luck, his spell zig-zagging unerringly toward the doll, only to fizzle out, as if it were real fireworks that had gotten wet, when it arrives.

"No, no, no, no!" the doll screams, sounding almost like a petulant child. "You're supposed to be my friend!"

Again seeming to wobble a bit in the air, the doll sends a ray of frost toward the wizard, sending a quick chill through him. 1 hp cold

Round 7, Init Mal-

"You lost your privilege to call us friends the moment you struck out with your cold ray. Apologize for your hostility, or leave this instant." Tsin takes Total Defense, and waits for the others' touch of fire to end the doll.

Round 7

Hektir spits, getting more annoyed by the moment both at the doll and his own failure to burnify the doll as needed. I blame Mal for turning the dice gods against us.

After the others have gone, Hektir will send up his last produced flame up at the doll.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 touch to hit;
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 fire damage.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 SR check

Round 7

"We've invited you to sit by the fire with us, we've offered to help you get home, don't you see, we have been friends to you. Now stop hitting us with frosty barbs and tell us your name?" Following Tsin's lead, Quinn also holds his attack while taking a defensive stance.