Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Kyffin watches as Tristain collapses under his own weight. "We'll have none of that now. These damn traps just sapping our resources."

He'll take out the wand of lesser restoration, and, owing to the limited charges, does just enough to wake Tristain up.

Lesser Restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

He waits to see who else might need assistance. There are only four charges left in the dreamland wand.

If the amount of ability damage you have taken equals or exceeds your ability score, you immediately fall unconscious until the damage is less than your ability score, so Tristain is now conscious, but even weaker than usual. Because he did not die, he did not wake from the nightmare dream.

DC 20 Fort save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Albert feels his heart seize and he clutches his chest, then the wave passes and he breathes again.

whew!

Tristain glares at Kyffin, profoundly unhappy to not be awake-awake, but still dream-awake, which means he's still in this nightmare dream.

"Oh great. Thank. Just thanks," Tristain weakly struggles to his feet.

Tristain can survive on minimal strength if you don't mind his slow walking and complaining. And whining.

Fort Save (DC 20): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Tenebrynn grunts and clenches her jaw as the waves of magic wash over her, but she's able to shrug off the lasting effects at least. As Tristain shakily rises to his feet, Tenebrynn looks to Kyffin and shakes her head. "I think he's going to need a few more of those, Kyffin." She turns to Tristain, "It's not like the wand is any good us when we're awake, Tristain. Let him get you back up to snuff." Throughout it all, her voice and tone barely register any emotion at all.

Still unsure if Jasno is OK... Kyffin will try helping Tristain a little further.

Lesser Restoration: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

Two charges left if Jasno needs help.

Kyffin moves into the room and gives it a decent once over before proceeding on along down the left side.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Jasno Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Jasno also manages to fend off the effects of the spell.

You carefully make your way farther in, avoiding the room where you found the haunt before, and the first place Kyffin didn't really die, returning to the office. As you enter, you see a strange figure immaculately dressed with a sharply peaked collar and a tall top hat poring over the books. He holds up a long finger, clearly gesturing for you to wait while he finishes reading his page, then he calmly looks up.

"Now, what do you know about accounting or mathematics?"

"Now, what do you know about accounting or mathematics?"

”Quite a bit, I think,” Tristain bizarrely pipes up from the back. WIth his previous training as a scholar/tutor, his +18 knowledge checks in most, and his high intelligence...I think that’s true.

”I mean, I know some about somethings, and lots about other things. Why do you ask?”

Tenebynn's face goes stiff and her lower lip begins to quiver slightly. As Tristain musters his courage, she releases a sharp, almost silent sigh. Her words are soft enough as only those next to her can make out her muttering. "This isn't a dream, is it? I died and this is one of the Hells."

Kyffin says nothing, waiting to see what happens first, combat or Tristain bonking his head. For the man they face is definitely strange, and likely hostile.

He keeps his scimitar out, at the ready, but does not advance. He keeps pace with Tristain, as if he's his guard, but otherwise waits to see how this plays out.

"That was unpleasant." Jasno eyes the surrounding area but doesn't see much out of the ordinary. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Sorry all for the lag. Took a day off with fam yesterday and forgot to toss up a post to let you all know.

"Our friend here knows all kinds of things about all kinds of things. What's so important about accounting or maths, maybe it's something he can help with, and in turn you could help us with a few questions of our own?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20

As you get closer to the man, you notice a shifting haze of images around him that reflect your deepest fear need a DC 25 Will save or become shaken for as long as you stays near him; this is a fear effect, so you get a bonus as you're all near Al.

"Ah, perfect," he replies, seemingly oblivious to any discomfort. "Well, if you wouldn't mind helping me with these numbers, I would very much appreciate it."

He turns a book toward you, which is immediately familiar to Tristain.

The man seems more than willing to talk, but remains focused on the information in the books. Interweaving a non-mathematical question into the conversation requires a successful DC 15 Bluff check.

Jasno is disturbed by the images and suddenly seems unsteady on his feet, as if on the deck of a boat caught in an unexpected storm. Shaken

Will Sv, DC 25: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 4 = 21

No, I don’t think Tristain was actually getting closer to the man. He wouldn’t have, but would have been happy to discuss theories over a distance.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27 Know (Nature)
1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 4 = 25 Will vs. Fear (Al’s aura of backbone)

”Toss the book here? Oh wait...just hold it out...” Tristain says casting Mage Hand to bring the book closer from a distance. He will pick up and thumb through he book.

”Now, what kind of questions did you have? ” Tristain says, recognizing the ledger that he decoded before. ”I remember this. Yeah, I got a handle on it. What did you want to know?”

Q’s on bogeyman: DRs? SRs? Special attacks?

I don't think Kyffin is in range of the fear as yet, but as he will be I'm sure, I'll make the save now.
Will: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 4 = 17 (old man smell) vs DC 25 or be shaken.

He keeps up with Tristain, but as he gets closer... he shudders. As if someone walked over his grave. He looks to the others, How is no one feeling this? This.. this... creature! It is horror itself - the stuff of nightmares!

Trembling, he grips and regrips his scimitar, trying to keep a firm hold on that, at least. He'll quickly cast Magic Vestment (+2 AC) on his buckler, anticipating hostilities at any second!

Bogeymen are very resistant to anything but cold iron, and resist magic as well. In addition, if they get a critical hit or a sneak attack with one of its claws on a target suffering a fear effect, that effect automatically becomes one step more severe (shaken creatures become frightened, frightened creatures become panicked, and panicked creatures cower in fear). In addition, a critical hit from the bogeyman's claw forces any target that has successfully saved against the creature's fear aura to make another Will save against its effects, even if 24 hours have not yet passed.

Also, it's fear aura was 30 feet; I missed it originally, but considering it's in the room, which is not that big, I'm going to say you're in the aura if you're conversing with it.

"I am not sure, but I am certain there are some truths in these numbers. Perhaps something with 18, or even 36?"

Both in and out of character, Tristain doesn't know what he's asking. I haven't seen the ledger and the previous post doesn't help much unless I'm missing something (which I could be).

"Yes, 18 and 36 are numbers. I'm not sure what your exact question is."

"Could be all kinds of things hiding in those numbers, not just an 18 or 36. Understanding is the hard part, like knowing what's hiding here in this dream realm? Now, does this truth in the numbers have to be an 18 or 36, or could it be any multiple of 9?"

Bluff for What's hiding in this dream realm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

question suggestions?

The author of the ledger was cursed so that what was written would twist into illegibility. Perhaps this is how we decipher the ledger?

Tenebrynn just glowers at the exchange and offers flatly to add to Al’s suggestion, ”Ugh. Or three and six. Multiplied together they’re eighteen, written side by side they’re thirty six.”

"And 18 doubled is 36. An aside to the party, Have numbers been important in this place before?"

Kyffin looks slack jawed at his companions, How do they not see the evil of this man? The twisted nature of his very being?

He'll cast Bull's Strength in the hopes it also strengthens his resolve, but alas, it falls short. He grips his blade more strongly, but still with a tremor in his hands that he just can’t seem to shake.

”Wha-what are you?” he stutters staring at the creature, though he doesn’t expect a response.

The ledger is basically as ridiculous as all of Trump's accounting. But as before, this figure seems fascinated with it, and not realizing that. You can play along with his delusions and try to see if there's any more information you can get. Such as where the Yellow King is, since this is where you saw him last.

"No, no, I'm certain it must be 18. Though there were 11 of us once we came -- Weiralai, myself, her other denizens and their hounds, the winged things ... and of course the so-called Yellow King. Interesting. A prime number, but not one in the ledgers..."

The figure ignores Kyffin's question.

Tristain will attempt to continue to explain the ledger, allowing others to slip in questions for either Tristain or the monster to answer.

Tristain is too straightlaced, especially about education, maths, and teaching to do any bluffing.

"Maybe it's a combination, to a lock, 1-8-3-6" Al offers. "Or maybe the eleven of you arriving at once added to the numbers, so they should be 7 and 25. Speaking of arrivals, where is the yellow king, he's not here, maybe that's impacting the numbers? And Weiralai too, who's that by the way, maybe her lack of presence makes the numbers change. It could I suppose, is that a magical book, because magical books do that kind of thing."

3 bluffs for; where's the yellow king, who is Weiralai, is that a magic book

Bluff, where is yellow king: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Bluff, who is Weiralai: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Bluff, is that a magic book: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Jasno looks on with a mix of confusion and concern.

"Weiralai? Why she's upstairs still isn't she? Probably with the shantaks," he replies, interspersed with mathematical commentary. "As for the Yellow King, I'm certainly not sure. Weiralai came here with the others to find him, but I hardly know what she intended after that. Perhaps to kill him? I suggested she strand him on the moon in case he might come in useful at some later time. ... 7-11-17? But that doesn't make sense ... I do hope she followed my reocmmendation."

Tristain continues to help translate and figure out the ledger, if only to give others time for more questions. He feels he can keep this up indefinitely because maths and numbers are a forte of his and there is many ways they can explained, added, subtracted, or just massaged.

"7 and 11 are an interesting combination, I mean 7 makes sense being the most likely outcome of two six sided dice, but why 11? How could she send him to the moon, that seems like a long way away? Maybe 17 is representing the combination of 7 and 11, but not in a mathematical sense, but a digit perspective, a 1 and a 7 combine. Does that unlock other riddles in the numbers of the book? Did you come here for that book, or something else? We hope Weiralai followed your recommendation as well, maybe we should go speak with her now. Has she seen the book yet? We could ask her to take a look at it."

Bluff, how could she send him to the moon?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Bluff, did you come here for that book or something else?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Bluff, has Weiralai seen the book?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Kyffin nearly launches himself at the... creature a few times, but Al's smooth voice keeps him in check. Can't Al see the evil in this creature? And the insanity? It's crazier than Tristain!

He considers gnawing a little on his buckler to try and calm himself, but that's so... barbaric.

"Why the shantaks, of course. They carried us here, after all, didn't they?" he replies. "I came because Weiralai insisted, just as the rest of us did. She came for the Yellow King, but I think she simply didn't realize the importance of this book. She couldn't be bothered to look at it; her loss."

Can Tristain yet determine if there is any secret value to the ledger or is it just what it is?

Tristain is confused, still trying to explain the numbers as the more nonsense hits his ears.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Int check - the book

other questions?

"Are any page numbers missing? Those pages could be the key. Maybe someone else has them, is anyone else here? Could there be another matching book, like when shady accountants try to fool the king's tax collector about profits? We better go talk to Weiralai before she leaves, maybe we'll be back."

bluff, is anyone else here?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

bluff, any other books like this one?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Jasno looks around as if expecting to see something he hadn't before.

Still is just what it is. There's nothing more to discover about it than you discovered earlier.

"Yes, yes, I told you, a number of us came with Weiralai. There were the two other denizens, plus their hounds." You've encountered one denizen, plus a couple hounds. It's possible there were more in the rooms you bypassed.

Tristain closes the book slowly (in case others have more questions, plz do it), and eventually mage hands the book back to the evil creature.

”Well, here is your book back. You should probably go put it with the rest of your treasures and horde of magics. We’ll follow you there so we can be sure the book is safe,” Tristain offers a cheeky grin.

"If we think of anything new involving 18 or 36 we'll come back after visiting with Weiralai. Is Weiralai vulnerable to anything? And if we see anything involving a 7 or an 11 we'll make note of it. See you shortly perhaps."

bluff, is Weiralai vulnerable to anything?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Kyffin is struggling to contain his fear. The fight or flight instinct feels like it's becoming insurmountable. He feels as though he should lash out, or back away, but he will not leave his party undefended against this menace.

He blurts out, "Can you not see the evil here?!" directed primarily at Al, who keeps talking, more or less sanely, with the creature.

He starts to wonder if bonking his head might help...

Tenebrynn sighs, the sound only tinged with emotion. She waves any concerns away that the party might express and she reaches up to drag Kyffin away by a pouch on his belt. ”Excuse us.”

Steering the half orc back out of sight of the goings on with the book and the frightful creature, she sighs again. ”Ok. I helped you just now. Your turn to help me. Can you get Tristain to stop trying to woo or court me? It’s getting weird and exhausting.”

Jasno watches Tenebrynn and Kyffin move away with increasing concern.

Kyffin falls back/is dragged back, by the diminutive Tenebrynn. He keeps his gaze on the old 'man' as Tenebrynn talks in his ear. It takes him a moment to register what she said, but when it does, he does a double tack and looks down at her.

"Huh, what? Tristain is wooing you? That's crazy. But if you like, I'll get him to put a stop to it!" he says, perhaps more vehemently than he means to. He looks again back into the room with the creature...

”Not right this moment, Kyffin!” Her frustrations bubbling to the fore brings a little color back into her hair. ”Look at me! I’m serious. It’s been going on for weeks and weeks now. Like, you saw how he tried to blast that daemon thing off me downstairs? Or, how after I yelled at him about it, how he didn’t blast the next one off me? I tried to be clear before, but he didn’t listen and this is my only chance to vent to someone about it while he’s busy talking with that thing about some cursed book! Kyffin! Hey! Look at me!” She snaps a few times and blasts a jet of air up into the half-orc’s face to draw his attention back away from the nearby room. ”They’re fine. I got you out of that mess before you snapped and made everything worse. Now, help me figure out how to get out this one.”

Kyffin snaps back to Tenebyrnn as she yells at him. "What? I said I'd speak to him about it. He's not all there you know, so we'll have to let him down gently but firmly. All right?"

He shrugs, looking Tenebrynn in the eye, waiting for permission to head back. He grips his scimitar, comforted by its heft in this unusually confusing moment.

"Talk to him? I already tried that! I told you, I already told him 'No.' and that didn't work! Nestor's argued with me about it repeatedly, but he doesn't understand! Kyffin! Listen!"

Tenebrynn huffs, trying to convey the urgency of her problem as more and more color returns to her hair and cheeks. "Look, remember when the Bloodwind was coming after us and I saw it and warned everybody? And how Tristain was just so quick to agree with me and say my name in that one tone he uses? Or when we were in Sarnath and I asked how we could hurt those ghost-things who had the idol and he wasn't expecting me to talk to him so directly like that and he panicked and suddenly couldn't talk or come up with any answers? And then, right after that, when you kept telling us to run, I didn't so he wouldn't either?"

"What about how after I found those rubies in that nasty ahool's nest and he didn't even react?! Not a 'nice job' or a 'good work' or anything. He knew full well it would have frustrated me, so he deliberately didn't! It's so manipulative and aggravating!" She stamps her foot, causing a ripple of air to blast up and down the hall.

She looks back up at Kyffin and asks further, "But you still think talking to him will work? What would you say to him exactly?"

"I, uh, er. what?" Kyffin's head whirls with this new information. He knows Tristain is crazy, but he assumed Tenebrynn was, well, not.

Now he's not so sure. "I'd take him aside like," Kyffin starts sweating a bit, and biting his tongue as he thinks, "you know, like I'm his friend and stuff. Yeah, so anyway, I'd take him aside see," he begins to warm to the subject before hitting another stumbling block, "Yeah, all friendly like. And I'd say, 'Look here friend. Tenebrynn is a fine woman, and that's uh, a fact.'" he glances at the diminutive woman hoping he's not offending. "So yeah, I'd say, 'But you know she doesn't fancy you. I think she's looking for something, er, someone, different.'"

Kyffin nods, sure this is the right approach, "And sure, maybe Tristain would say something, or be all embarrassed or whatever, but I'd be firm," he stands up straight, quite nearly forgetting the next room in his imaginings. "I'd be firm you see, and that would make all the difference."

He looks at her, "Right?"

Sounds like Tristain can't hear the above, but I'm laughing my ass off. If I'm wrong, I'm happy to have Tristain interject.

Tristain maintains his attention on the fey, probably not hearing any crazytalk.

Jasno inches toward the two conversing, hoping to hear something. Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 He looks to make sure they are still there as he doesn't hear much. He thinks it odd that they are so animated when it doesn't seem they are saying much.

Tenebrynn doesn’t seem convinced, but she’s at least satisfied Kyffin’s knuckles aren’t whitening on the hilt of his sword any longer. ”You think that would work? I hope so. So, would you talk to him when we get back to the ship then? That seems like the best time, so long as we’re not fighting off more pirates or river monsters again.”

Also, laughing out loud. Well done! And in case I need to say it too, Tristain, STOP! She's not interested! I would say no one can hear that conversation other than the principals at this point.

"Oh, you know denizens," he says absentmindedly, focusing again on the book. If she's any different than the other denizens of Leng you've encountered, there's no indication of it from the bogeyman.

He gives no indication that he plans to leave the office anytime soon, as Kyffin suggested, but also appears to be completely unconcerned if you ignore him and continue on your way. i.e. you can head upstairs if you want (and can control Kyffin), without a fight. Or you can start a fight. Or you can do something else.

Ha! poor Tenny

"Well then, talk to you later." Albert steps back from the dream walker and slowly moves out of the room while shielding his companions.

If they clear the room without incident, Albert will try to lead the party away from the Bogeyman before discussing plans.