Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP

Game Master motteditor

The stafknife hits the homunculus, slashing it, and bounces off toward Mun, but doesn't cut through the latter's armor. The creature, unable to get to Starflit, instead rushes forward and engages Al and Kyffin, biting the former. Its teeth rip at the old man's flesh 14 and he feels a strange drowsiness come over him for a minute before he fights it off. You're immune to its effect

"No, no, no!" Mun screams. "Hold them off, we just must wait until Haserton returns!"

He chucks his club toward Kyffin, and it slams into the half-orc's head 7 hp before returning to Mun's free hand (the other hand holds a wand).

Party is up.

Actually, Starflit moved in front of Kyffin during her turn. Should she eat the attacks that hit Al & Kyffin? And, if so, what sort of save should she roll?

And since I forgot this earlier....

Round 1

Tristain hurriedly puts away the book he was reading on the account that trouble seems to be brewing with...

1d20 + 22 ⇒ (5) + 22 = 27 Know (Arcana)

...a homunculus!

"Mr. Mun! Stop fighting us! Call off your...thing! We don't want to make you create a new one! Kyffin's blade is very very sharp and angry! Tenebrynn is pure whirlwind malice! But I like science! Let's not fight!" Tristain says, hoping for less death than usual. No Diplo roll, just dreaming.

He readies a Magic Missile on Mun if he starts to cast.

5d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4, 4, 4, 1) + 5 = 21 force damage

Round 1

Kyffin ducks too late (maybe? Let us know if I’m hit or Starflit.) before 5’ stepping (either into position to attack or further into the room after the attack), and swinging!

Scimitar: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21 damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Scimitar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

He frowns as he swings poorly.

Tenebrynn crackles and the wind churns before she jolts all her companions into quicker action.

haste for the whole group!

Whoops, Starflit, didn't notice you'd moved. Yes, they would have attacked you instead. So 21 hp total, and need a DC 16 Fort save or fall asleep.

Starflit cries out as the large homunculus tears into her and she gets bonked by Mun's hurled club.

Starflit Fortitude Save (purity judgment): 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 3 = 25

Albert steps forward and slashes at the thing biting Starflit...

+1 elven curve blade, power attack: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 17 + 2 = 36
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 9 = 17

+1 elven curve blade, power attack: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 3 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 9 = 19

+1 elven curve blade, power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 3 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 9 = 16

"No sense in fighting us Mun, lower the wand and let's talk!"

Tenebrynn speeds up the party, unfortunately throwing off Kyffin's aim as he moves more quickly than he expected. Unfortunately, he also blocks Al's route to the homunculus, causing him to get bitten as the old man tries to move in 11 hp from AoO. Still, he lands a blow of his own, slicing the creature's skin.

Mun cries out at his words. "Ha! I knew it! You want my wand!"

Tristain's words have no effect, and Mun launches his club again, first at Kyffin, then at Al. Kyffin takes a blow to the head 6 hp, but Al's able to knock it aside, sending it flying back toward Mun, who steps closer, brandishing his wand.

Party is up.

Round 2

Kyffin takes the annoying blow - feeling the headache already beginning. So he swings back, shouting, ”Now cut that out!”

Scimitar: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 1 = 34 (hasted) damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
critthreat Scimitar: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 1 = 24 (hasted) damage: 1d10 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 2 = 25 (2hp fire)

Scimitar: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17 (hasted) damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

hasted Scimitar: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 1 = 34 (hasted) damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
crithreat hasted Scimitar: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 1 = 30 (hasted) damage: 1d10 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 2 = 21 (2hp fire)

When Starflit's hurled starknife returns to her heand, the inquisitor of the Black Butterfly infuses it with bane magic against constructs. She takes a step forward and brings the weapon to bear on Mun's homunculus.

5-foot step south to possibly offer Al a future flanking bonus.

Starflit +1 returning starknife (bane, haste): 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 23 for magic, slashing damage (bane): 1d4 + 3 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + (2, 1) = 10

Starflit +1 returning starknife Iterative Attack (bane, haste): 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 17 for magic, slashing damage (bane): 1d4 + 3 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + (1, 5) = 14

Starflit +1 returning starknife Bonus Haste Attack (bane, haste): 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 2 + 1 = 28 for magic, slashing damage (bane): 1d4 + 3 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + (1, 4) = 13

Round 3

"Try not to kill him!: Tristain warns, even as he worries he might be the killing blow.

He readies a Magic Missile on Mun if he starts to cast.

5d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 4, 3) + 5 = 22 force damage

Tenebrynn vanishes from sight only to reappear a moment later beside Mun, as she pulls a flensing blade of wind from his side.

Air Knife: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25for: 5d6 + 19 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 3, 2) + 19 + (2) = 36

Swift: vanish
Move: adjacent to Mun
Standard: attack w/ sneak attack

Albert hacks at the construct as he tries to clear a path to Mun.

+1 elven curve blade, power attack-focus, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 17 + 1 + 2 = 40
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 9 = 23

+1 elven curve blade, power attack, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 17 - 3 + 1 + 2 = 36
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 9 = 19

+1 elven curve blade, power attack, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 3 + 1 + 2 = 28
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 9 = 18

+1 elven curve blade, power attack, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 7 - 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 3 + 1 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 9 = 19

possible crits...

+1 elven curve blade, power attack-focus, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 17 + 1 + 2 = 32
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 9 = 20

+1 elven curve blade, power attack, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 17 - 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 17 - 3 + 1 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 9 = 19

+1 elven curve blade, power attack, haste, heroism: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 3 + 1 + 2 = 27
Damage: 1d10 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 9 = 16

Tenebrynn's knife cuts into Mun, who lets out a cry of pain.

Meanwhile, Kyffin, Al and Tristain continue to focus on the homunculus, the two swordsmen obliterating the poor creature and bringing another cry of anguish from Mun. "How dare you kill us! I knew it! I knew that's what you were going to do!" he screams.

He steps back away from Tenebrynn and pulls and quaffs a potion -- disappearing from sight! Token is where you last saw him.

As Tristain has See Invisibility going, he will point out where Mun is, hoping to talk to him a bit more before he gets himself killed.

"Mun? I can see you. Why don't you just be nice and talk?"

Kyffin swears, ”Don’t look at me! I can only remove invisibility once a day… and it’s been a long day!”

He notes where Tristain says he is located and is thankful. He closes if he can (60’ move with haste) and swings blindly!
Scimitar: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 1 = 16 (haste) damage: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Low is bad for me: 1d100 ⇒ 4 (miss chance)

He wiffs every which way.

Like Tristain, Starflit still has a see invisible spell up-and-running from the encounter with the spawn of Yog-Sothoth. Switching her bane ability to humans, the lithe inquisitor scoots forward swiftly and swings her enchanted starknife at the troublesome man.

Starflit +1 returning starknife (bane): 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 2 = 24 for magic, piercing damage (bane): 1d4 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + (1, 6) = 12

Aiming to end in the square NE of the current position of Mun's token.

"Surrender, Mun! We want to talk to you, no need to fight us!" Albert moves forward, and waits for something to react towards.

ready action to slash at a threat should it appear

Mun seems too crazed to listen to a crazy person like Tristain, and continues fighting, though it's clear the tides of battle are turning against him.

Kyffin swings wildly, but it's enough to let Starflit slash him. Surrounded in short order, Mun isn't able to put up much of a defense, and in a matter of moments you have him lying unconscious on the ground or dead, if you so choose.

"Maybe don't kill him just yet," Tristain asks politely. "We can kill him after we try to reach him. Just a bit of chat."

Tristain will try to help tie up Mun, at the same time removing anything of interest (all magics and spell pouches w/Detect Magic).

When he is secured, he will use a wand to heal him up to speaking shape.

Starflit helps to secure Mun (or acts as a lookout if that's more appropriate). She knows the others have a longer history with the man and lets them take the lead and make the decisions on how to treat the man. She's secretly pleased that her new companions aren't quick to kill the fellow, given the rough pasts they've all been through.

Kyffin casts Stabilize as soon as it’s clear we want him alive. He’ll then keep watch while Tristain does his thing.

”What are you going to ask him?” Kyffin asks Tristain curiously. ”I dunno that ew can trust him. I could learn some truth spells tomorrow if that would help. I think there are some options out there. I shall have to pray on it.”

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"I have the ability to use discern lies," Starflit announces.

...11 rounds per day. Now we just have to hope her player can remember this little factoid tomorrow. (Actually, that's why I posted today--as a reminder.)

Tristain's searches reveal Mun had a wand of make whole (9 charges), +3 leather armor, a +1 returning club, a cloak of resistance +1, a ring of protection +1, and 5 gp.The homunculus had a +2 chain shirt.

You also find among the chaos of the room Mun’s formula book, a loose collection of formulae held within a wood-backed cover bound in seugathi skin that contains a number of extracts see below. The room also holds a lacquered fan depicting soldiers fighting demonic cockerels (worth 50 gp), a paperweight that shows a black rose held aloft by a trio of devil’s coach horses (worth 100 gp), and Mun’s masterwork traveling alchemist’s laboratory, on top of which are a map of Katheer and the key.

Tristain identifies, sorts, and packs away the magics, certainly not giving them back to Mun if he's going to continue to be a crazy jerk. Every Mun they have met has been both crazy and jerky.

As Kyffin is getting him awake, and after he's tied up, Tristain will hope that Al can get him to see reason.

Kyffin will try two or three taps from the wand of healing. He'll tie the man up carefully and stand over him with his scimitar ready for anything. Crazy people are wily.

CLW: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (7, 7) + 2 = 16
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 (if needed)

"Look, Mun, we told you we wanted to talk and we meant that. We're sorry about your creations. We need to find that fellow you traveled here with, do you know where he is now and what he's doing here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 19 + 2 = 39

Mun awakes with a start, initially caterwauling and screaming about you attempting to kill him. Eventually, though, Al manages to calm him enough to get him to talk.

"Yes, my old friend Lowls," he says. "He recruited my to help him translate part of the eldritch tome known as the Necronomicon. I of course was able to do so, and we learned that Neruzavin lay in the Parchlands. Lowls planned to head there, I know, with the help of an old friend, a gnoll flesh trader he called Biting Lash. I've never met her, but he mentioned something about her fortified palace somewhere in Okeno. I'm sure he is only waiting for her support to rescue me from this madness!"

"Neruzavin?" Starflit mouths to her associates in confusion as she continues to magically check the veracity of Mun's words.

Starflit probably won't be asking any questions, as she entered the campaign in media res and doesn't have the experience with Lowls that the others have (plus, I believe she needs to concentrate to maintain dicern lies). I'll assume that mott will inform me if she detects any lies from Mun.

Will do!

"He recruited my to help him translate part of the eldritch tome known as the Necronomicon. "

Tristain, a well practiced paranoid, listens to Mun's words with practiced insight.

1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36 Sense Motive

"Okay, that's good. And why did you help him? And why are you so mad at us? What did we do to you outside of break in to your laboratory, kill all your simulacrums, and whatever that thing was in the attic! What was your deal with the thing in the attic?"

Kyffin nods along with each of Tristain's questions. Especially the one about the thing in the attic. That will take some explanation.

"We're totally here to help you. Help us do that."

Sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

My anomalous friend?" Mun replies. "How do you know about that? And, wait, you killed it?! But he was such a valuable source of information. The experiments I had planned!"

Eventually, Al can get him back on track from ranting. He helped Lowls because the two of them were friends, though he was as surprised as anyone when Lowls stole the Necronomicon. Mun certainly hadn't expected that, or the library's defense system!

"Lowls ain't coming back to rescue you. We'll try to get you out of here, along with those other folks behind the barrier. Do you know who they are, Mun, the people hiding back that way? And do you know of anyone else down here?" Albert tries to keep the man calm and talkative.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 19 + 2 = 31

Tristain listens to Al, letting the old ‘man’ take the lead. He wonders what further information Mun might have, but thinks the party might be best leaving him tied up for the authorities.

”I think we need to calm down the rest of this museum, don’t you think?”

Kyffin eyes Mun, "Sure, we can leave him tied up here for the moment while we press on. As long as he doesn't get loose."

He turns to Mun, "You won't get loose will you? 'Cause if you do, we won't be as nice when we fight again. Still, you're better off getting help I think."

He waits to see how Mun answers Al.

"Probably more people who wanted to steal my stuff!" Mun rants. "But I don't know them specifically. Probably more guards. This place is lousy with them. It's like they expected someone to steal something!"

He nods at Kyffin's warning, and you're able to tie him up and head to the next level of the library, or somewhere else if you wish.

As the group prepares to leave, Tenebrynn hesitates. Finally, she says in a rush, "Maybe I should stay here and keep an eye on him! That's got to be more exciting than more books!"

Perhaps it's a trick of the light, but she seems to visibly fade at even the thought of such a boring thing. She certainly doesn't cast a guilty glance at Tristain to see how he reacts to such a thought.

"Be careful!" Starflit exhorts the gnome. "We'll be back as soon as we can."

Let me add a CMW before we proceed. Anyone else need healing?

Starflit cure moderate wounds (herself): 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 2) + 10 = 18

EDIT: Sorry--no healing from me! Apparently I'm out of 2nd-level spells.

Kyffin spends a wand charge on his few remaining injuries.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

He’s then ready to continue on - deeper into the library. As they descend, he’ll cast his last Bull's Strength. He air walks 5' up as he looks around.

We've plenty of wands, just roll the healing you need and I'll track the charges.

"Maybe I should stay here and keep an eye on him! That's got to be more exciting than more books!"

Tristain doesn't know what to think. It doesn't make complete sense to him, but also it doesn't not make sense. It also doesn't make not sense, so that makes sense.

"Uhm, okay," Tristain says, confusion on his face. "If that's what you want. Okay, yes. Uhm...maybe we'll come back and find you after we make sure the place is safe."

Tristain looks at Starflit and Kyffin to see how they are taking the news, and will probably mimic how they react as he's not sure of anything.

We have wands. Use them, Starflit.

Tristain looks at Starflit and Kyffin to see how they are taking the news, and will probably mimic how they react as he's not sure of anything.

Kyffin shrugs, "What? It's a good idea. We need to keep an eye on this one. He's slippery. And she can take care of herself. Let's go."

He's ready to head into the library further.

You turn all the statues’ heads and head back to the gate, where the mouths on the smiling angelic faces open with a grinding metallic sound to reveal dark holes about 2 feet deep. You pull an unpleasantly waxy-feeling metal tongue at the base of the lower left face and the valve slides to the side, revealing a shaft 50 feet deep. As the valve opens, you can see dancing angels carved along the interior of the shaft, their hands gripped to form convenient footholds. On closer inspection, you notice that the angels’ faces are hungry, and their teeth pointed and sometimes broken.

You descend down warily, to discover that like the previous levels of this library, this level contains hundreds of carvings of angels upon the walls. Those in this level are dancing and cavorting, but some of them hold sly expressions. The images seem to move on their own when viewed out of the corner of the eye. The ceilings in this level are 15 feet high, and the halls are dark. Ominously, fog fills all the corridors, limiting sight past 5 feet.

From what you can see, hallways leads south and east. Overall map is updated

Starflit looks very uncomfortable in the roiling fog (to those who can actually see her, at least). "Hold a moment--let me scan for evil," she whispers while initiating her detect alignment ability. She scans south first; time permitting, she then turns her gaze east before quietly reporting any result(s).

"Well, this is all very pretty, but I can't see anything. We should stick close."

Kyffin will remain 5' above Starflit and Al, likely leading the group through the mist. He waits for Starflit to cast her senses outward before suggesting they head south.

Tristain tries to wave away the fog, and suddenly really wishes that Tenebrynn to do some crazy wind stuff to clear it all away.

"Where is this fog coming from? Should we link up so we don't get separated? Or should we talk about a place to meet up should we get lost?" Tristain doesn't like not being able to see.

He bonks his head on a nearby wall, hoping that Starflit is able to come up with something.

*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*

*bonk!*
*bonk!*
*bonk!*

Neither the fog nor anything else down here appears to have any alignment, as far as Starflit can tell.

And just in case this is your next step.

Tristain frowns as he doesn’t have the ability to disperse the fog by any means, save for blowing really hard. And the person who could probably fix it easily is upstairs, probably yelling at Mun for being overly attached to her.

He bonks for a bit as he thinks. As the party is still covered by a long lasting Life Bubble, he’s not worried about bad fog, but getting lost.

He decides to fix this by offering an *OPTIONAL* mind meld, if people want it, knowing that they might catch some stray Tristain thoughts.

Anyone want in on a Telepathetic Bond?

Kyffin agrees to the telepathic bond.

Al? I think in our slow posting we've lost Al. Al, you out there?

Once the mental link is established, Kyffin will head south, scimitar out and ready.