Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

yeah, Al will opt for the fast healing to save charges, was down 77 so could use 2 and one lay on dirt to make that zero charges, thanks Mott

"That head bonker is tainted from all those evil books, but me, I gotta be pure. And we killed an aberration already, nasty polyp thing." Al touches the sword to see if it will yell praises about his purity and aberration slaying powers.

blade to Kyffin does sound like a good idea, and I agree about trying to get information from it, and it might help navigate the city

A little late (and it might not work; been a loooong time since I've dealt with an intelligent weapon), but Starflit would like to use her detect alignment power to see if the scimitar radiates Good and/or Law, in that order.

Yes, there's more to examine down here. Will deal with that a little in this post.

"YES! YOU ARE TAINTED AS WELL! ALL OF YOU STINK OF IT! UPIANSHE WAS MY COMPANION, BUT WE WERE NOT ENOUGH! THE CITY DEFEATED US!" the sword declaims. "BUT YOU AND I WILL KILL ALL THE POLYPS! WE WILL CLEANSE THIS PLACE OF EEEVIL!"

The sword does not radiate of good or law.

Aeptolinu nods to Tristain's question, though it was barely heard over the sound of the sword. "Yes, the stella is not much farther. Through that passage." He gestures to the northeast.

Starflit purses her lips in uncertainty and perhaps worry. Walking over to Kyffin, she whispers the results (or lack thereof) of her detect spells to him before casting a third version to check for Evil on the talking blade.

ADDENDUM: To save us time and effort, I suppose 'Flit ought to check for Chaos next.

Tristain pauses to sniff his armpit, somewhat rank but not archer-level rank.

”What taint do we have? Is it bad? Maybe it’s a good taint? What does it mean?” Tristain asks, trying to figure out more from the sword. ”Why does it hate polyps so much?”

Oh, yeah, it's definitely strongly chaotic.

"YOU BEAR THE SAME TAINT AS THE MONSTROSITIES OF THIS PLACE! BUT YOU ARE NOT OF THEM, AND I WILL WORK WITH YOU AS LONG AS YOU DESTROY THEM! THE TAINT AND THE POLYPS ARE OF BEYOND, AND IT DOES NOT HATE THEM! THE TAINT DOES NOT HATE OR FEEL AT ALL!"

Disheartened at being accused of being tainted, Tristain turns away from the sword.

”Sounds like you really want to put a licking to those taint monsters. Should we call you Taintlicker? Maybe that is your name?” Tristain asks under his voice, MichaelSera style.

"I can take that from you Tristain if you wish, though it does seem to suit you." Kyffin grins as they chat with the sword.

He's never had a smart sword before. He wonders if it's smarter than him, or more powerful. Will it be a partner? Or will it be a fight...

He stretches out his hand, sheathing his own weapon for the moment.

"I AM TERALINDAR'S HONOR!!!"

Tristain pauses to sniff his armpit, somewhat rank but not archer-level rank.

Lol!

Lothan chuckles under his breath at the 'tainted' spellcaster. "Must be tough with all that 'taint' you got there, T. I'm sure it's not easy being tainty. Hey, I know! Maybe there's a spiked wall nearby that you can bang your head against. That might help get rid of the taint. Worth a shot, hm?" He nods emphatically, grinning jerkily.

”Teralindar’s Honor? Uh, that’s a mouthful. Who made you like this? And why? And do you know where the polyps are?” Tristain turns around to address Taintlicker, while ignoring the snark coming from the overly tainted.

”Kyffin, you sure you want to use that blade? It’s…it’s….crazy….” he says, not yet pointing out that he knows exactly what crazy is like.

"You can carry it Tristain if you wish. It's about as good as mine anyway..." He winks at Tristain wondering if the blade can see it as he has a little fun.

Albert scowls at the chaotic sword and starts grumbling about being pure, not deaf.

While the conversation devolves, and includes armpit sniffing, Al decides to take some time checking the room for anything else interesting, and less judgmental, than teralinda's loud hailer.

take 20 to search the room

"You can carry it Tristain if you wish."

Tristain frowns in concentration.

Does he really want to hang out with the second smartest thing in the group?
Will it be better conversation than the others? Probably.
Can it shut the f+~@ up about taints? Probably not.
Will it be less annoying that some others? Probably.

Tristain ponders and politely refuses the offer from Kyffin.

Not sure what we're waiting on, but in case it's me...

Kyffin will take the blade off Tristain and proceed to continue. "Let's, uh, destroy some taint, shall we?" He says to the sword by way of introduction as he walks.

No, was busy with GenCon; sorry!

"I WAS ENCHANTED BY THE FINEST CRAFTERS IN NINSHABUR TO REWARD THE GREAT UPIANSHE AFTER SHE NOTICED STRANGE SIGNS OF THREE OF THE GREAT NINSHABURIAN CITIES!" the blade responds, pride clear in its voice. "SHE RECORDED EVERYTHING SHE OBSERVED, AND ON THE THIRD YEAR, SHE TOOK HER FINDINGS TO THE CITY OF TERALINDAR’S GUARDS. SHE EXPLAINED HER THEORY OF A SUBTERRANEAN MASTERMIND WHO MANIPULATED THE MARKETS FOR SINISTER PURPOSES—AN IDEA THE AUTHORITIES LAUGHED OFF AS PLAYFUL FANCIES. UNDETERRED, UPIANSHE STOLE HER MOTHER’S SWORD AND DESCENDED INTO THE LABYRINTHINE TUNNELS BENEATH THE CITY. FOUR DAYS LATER, SHE EMERGED, DRAGGING THE BODY OF A DARK NAGA BEHIND HER. IN RECOGNITION FOR HER SERVICE, NINSHABUR’S FINEST ENCHANTED HER FAMILY BLADE TO STRIKE DOWN OTHER THREATS TO THE EMPIRE."

It pauses to let you admire it for a moment.

"I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THESE POLYPS ARE, BUT IF THEY ARE HERE, AND ARE A THREAT, WE MUST DESTROY THEM!"

Unable to find anything else in the room, you decide to follow Aeptolinu's directions and proceed toward the nearby stella. More than a dozen immense stone towers crisscross messily above, forming a manner of roof for this large cavern. Broken basalt scree creates a beach that slopes gently into the water to the north. A nearly cylindrical pillar stands near the shore, looking much like the stella you performed a ritual on earlier.

"I DO NOT KNOW WHERE THESE POLYPS ARE, BUT IF THEY ARE HERE, AND ARE A THREAT, WE MUST DESTROY THEM!"

Lothan can help but chuckle. "I bet if it was up its butt it would know." He murmurs under his breath, chuckling some more. I swear, I'd love to know which god decided to name those things. What a dumb name. He thinks to himself, still grinning.

1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 24 + 2 = 36 Know (History) - Ninshabur?

What is Ninshabur?

Tristain tries to make sense of the crazy rantings.

Kyffin will head over the the pillar, hoping the sword quiets down with time. It's a faint hope, like sanity for Tristain.

"So, do you have any abilities I should know about before we head into danger? For example, can you be quieter?"

Ninshabur was once a great and powerful empire in Casmaron until it was decimated by the greatest Spawn of Rovagug, Tarrasque. Its once-grand structures are now little more than dust-choked ruins, and its people only wandering ghosts.

"YES!" the sword replies enthusiastically (and possibly a little louder, if anything). "I CAN SENSE ABERRATIONS AND HELP YOU DESTROY THEM! I CAN SENSE MAGIC, AND SEE IN THE DARK, AND SPEAK MANY, MANY LANGUAGES!"

This sword hosts the spirit of her last wielder, the warrior-scholar Upianshe. She is utterly driven to destroy the aberrant villains that killed her expedition.

AURA strong conjuration and divination
ALIGNMENT chaotic neutral
SENSES 60 ft., darkvision, read magic
Intelligence 20 Wisdom 13 Charisma 14 Ego 17
Language Aklo, Azlanti, Common, Draconic, Kelish, Vudrani

This +2 aberration-bane bastard sword is made of magically hardened bronze and has the special purpose of killing aberrations and creatures intrinsically tied to Xhamen-Dor. Upianshe’s spirit can sense such foes within 60 feet, her bane enchantment applies to them, and against them her critical hit multiplier increases to ×3. Finally, she can attempt Knowledge (dungeoneering) checks as though she had 5 ranks in the skill (total +13 bonus).

Starflit? Al? Where are you guys?

"Sounds like you have Tarresque issues," Tristain notes, trying to imagine something worse and only coming up with the smug mug of a grinning archer.

"Well, let's get a move on."

Starflit? Al? Where are you guys?

Apologies. Still around--just busy, distracted, and without a lot of worthwhile contributions to make at the moment. I'm still checking in fairly regularly, so keep going and I'll make sure to post something (probably brief but hopefully still worthwhile).

Al hopes the polyps are drawn to the ranting sword, but he still doesn't get near the water until Kyffin approaches with the blade. "You can detect aberrations, right? Any of them lurking in that water?"

"Good question Al, so, 'T-H', do you sense any of your hated enemies nearby? If so, you feel free to let me know and we'll go get 'em, OK? You let me know, day or night."

He pokes around carefully.

"Sounds like you have Tarresque issues," Tristain notes, trying to imagine something worse and only coming up with the smug mug of a grinning archer.

Lol! "smug mug". I love it. Man, that's perfect. :D

"Yeah, you let us know, sword guy. Just don't freaking scream it, okay? We don't need all the yelling to let all the baddies know where we are, m-kay? Otherwise, we'll be needing to find the mute button for that thing."

"THE WATER IS CLEAN!" the sword declares. Though it was a good question; there is a monster in there in the module, but it feels like a not useful fight, so I'm handwaving it. "THERE ARE NO ABERRATIONS HERE! WE SHOULD MOVE ON TO FIND SOME TO DESTROY!"

Tristain nods, appreciatively at the sword.

”That’s helpful information. It’s nice to avoid a messy fight in the water. Excellent,” Tristain is glad about that.

”Where to next, Azlantian? Where is the aberration or the stellae?”

Starflit flashes Kyffin the same annoyed glare she usually reserves for Lothan. Upon closer inspection, though, she's glaring at the half-orc's new blade, not at Kyffin himself.

'Flit's in follower mode. If the flying polyps are next on the list, she's ready to deal with them presently.

You're in the room with the stella now.

'Flit's now in leader mode. :)

Once Tristain's ready, Starflit casts comprehend languages to translate the parts of the Necronomicon needed to complete the ritual.

Right before she starts, she turns to Kyffin and says, "You might want to explain the reason we're doing this to your metallic friend, just in case it takes exception."

Kyffin nods, "Chill sword, we've got to do this thing. It's for the best."

He doesn't sheath it, for he knows enough about these sorts of rituals to want a weapon handy.

I'm a little confused as to what we need to do next. Kyffin is ready though, or thinks he is... :)

Tristain will try to do the thing to the stellae, what with the chanting and reciting and aligning of stuff and whatever.

1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 23 + 2 = 27 Know (Arcana)
1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 23 + 2 = 45 Know (Religion)

Al munches on some more prunes and waits with blade in hand while the party completes the rituals. He briefly wonders what the sword would think of his alien form, but decides against finding out while the party is doing important things.

As Tristain's about to start the ritual, a look of horror crosses Aeptolinu's face. "No! You fail! Humanity's tested, and it fails, again and again. You cannot do this!"

Aeptolinu’s visage melts away, leaving him with a baleful, bloody gaze. He then lets out an agonized wail!

Baleful Gaze (Su): Any creature within 60 feet of a broken soul must succeed at a Fortitude save or take 1d4 ⇒ 1 points of Strength, Constitution, and Charisma drain. Whatever the result of the saving throw, the creature cannot be affected by the same broken soul's baleful gaze again for 1 minute.

Agonized Wail (Su): As a standard action, a broken soul can emit an agonized wail that inspires terror in those who hear it. All creatures within 120 feet must succeed at a Will save or become shaken for as long as they remain within 120 feet of the broken soul. A successful save renders a creature immune to that broken soul's agonized wail for 24 hours. This is a sonic mind-affecting fear effect.

Starflit and Al are up for Round 1/2

"Ah, oh no!" Tristain cries as he realizes what was already obvious: that nothing can be trusted ever to not be a secret monster. (That's why he appreciates Lothan so much: he's obvious about it.)

1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 24 + 2 = 29 Know (Planes)

DRs? SRs?

Starflit Knowledge (planes) Check (Monster Lore): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Starflit Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Starflit Will Save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

No DCs given for the saving throws.

Whoops! DC 21 for both

Tristain knows weapons won't full hurt Aeptolinu and that it resists magic too (DR 5/- and SR).

1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23 Fort vs. Gaze
1d20 + 13 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 + 4 = 24 Will vs. Wail (Al's Old White Man confidence)

Tristain blanches as he struggles to react.

Fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22 vs DC 21 Fort vs Gaze
Will: 1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 4 = 21 (Al) vs DC 21 Will or be shaken

Even with the old man smell, that there's a 1. Kyffin stands uneasily, looking for a way out.

Al finishes his prune and hefts his blade as Tristain starts the ritual, because bad stuff always happens when rituals start.

Fort save vs gaze: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

The creature gives it's best stink eye, but Al returns the gaze as only an old man knows how. "Oh, now you want to share something useful, you could have said something before." Striding up to the whining ghost, Al smacks it with his blade. "Stop interrupting, you ain't taking care of these ruins anyhow, even the annoying talking sword agrees with me on that one, right TH.

curve blade, power attack, focus: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22
damage: 1d10 + 5 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 12 = 18

"Whaaa...What is this thing??!!" Starflit exclaims as Aeptolinu transforms into something horrible that she doesn't recognize. She invokes the protection and purity judgments upon herself as she draws her magic starknife and moves to interpose herself between Aeptolinu and Tristain. The inquisitor takes one swing at the monster. When her (assumed) hit causes minimal damage, the somewhat panicked woman clarifies, "Undead? Outsider?"

Starflit +2 returning starknife Main Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 for magic, piercing damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 (x3)

Al and Starflit rush to defend their companions from Aeptolinu, the inquisitor slashing him ever so slightly as he steps back away from them. He gestures toward Kyffin, who suddenly feels a desire to stay away from the manu. "I thought you might be better than the others, but you have failed humanity too!" he screams.

Kyffin must make a DC 17 Will save or be unable to come within 60 feet of the stella -- which is just to the north of Tristain on the map. If he succeeds, he's instead sickened while in that area. Entire party is up. Don't forget the earlier saves if you haven't made them yet (which looks like just Lothan).

Fort save vs. drain: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Will save vs. shaken: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

...that nothing can be trusted ever to not be a secret monster. (That's why he appreciates Lothan so much: he's obvious about it.)

Lol! Never forget that. How truthful Lothan is, that is. ;P

"I'll tell you what it is, Butterfly, it's DEAD, that's what it is." Lothan unleashes arrow after arrow at the freakshow.

Clustered shots

Studied target +3/Rapid shot/Deadly Aim/PB shot
+2 adaptive composite longbow: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

(Rapid Shot)+2 adaptive composite longbow: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

+2 adaptive composite longbow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Damage: 1d8 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

+2 adaptive composite longbow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

AC 27; Hp's 109/109

"Whaaa...What is this thing??!!"

"I've heard of creatures like these, they're lawful ignorant, none of our abilities can breach their shield of deniability!" Al slashes away at the creature formerly known as Aeptolinu in desperation.

curve blade, power attack, focus: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35
damage: 1d10 + 5 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 12 = 22

curve blade, power attack: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 4 = 14
damage: 1d10 + 5 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 12 = 24

curve blade, power attack: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 - 4 = 9
damage: 1d10 + 5 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 12 = 22

possible crit on 1st attack...

curve blade, power attack, focus: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
damage: 1d10 + 5 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 12 = 21

Starflit steps forward, invokes her greater bane power against lawful outsiders, and takes two swings at the corrupted being.

Starflit +2 returning starknife Main Attack (greater bane): 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 = 24 for magic, piercing damage (greater bane): 1d4 + 4 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + (3, 4, 4, 1) = 21 (x3)

Starflit +2 returning starknife Iterative Attack (greater bane): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 = 19 for adamantine, magic, piercing damage (greater bane): 1d4 + 3 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + (6, 6, 1, 3) = 24 (x3)

Round 1, Init 6

Tristain flies 60’ away from the screaming, gazing jerk and casts a magic missile at him.

5d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 3, 1, 4) + 4 = 15 force damage.
1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 13 + 2 + 2 = 29 SR

Will: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 - 2 = 31 (shaken) vs DC 17 for merely sickened

Kyffin, unsteady and somewhat fearful, takes a 5’ step to close before (swiftly) blessing his armor with sacred power (+3, 1m). Then he’ll take a couple powerful, but uncritical swings!

Scimitar: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 15 - 4 = 31 (shaken, sickened)
damage: 1d10 + 17 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 2 = 19 (sickened)
critthreat Scimitar: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 4 = 12 (shaken, sickened)
damage: 1d10 + 17 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 17 + 0 = 25 (sickened, 2hp fire)

Scimitar: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 4 = 26 (shaken, sickened)
damage: 1d10 + 17 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 17 - 2 = 22 (sickened)
critthreat Scimitar: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 4 = 16 (shaken, sickened)
damage: 1d10 + 17 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 17 + 0 = 24 (sickened, 2hp fire)

Please let me know when we’re facing aberrations so I can adjust damage (+2d6) and crits (x3).

Are you kidding? Two natural 20s! Grrr!

Despite Aeptolinu's horrifying visage, you all leap into the fray (except Tristain, who rushes away from the fray), slashing and shooting and just generally being really mean and awful to him. Unfortunately, Kyffin realizes he's more than five feet away, but he still manages to cut him slightly. Lothan also struggles to find his range, though Al's blade cuts deeply.

Tristain's magic missile hits home as Aeptolinu snarls in rage. He steps toward Kyffin, slamming him twice with his fists. "You failures! I thought you were a true child of Azlant, but you are NOTHING!" 17 hp

"HOW DARE YOU INSULT MY WIELDER!" the sword yells back. "KILL HIM QUICKLY, AND THEN LET US GO FIND TRUE ABOMINATIONS!"

Kyffin takes the hits, surprised that the creature landed a blow - let alone two! Still, he knows he’s fighting from behind, so he tries to level the playing field. He swiftly casts Divine Favor (+4 attacks/damage (luck)) with fervor.

Then he’ll swing twice, 5’ stepping SW to setup a flank with Al.
Scimitar: 1d20 + 15 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 0 = 18 (shaken, sickened, favor)
damage: 1d10 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 17 + 2 = 27 (sickened, favor)

Scimitar: 1d20 + 10 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 0 = 22 (shaken, sickened, favor)
damage: 1d10 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 2 = 29 (sickened, favor)

Sadly his swings are rather off.