Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

Tenebrynn squeaks in surprise and is about to slam the door shut without a word and retreat back to her friends when Kyffin startles her further from behind and barges into the building. Regaining her composure, she leans out from behind the half orc to regard the pair. ”Yes, hi. Hello.” She nods to each in turn before ducking back behind Kyffin, feeling strangely ill at ease.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Heinrich starts when they come across normal people and he sees Tristain begin to worry. "Hello neighbors. We were out for a walk and we came across your lovely home. I wonder if you could tell us how it came to be monster-infested?"

Tristain puts his back to the wall and bonks his head, not trusting anything.

He bonks while others talk.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Albert fixes a squinty eye on the out of place couple. "Who are you?"

detect evil on the evil couple

"I'm Asa, and this is my acquaintance, Daelene. We've been visiting here for a short time," the man says.

The woman nods.

"Monsters? I'm sure I haven't seen any such thing. Did you have trouble with the statuary? We were warned about them, but they said they were harmless. I'm sure it was just some accident, a lack of a proper introduction, as it were," she adds.

"We were just about to open a new bottle," the man continues. [b]"Take some glasses from the liquor cabinet and relax. Let us pour you all a drink or two. We rarely have visitors to Iris Hill these days. Once we're done talking, I can get a groundskeeper to make sure the topiary doesn't bother you anymore.”

They're crazy. Kyffin thinks to himself, ...but then again, aristocrats always are a bit distant from reality.

"I'm Kyffin, and I don't drink while I'm working. Excuse me, but this Mansion has been overrun, and we're cleaning it out." he brandishes his scimitar lightly, "I'd appreciate it if you'd just sit down all nice and quiet and let us continue with our work. Or is that going to be a problem?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

I can't tell from the maps where we are. Is there an inner room? Upstairs? Anywhere else in this structure to search?

Tenebrynn adds helpfully, ”Well, there were cannibals and flying tentacle heads in addition to the shrubs. So, I don’t know that a groundskeeper would really help.” Her eyes dart to their cups, wondering if the contents were actually wine.

Updated the overall map -- you're in the building where Tenebrynn's marker is. There is a stairway leading up.

"Working? Did the Count hire you?" the woman asks though they're already sitting.

The man's eyes widen at the gnome's words.

"Cannibals and flying tentacle heads? Oh my," he says. "We haven't seen anything of that sort. Are you sure you don't want to sit for a while? That sounds like quite a lot ... We can open a new bottle."

At that, he gets up and heads over to a cabinet, pulling a dark bottle.

"Here, this one looks good. It says it comes from Cesca..."

”ASK THEM IF THEY KNOW WHERE THE COUNT IS!” Tristain calls from afar, still be-bonking his head against a wall.

He doesn’t like or trust these people.

Albert keeps two squinty eyes fixed on the couple and also draws his blade. "There's a wickedness lingering about you folks, why are you here? Where's the Count?"

continue detect evil

Al detects am aura of evil from both of them, both faint.

"Wickedness? Well, I never!" the woman says.

"Oh, I don't know, dear. Sometimes you can be a little wicked," the man replies with a laugh, a bit of a leer in his voice.

"Oh yes, but only with you, my heart," she adds. "Still this is hardly appropriate for company. We came to discuss some issues with the count, but found he wasn't in attendance. We thought to wait until he returns."

"And have been rewarded with some fine hospitality," the man finishes, pulling his belt knife from its sheath to break the wax seal and free the cork from the bottle. "Are you sure you won't sit?"

"Please, do sit," the woman entreats you.

Kyffin nods, "Stay right there."

He'll move up the stairs, scimitar at the ready, looking for trouble. He does not enjoy their so-called hospitality. He does not trust them, not one bit.

Tristain stays right there, keeping an eye on the humans.

He does not trust them one bit.

"Hey Pems, do we have the authority to arrest these people? You think? We should."

Heinrich frowns at Tristain. "I have been called many things, but Pems? That is a name from another place, far away..." He shakes his head to clear the cobwebs. "Arrest them? For hospitality and sexual deviance in the bounds of a heterosexual relationship? Seems a bit Abadarian for my tastes."

Knowledge (geography): 1d20 ⇒ 11

Tenebrynn starts as her half-orc cover lurches forward and up the stairs, leaving her exposed. ”Ah, so sorry. Don’t mind us. What with cannibals, and tentacle-heads, and cultists - did we mention the invisible, stabby cultists? Well, we’re just expecting something bad behind every door at this point. Where’s Cesca? Do they have good wine there?” The gnome’s words come out in a rush, as usual, and she shifts into asking about the wine without warning or changing her pitch or intonation, all of it matter-of-fact and almost innocent.

/me facepalms. I was talking to Pens, my pet quill, obv.

Tristain looks confused for a moment, then bonks his head more. He’s clearly not right.

*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*
*bonk*

"Are you folks ensorcelled or something? Monsters are lurking all over this place and you want to sit and drink wine? It ain't right."

continue to detect evil on the evil couple

Al gets no further information from his attempt to detect evil from the pair, who look surprised as Kyffin pushes past upstairs.

"Well, that was uncalled for," the woman says to the man, who seems more interested in Tenebrynn.

"Cesca? Ah, it's in eastern Ustalav, in County Varno. Come, sit, it's quite a good vintage, I believe."

He pours a glass, holding it out to the gnome ... who feels like she could actually use a drink.

6d20 ⇒ (17, 1, 13, 12, 3, 2) = 48

Tenebrynn shrugs, "I don't know where that is. But ok." Tenebrynn then walks forward and extends a hand for the offered cup. "Thanks. I didn't realize I was thirsty."

"So, sit, sit. This weather's dreadful. No need to rush back out into the rain," the woman says.

Asa nods. "You there, you can come in out of the rain. There's room and wine enough for everyone."

Heinrich clears his throat. "What are you drinking? I'm something of a brewer myself, I always enjoy a good discussion on the art."

Tristain stays back, trusting nothing and keeping an eye out, just waiting for the humans to turn into monsters.

”You’re not right. They’re not right. This whole place isn’t right. We should burn it to the ground.”

Tenebrynn offers over her shoulder as she sits, ”It’s a Cescan vintage, Heinrich. You know, from Varno county in eastern Ustalav.” She shifts into the chair and looks at the man, then the woman, then her cup. Shrugging, Tenebrynn then remarks, ”Huh. I didn’t realize I wanted to sit either. No, Tristain! No burning! Are you two friends of the Count? What are your names?”

When the gnome wants to sit while the half orc explores Albert knows true evil is upon them. "Don't drink it! Kyffin is exploring, upstairs, and you have no idea what might be up there, but you want to sit here, it ain't right!" Albert slaps the glass of wine from her hand, then holds his blade forward at the jovial pair. "You folks stay sitting right where you are."

Tristain takes heed as Albert speaks, suddenly stopping his bonking and focusing on the people in their midst.

”Better do what he says,” Tristain warns the couple.

Heinrich frowns. "Albert is correct. Let us either leave them here or tie them up or what have you, but drinking wine with people unaware of monstrous intrusion in their home is probably ill-advised."

Kyffin searches the upstairs, surprised that he's alone as he's the worst finder in the party. So he does a quick search, and then if the space is small enough, and he doesn't hear the sounds of combat from downstairs, he'll take-20 as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Perception, take-20: 20 + 2 = 22

"Tie us up?!" Asa responds indignantly. "That's hardly very appropriate. What exactly are you doing here in Iris Hill? I shouldn't think you're very wanted."

The woman keeps her eye on Heinrich and Al as she distractedly tries to answer Tenebrynn.

"We came to visit the count, though he's not in residence at the moment, it turns out, dear," she says. They previous introduced themselves as Asa and Daelene.

Still any further conversation is forestalled as Asa shakes his head.

"No, Daelene. Clearly these people are intruders and it's up to us to do something about them!"

With that, he pulls his rapier.

But Suspicious Al and Kyffin -- who didn't get a chance to really look around upstairs -- react more quickly and are up.

Round 1

Kyffin, hearing the sounds of combat downstairs, and seeing no-one upstairs to fight, turns around and double moves back down with the others, as much as he can anyway in the tight space (probably still on the stairs behind Heinrich).

Al's cry for help as he steps in and stabs at Asa summons Kyffin, who rushes down the stairs just in time to see the old man's blade glance off a suit of silvery armor suddenly visibly under the torn shirt.

Asa slashes back with his rapier, cutting deep into Al 11 hp, before bringing the blade back into a guard stance. Al manages to ignore the demoralizing cheer the noble lets loose as the blade draws blood.

On the other side of the table, Daelene concentrates for a moment and then Tenebrynn suddenly feels an urge to start laughing at the ridiculousness of the situation. DC 17 Will save or collapses into gales of manic laughter, falling prone. You can take no actions while laughing, but are not considered helpless.

Will Save (DC 17): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Tenebrynn’s cheery, light hearted giggles fill the room as she draws her hands to her stomach and doubles over in laughter. The sound is sweet and childlike, as if she were a little girl watching a silly puppet show. It is, at the least, an eerie and offputing accompaniment to the growing violence in the room.

Round 1

Tristain looks on in horror as the little gnomeling falls and starts to laugh. As if this is a good time for that.

”You! You! You don’t stab us! You stab *her*,” Tristain says to the man, pointing at his woman. He focuses his mind, trying to override the man’s impulses. ”Stab *HER*!”

Murderous Command. DC 16 Will to resist.

Albert quickly wipes some dirt across his wound, but the soil doesn't heal him this time. Enduring the pain he slashes back at the man. out of lay on hands and smite for the day

+1 short sword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Round 2

"What is going on down here?!" Kyffin thunders as he stomps down the stairs.

If Tristain's spell succeeds, he casts Hold Person (Will DC 14) on the woman. If Tristain's spell fails, he'll cast on the man. If he's unsure, he casts on the woman.

He then moves in front of Tenebrynn so as to threaten the woman with his scimitar.

Heinrich frowns as the stabbing starts and the magic flies. He draws and throws his dagger at the man!

Flying Dagger vs Stabbing Man: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 18 for 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 damage!

As Tenebrynn giggles helplessly, Heinrich throws his dagger, only to see it ricochet off the man's silvery armor. Al slashes at Asa, only to see his blade knocked aside and -- before he can recover -- the blade cuts his skin with a flourish, blood spraying 13 hp.

He's about to attack again when Tristain's spell hits him and he turns to his companion, who lets out a cry of pain as she cuts him, though that pain seems to galvanize her enough to prevent Kyffin's spell from taking effect.

As he calls out an apology -- "He controlled my brain!" -- she scowls and casts again, trying to turn the tables on the scholar. Tristain feels something unusual tickling his brain, making it even harder than usual to concentrate. DC 17 Will save or be confused

Am I out for the duration of the hideous laughter or do I get to save each round?

Sorry, you do get a full-round action to save again. So you can do that for the last round, plus have another opportunity this round if it fails.

Will Save (DC 17): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Will Save (DC 17): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Tenebrynn continues to giggle and laugh on the floor. "Heeheehee! He barely has his own mind and he controlled yours! Hahaha!"

Round 3

(motteditor, last round I cast and then had wanted to move next to the woman to help prevent her casting of spells. Or at least make her concentrate. Was I unable to get to that spot? If so, did she make her concentration check for the confusion spell?)

Watching these two pick apart the crew, there’s little he can do as he has few spells available, and even less time to cast them. So he presses what advantage he may have on the already wounded man.

Scimitar (magic): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Not much advantage as it turns out...

Sorry, I was trying to go quickly and missed that. She would have cast defensively, but lost the spell, so no save for Tristain.

1d20 ⇒ 2

Round 2

”Yes! Much better! Stab her!” Tristain says again to the man. He fixes his mind upon the man again.

Murderous Command. DC 16 Will to resist.

Heinrich steps up and drags the laughing Tenebrynn out of the room!

Albert grunts in pain and presses the attack.

HP: 15/39

+1 short sword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Oh? What? Hahaha! I'm going for a riiide now! Heeheehee! Wheeeee!"

Heinrich drags Tenebrynn out of danger as Al and Kyffin press their attack -- though neither can land a blow, despite Tristain using his own magic to try to turn the swordsman's blade.

The woman, realizing she's about to be attacked again as her husband turns toward her with a murderous gleam in his eyes, quickly casts again, this time seven more images of her appearing, all seeming to merge and swirl together until it's impossible to tell which is real and which is illusion.

That seems to confuse her husband, his blade sliding between the options instead of hitting any of them.

Party is up.

Will Save (DC 17): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Tenebrynn continues to twist and giggle and laugh madly on the floor, ”Stop! That tickles!” Any further protests are cut off by more tales of laughter.

Round 4

Kyffin continues to try and land a blow… to be effective in any minor way. His target continues to be the man.
Scimitar (magic): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

...and he continues to fail.

Round 3

”One more time you bastard! Stab her!” Tristain says again to the man, pushing his will over the man’s.

Murderous Command. DC 16 Will to resist.

Hoping the man keeps attacking the woman, Albert turns his attention to her multiple images.

+1 short sword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

crit confirm, +1 short sword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

let's hope that's the actual one and not an image...