Motteditor's Superstar 2012 Round 4 playtests (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

The story so far:
You have tracked a noble, Hull VonTeado -- responsible you believe for the notorious kidnapping of women every few months from the town of Chateau Douleurs -- to his chalet high atop Mount Azdaj in the Hungry Mountains high above Lake Raiteso in central Ustalav.

This tiny chalet is full of the clutter of a mad scientist illuminated by the carmine rays of the setting sun. All of the exterior windows have been bricked up and most of the interior walls have been knocked out. Everywhere there are barrels, boxes, beakers and burners. Directly outside the back door of the chalet Hull VonTeado stands up from crouching, arms akimbo and laughing maniacally. A deep roar and the harsh smell of acid emits from somewhere below your line of vision.

“You thought you could catch me! But you’ve failed!” He turns and dashes down some wooden steps and out of sight. Barely discernible above the roar you can hear him bellow, “Cast off you fools!”

Map

Marcelio sprints forward to close the distance between him and the villain

Kyson looks at Kazmuk, his longtime friend and fellow hunter as the brave Marcelio runs towards their prey.

"I follow you, Kaz, for working together, we shall stop his monstrosity," Kyson extends his arm, showing Kaz the way.

Kyson will move 30' east and south, going down around that table and towards the door where their prey flees.

Why does Sarenrae allow evil to exist in this world?

Kazmuk's voice catches in his throat, coming out in a disturbingly pure flood of notes instead of the common tongue he intended. Surely Kyson must be used to his quiet ways by now -at least he hopes that is so. The others will just have to make of it what they will; the gods will have their way.

A sharp nod, just in case, as he crashes forward, his attention on the despicable beast up ahead.

Kaz follows Kyson's general directions, around the table and towards the door, ending just behind Marcelio.

Seiharu takes only a moment to glance out the open door at the pair of shallow graves, wondering just how he came to be in such a barbaric land. Still, his companions have proved honorable thus far...

No time for such thoughts!

He sets his sights forward, and dashes after Marcelio, moving towards the door (around the north side of the table) and drawing his trusty bow.

A colossal airship, at least 75 feet long, is moored at the end of the descending ramp. It has been crafted to look like a giant dragon, long, lean, and black, with tremendous wings spread behind it in a raptor’s dive pose. Tears in the wings and several holes in the hull, however, suggest a minimum has been spent on its upkeep. The ramp leads to a large door in the side of the alchemical dragon just before the tail. Inside the beast, Hull’s canine teeth grow longer as he screams at someone to, "Just go! Don’t worry about the mooring line!"

Marcelio sizes up the black dragon airship, drawing upon his knowledge of engineering to determine what he can of this strange, dilapidated vehicle. With a feral grin he calls to his companions, "Kaz, Kyson, Seiharu, today we end the terror of Hull VonTeado!" while thinking I'll become the captain of an airship in the process.

Hearing the screams of VonTeado urging action from his unseen crew, Marcelio draws a potion of fly and quaffs it down in anticipation of the airship's departure.

(free actions: knowledge check and communication with party; move action: drawing potion; standard action: drinking potion)

Marcelio, my brave friend. I'll never forget the time he saved me from that nymph. Both nymphs. Yeah...he 'saved' me from them. They wanted to take me away for some 'quiet time'...whatever that means. I'm sure it would have been horrible. Just horrible...

Kyson sighs and returns to the present.

"Let's get moving!" Kyson yells as he double moves towards the vehicle.

Seiharu has little knowledge of things such as airships, but he notices Marcelio's enthusiasm.

Marcelio, ever the boisterous one.

Seiharu smirks at the thought as he draws an arrow and levels it at VonTeado.

Let's see if I can give him an advantage.

Scarcely has the arrow flown before he rushes forward with supernatural speed to catch up tohis companions.

((Switching to flight arrow instead of trip arrow.))
Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Stopped short by the sight of the monstrosity, Kaz hesitates, then surges forward again, his mind alight but his mouth clamped securely shut.

A single move action (40 feet) should bring Kaz to the ship with an attack action left over if he reaches VonTeado.

Kazmuk runs forward to the ship, swinging at VonTeado with his warhammer, but is unable to connect with the quickly moving noble, who laughs at his attempt.

Seiharu's arrow hits VonTeado, despite Kazmuk's presence, but he keeps his balance, laughing all the more loudly at the attempt, as the Tian warrior rushes toward the ship.

Marcelio, from where you are, you can only tell the ship appears to be an alchemical dragon, which is held aloft purely by its alchemical engine, a complicated and dangerous device that has a tendency to explode when the vehicle becomes wrecked. However, once it gets up to speed, it can easily outpace you with your fly potion, though that will take some time.

Hull moves back, toward the front of the ship, staring at Kazmuk. "Kill your companions," he snarls. The oracle feels a massive presence in his mind for a moment, forcing him to obey, but after a second, he realizes he's able to resist the compulsion.

Those at the end of the gangplanks everyone but Marcelio realize the ship seems to have a crew of gnomes on it, five seated around a strange device in the middle of the ship that is beginning to emit a loud roar, one at the front by a large steering wheel.

Several barrels sit in the front and back of the ship, rocking gently as the craft begins to move. Farther aft, a series of backpacks are held along the wall; next to them lies a pile of silk on the floor.

Bombadil and Hodge, would you mind putting your characters sheets into your profile? It would make it a lot easier for me to check stats and whatnot. Thanks.

Map

Kaz watches the beasts mouth move, but the words make no sense to him, not now, not with the stress of battle upon him. Still, there's no language necessary to understand the movement of the ship or the way the Hull skulks backward. He must be stopped, and this ship grounded before it can do more harm.

Kaz closes, seeking space to move beyond Hull if possible. He swings the silver mace high, it's silvered surface catching whatever light might shine and redirecting it upon the evil in front of him.

((Tongues curse: Kaz is immune to any language dependent spells right now, unless cast in Celestial or Terran))

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 121d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Maybe I should go back and find those nymphs to see if that fate would have been as horrible as I imagine. Wouldn't hurt to find out, right?

Note to self: don't bring Marcelio along to 'save' me from them.

Kyson moves to the south and east square from the 2b notation (we need square numbers) and ponders his options.

What would Sarenrae do?
Smite them with divine wrath.
Am I Sarenrae?
No. Youre a fat scribe in a spaceship. You should be back in your monastery.
What should I do then?
Flee, you idiot.
No, I must stay with brave Kazmuk and loyal Marcelio. Not sure where Seiharu is.

Kyson dithers before deciding to ready a spell (Sound Burst) on Hull should Kyson see Hull spellcasting again.

Seiharu fleetingly chides himself for missing, and is glad that his former companions are not here to see his ineptitude.

He mutters to himself as much as to his general surroundings, in what he thinks to be proper Western pronunciation, "It seems that I will have to use a different approach."

He shoulders his bow and places his hands in a quick series of gestures before vanishing in a puff of mist before the eyes of Kyson. Kyson seems to be distracted by deep thoughts, and doesn't notice Seiharu's disappearance.

There is no sound but the slow drawing of steel as Seiharu moves up alongside the vessel.

Marcelio launches into flight, drawing both his net and trident in the process, and soars toward the airship. If an easily visible hole in the front hull is large enough to gain access he darts to that breach and enters the ship searching for Hull, otherwise he plows through the large door in the side of the black dragon ship and closes with VonTeado hoping for an attack of opportunity.

Just a little patch work and this will be a fine ship indeed. Plenty of room for a nymph or two to finally silence Kyson and his perpetual reminiscing, why couldn't he have been the quiet one instead of Kaz

(that would be a double move with flight and armor training that allows full movement with medium or lighter armor. If a non-flight move is needed for drawing both weapons during the first move then it will be a ground move at 30' while drawing weapons followed by a flight move action)

Kazmuk races toward VonTeado, swinging his hammer, which the Ustalavan noble manages to avoid, his lengthened canine teeth showing as he grins at your failed attempt. You can't get past him this round, though you can continue to try later.

As Seiharu and Marcelio make their way closer to VonTeado, Kyson prepares to intervene if he must with a spell from his goddess.

VonTeado lashes out at Kazmuk, claws seeming to grow from his nails, but the silent oracle is able to avoid his blow.

Moments later, with another roar and a shudder, the massive air ship pulls away from the mountain, taking flight in the skies over Golarion!

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Meeting a friend to walk to the dog, but will get a map up when I get back.

Map

Also, forgot to mention above that VonTeado moved back after his attack, taking up position at the stairs leading up to the bridge of the airship.

The gnomes, what are they doing? Any sort of defensive measures?

Kyson will move up 2 squares, then right 2 squares, then up 2 squares again (about 1/3 the way up on the right side).

"I suggest you leave...now. Please." Kyson musters the courage to talk to the gnomes while keeping most of his attention on Hull.

Ah...there is Seiharu, good. And Marcelio is flying...again. I'll never forget the time he saved me from the Bee People of Pollen Island. I almost got dropped into a cauldron of flaming honey! That could have been a 'sticky' situation.

Kyson will ready to Soundburst again if Hull casts again.

Kaz mutters beneath his breath as he drives forward, charging past the weird little gnome things to reach their foul leader.

"यह फर के लिए एक छोटा सा गर्म नहीं है?"

The swing is already in motion, righteous vengeance seeking a target.

Kaz charges directly forward 10 feet, swinging extra hard with the warhammer in hand when reaching the bestial creature that was Hull.

((charge action adds +2))
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 191d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Seiharu takes secret pleasure in the sensation of the light bending around him. It feels like a sort of warm wind, rushing around and through his body. Small moments of enjoyment like this are likely what caused his eventual falling out with his brothers in Minkai. They just didn't understand.

"Impure," they called it.

Anticipating Kaz's attacks on their quarry, Seiharu moves around to the opposite side of VonTeado, and strikes with a great yell as he reappears in another puff of mist.

As quickly as he appeared, he disappears yet again.

Marcelio moves to the stairs and casts his net at Hull while jabbing him with the trident.

"My gnome friends", he calls out "Follow not this 'Dull' VonTeado or you'll get bleached quicker than a Varisian courtesan's hair. Let us lead you in adventures sure to keep you young at heart and I'll pledge 10% of my wealth to your acquisition of interesting items and colorful outfits. Plus we have a healer and that's a better benefits package than any barge union can offer."

(swift action: diplomacy check to win over the gnomes; move action: to attack position at the top of the stairs; standard action: attack VonTeado)

Waitaminute.
*Looks at initiative order. Looks at map. Looks at the 1 he rolled.*
The likelyhood of me getting netted or tridented looks uncomfortably high... expecially since Marcelio likely wouldn't have noticed that an invisible ninja was right there. :/

Kazmuk's hammer slams into Hull VonTeado, drawing a grunt of pain from the nobleman as Seiharu suddenly appears behind him. The Minkai warrior's attack fails, though, and his disappears as suddenly as he arrived.

As Marcelio moves closer, he throws his net with perfect aim, wrapping VonTeado in it, though he has less luck with his trident.

Before anyone else can react, however, VonTeado suddenly seems to turn into mist, the net falling to the hull's deck. Moments later, the ship suddenly seems to drop out from beneath your feat for a moment.

You're all able to keep your feet, but it's a very close call for Seiharu and Kyson, who nearly fall. The barrels in the front and back of the ship are less lucky, spilling over, their acrid-smelling contents pouring out over the ship's deck.

We use critical fails in my home campaign on attacks, I tend to forget they're not actually part of the system.

Marcelio, it takes a minute to influence people using Diplomacy, and won't really work in combat.

Back at work, so no map updates until tomorrow.

Kyson's eyes widen as Hull disappears while his mind tries to make sense of what happened to Hull.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Knowledge (Arcana)
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 Knowledge (Religion)
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Spellcraft

What did Hull do to change form? Something ain't right.

You suspect, based on the incisors and this latest sudden change, that he might be a vampire of some sort.

(With the Net and Trident feat and the Two Weapon Fighting feat I believe my trident attack should be at +9/+4 and +11/+6 when not two weapon fighting. Would I also get flanking from Kazmuk? Thanks)

Using flight, Marcelio pursues the mist if able, ready to jab at it again with his trident.

To his companions he yells, "Disperse the mist, my fortitude is strong, do not be concerned with collateral damage to me!"

"Vampire!" Kyson says aloud. "Of course!!! All the clues that lead us to this point!"

Kyson's mind reflects back to what that lead them here: The attacks on the orphanage that left only one survivor untouched: "Garlicky" Joe Holyblood.

That explains how he lived to tell us about Hull. Makes sense now.

Kyson will pull out a potion of fly and move 30' closer to Hull.

Marcelio: I'm confused about your question. I did your net at +9 and then the trident at +4, which seems to be what you have. Kazmuk's flanking with Seiharu, so unless I missed a teamwork feat, you wouldn't get that benefit.

"Garlicky" Joe Holyblood: *snicker* *rolls eyes*

"अपने कंधों पर धूप मुझे खुश बनाता है ...उसकी आँखों में धूप में कर सकते हैं और उसे रोना!"

Knowl-Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17; what does Kazmuk know about such things?

Kaz steps sides ways, the spell coming unbidden as his thumb caresses the shaft of his hammer; the words warble out, "सही समय पर धूप कितनी प्यारी हो सकता है! ((spell:magic weapon)) .

Better to do something that might work than nothing at all. What can you do with mist, for gods' sakes?

Kazmuk five foot steps to provide flank for Marcelio since the Kuri Seiharu has disappeared again and casts magic weapon on his silver warhammer.

Damn! Stop daydreaming and focus!

Seiharu swipes at the mist with his sword, hoping that its enchantments might somehow hurt this monstrosity. Once again he pops into existence, only to disappear within moments. Seeing the acid spread across the deck, he retreats a short distance up the stairs, brushing by Marcelio on the way.

"Excuse me."

He remembers the occasion that he first learned the phrase. The first time he invisibly walked by Marcelio, he almost got a trident in the face, but luckily ended up only getting a tirade on Western manners instead.

I trust your numbers completely, whatever you say goes, and the attack would have missed regardless. I had been thinking the Net Adapt feat lets me use the net one handed, the Net and Trident feat lets me treat the trident as a light weapon for two handed fighting, and the Two Weapon Fighting feat turns the normal penalty for two weapon fighting with a light weapon from -4/-8 to -2/-2. (Hero lab shows +9/+4 for the trident and +9 for the net with the trident in hand 1 and the net in hand 2) Either way the net is now unused in a pile on the floor and I'm fighting with the trident only, so I'll be at +11/+6 with the trident for the rest of combat. Thanks for putting up with my newbieness at PBP :)

Kazmuk, as you prepare your weapon for a more intense combat than you were perhaps expecting, you're able to remember some common lore about vampires: They cannot tolerate the strong odor of garlic and will not enter an area laced with it. Similarly, they recoil from mirrors or strongly presented holy symbols. They also can recover from many attacks, though will be destroyed by exposure to sunlight making you wish you had a flask of liquid sunlight, being immersed in running water, or driving a wooden stake through a helpless vampire's heart.

Seiharu, your blade pierces the misty form of VonTeado, a dribble of mist flowing along with it as it emerges. Similarly, Marcelio jabs it twice with his trident, both times stabbing the misty form, though it's not clear how much damage his weapon is actually doing.

As Kyson approaches, VonTeado suddenly materializes again, lashing out at Marcelio and again missing.

The ship suddenly rocks again, sending all but Kyson plummeting to the ground and rolling away from each other. Seiharu rolls 10 feet northwest, dropping back to the lower deck, though he's able to roll so he doesn't take any damage; Marcelio 10 feet southeast and VonTeado 10 feet east; map will be updated tomorrow at home

Bombadil, no problem on the newbieness. We were all there once. Please feel free to make your own rolls, though. That saves me a lot of time.

Sunshine in a bottle would do the trick but no, he doesn’t have anything like that in his bag. Maybe Kuri or Kyson has something like that, but he doesn't. His weapon will have to do

The thought burns like quicksilver in his brain, then tumbles out as the ship rolls beneath him., He ends up sprawled on the deck like most of the others and has to fight his way to his feet. His Zekford blood longs to shed what light he can deep into the brains of that undead abomination, but the now solid vampire, is out of reach. Still, he is ready, should that change.

Kaz finds his feet (move action) and prepares to strike at the vampire again (readied action), if the opportunity presents itself.

Map, which apparently I needed as well, since I had Seiharu's position off in my head. You did not actually fall. Also:

VonTeado snarls as he rolls into the acid around the barrels, his clothing smoking a little as it makes contact with the deadly liquid eating through the floor.

Marcelio rises to his feet and steps 5' SE to close with VonTeado, hoping for an attack of opportunity on Hull.

In an intimidating voice he shouts at the gnomes, "Turn this ship around now or a feather token tree will tear it apart and drop you to your deaths!

The tree token worked before in the cramped hive of the Bee People, luckily for both Kyson and myself, but I must be careful of my non-flying companions as I learned last time.

swift: intimidate; move: stand; move: 5' to square directly west of VonTeado
intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
attack of opportunity if VonTeado provokes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
possible damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
wow, that dice function is great!

Kyson will follow Marcelio's lead mad drink the potion of fly in the air.

Drawing his meta magic rod of reach, Kyson will 5' flap (off the ground) one square closer to Hull.

Hopefully being airborne will reduce the shaking and shimmying as we plunge to our deaths.

Kyson's head cocks and eyes narrow as he realizes that he misthought.

Wait, that should be: when everyone else plunges to their deaths. I'm flying!

((I'm wondering if flying off of the surface of the ship would cause the ship (which is faster than you) to fly out from under you, since you're no longer touching it...? The momentum of having been on the ship would keep you in the same relative position at first, but you'd start slowing down.))

Seiharu flips up to his feet unsteadily. Regular boats on water are stomach-churning enough, but a flying one... he has to get off this thing as soon as possible.

He searches for a nearby railing or rope to steady himself for the next time the boat rocks.

*sigh* Bad DMing. Marcelio's flying so wasn't affected by the ship. I think I used his name even though I meant Kazmuk. Sorry about that. I had Marcelio attack this round, though, since he didn't have to get up.

As Kazmuk and Seiharu climb to their feet, Marcelio moves in to attack, spearing VonTeado with his trident and then doing so again as the vampire climbs to his feet. However, his wounds seem to heal almost instantly, doing far less damage than it seems like they should. It has some type of damage reduction.

As he fights, Marcelio feels his lungs start to burn from the acid fumes permeating the area 4 pts damage, 1 pt Constitution damage. He also notices the floor beneath him beginning to rot away, as it's also doing in the rear of the ship! Areas now marked in red

VonTeado, now back on his feet, moves away from Marcelio, closing in with Kyson. As he does, though, the ship shudders again, the gnomes apparently having ignored Marcelio. Seiharu, bracing himself against the side, is able to keep his feet, as is Kazmuk, but VonTeado is not as lucky, rolling back toward the hole in the hull.

Map

Coughing and sputtering, Marcelio gasps for air as the acid fumes burn his lungs and make his eyes water. He tries to intimidate the gnomes again, but speech eludes him as his throat constricts with the bitter taste of bile.

Cursed gnome inventions, maybe this airship isn't such a grand thing, a fine pile of kindling it can make on the rocks below for all I care.

Marcelio takes a 5' step to the south and jabs at VonTeado twice more with his trident, then attempts to hover to avoid the sways in the ship and the collapsing floor.

First Trident Jab: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Second Trident Jab: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Hover Check (DC15 Fly, +6 from dex, good fly ability, armor penalty): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

These gnomes will not be helping us at all. They remind me of the Flowermen who refused to rise up and aid us on Pollen Island.

Kyson tries to shake the memory of that disaster out of his mind.

The tree...the tree came from no where...when it fell it crushed...so many innocent Flowers...

Kyson sighs and doubles his efforts to baninsh the memory. Temporarily successful, Kyson feels resigned to what must be done here.

"Forget the gnomes. Kill Hull...he must pay for his crimes."

Trying to catch Marcelio's eye, Kyson holds up his rod.

"Marcelio, my brave friend, please accept this prayer of protection." Harmless, but DC 17 Will to resist...if you want.

Cast Magic Circle Protection from Evil, 10' on Marcelio, making it close range, rather than touch.

Kyson will fly back two squares (towards the 4 barrels of acid) and think about how to stop the acid's effect on the ship.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 Know (Arcana)
1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10 Intelligence Check

I'm pretty sure that the only thing Kyson understands is how the wind is whistling through his ears.

Eyes wide, Kazmuk's attention is the only thing that flies as he takes in Brave Marcelio's fight against the acid. Kyson too takes to the air like a bird, a big ungainly bird, but a bird none the less. Oh to be a bird or a bee or...

Hopefully Kuri has some similar trick, but Kaz will be nothing but a damp spot and a memory if this ship goes down.

Kaz rushes around the gnome,side stepping the flow of acid to engage VonTeado. It puts him in a precarious position with the gnome on one side and the vampire on the other, but he'll risk it to leave a place free of acid for Marcelio to land.

Move action to get into position
standard to attack
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 131d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

((edited to put the right face on))

Regaining his composure, Seiharu releases the rigging he had grabbed onto for dear life. Seeing his friends in danger, and a moment of weakness in VonTeado, he dashes around the acid and swings his blade mightily.

"Enough play!"

If I get the chance in Superstar next year, I'm totally creating Pollen Island and the encounter of the bee people and the cauldron of flaming honey!

Note: Seiharu reappeared this round, but did not vanish again.

Kazmuk closes in, slamming the prone vampire, as Seiharu carves a massive chunk out of his chest, seemingly killing the Ustalavan noble.

The ship continues to speed away from the chalet, the gnomes apparently more focused on keeping the craft in air than the fight going on around them.

Motte, is Hull still there? He's not yet re-dead? But close?

Any result from my watching of the acid? Perhaps I'm on a Tim Leary trip?

"Gnomes, can you land this thing?" Kyson asks, still keeping an eye on Hull.

"Kaz, Kyson, is there any shred of good among these gnomish miscreants?"

Marcelio flies to the top of the stairs and presses the points of his trident against the neck of the pilot.

"One last time my gnomish friend, you can either become our crew and enjoy a fine life of exciting adventures, or you can bleed out your last as we fly away", growls Marcelio.

Is this heap even worth saving? The acid was burning through the floor back there.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Knowledge Engineering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15