Mummy's Mask

Game Master Samy

Thanks Turel, miscounted your rounds due to the delay maneuver so thanks for setting me straight.

Reflex DC 17: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Reflex DC 17: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Qari moves 20' straight at green, hoping to get close enough to target it more effectively. She again looses her cold blast.

RTA with PBS 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23

Damage 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6) + 3 + 1 = 11

The longbow slips out of green thug's fingers, and then he gets a face full of cold blast, which drops him.

I've marked all the fallen thugs in red on the map. Three are down -- both of the rooftop thugs, and one on the ground beside Ra-Khefer. Three remain -- one in melee with Turel, and two still using longbows. The archers target Kito and Qari as the most obvious targets to them.

Khopesh vs Turel: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Miss

Longbow vs Kito: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 I believe mage armor stops this one if I counted AC right?
Longbow vs Qari: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Everyone's turn.

Her AC is 10, 14 with Mage Armor. If she has cover vs them from well it is 18.

Turel, seeing the other thugs dropping around him, elects to shift to a more defensive style even while continuing his attacks.

Flurry of Blows #1, Crane Style: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 4;
Damage, Non-lethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Flurry of Blows #2, Crane Style: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 7;
Damage, Non-lethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Turel's AC is currently 18 for Fighting Defensively.

Aleris' Round 4

As Turel continues to keep the closest thug occupied, Aleris moves forward next to Qari sets her sights on one of the remaining foes raining arrows down on the group.

Attack (MW Longbow; Bless): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

The strange winds continue to swirl around her form, offering protection.

Not sure which one Aleris has the best LoS to, but she'll shoot at one of the two still holding a longbow. Swift action to renew Breeze-Kissed for another round.

Kito quickly moves around the well and over to the wall. Staying close to it, she peeks around the corner and up, trying to send bad luck in the direction of that nearby archer.

Move 30', Misfortune hex on archer across from Turel. DC 16 Will save

Qari moves, using diagonal steps to end up just two squares south of Kito, with a direct line of sight against the left most enemy. Could someone please Move me?

RTA with PBS 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20

Damage 2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 + 1 = 14

Ra double moved around the corner, seeking other bandits.

Moved Qari. Realized that color coding is useful and used it more. The remaining three are now color coded blue, yellow and orange for ease of reference.

Qari's blast hits the yellow thug and drops him. That color coding wasn't useful for long. He's now red to signify dropped.

Aleris' arrow hits the orange thug. Both of Turel's blows miss the blue thug.

Will DC 16 vs Misfortune: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8 Kito's target is Misfortunate

(Kito, did you target the blue or orange thug?)

Round 3
17 Deseri - ??
17 Kito - Misfortune on blue or orange, success
13 Qari - hit yellow, defeat
10 Turel - miss blue
10 Ra-Khefer - double move
07 Polux - ??

Round 4
27 Harmose - ??
26 Aleris - longbow orange for 8hp
18 Enemies - coming up

I believe I have actions yet to come from Deseri, Polux (who has a captive) and Harmose.

I had intended to target the yellow thug that Qari killed. If you will allow me to change target, I would go for Blue since it is the only one in range.

I will certainly allow it. Consider it changed.

Polux proceeds in tying up the unconscious one, and rmoving any weaponry - "One captive!" - he shouts to the others - "Check!"

Once he is done, he moves to jump down behind the one fighting Turel.

Acrobatics?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Think those may already be too many actions...

Harmose taps Qari on the shoulder and casts guidance on her.

17 Deseri - may post retroactively
07 Polux - double move with captive
27 Harmose - guidance on Qari

Enemy turn

Blue khopesh vs Turel, Misfortune: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Blue khopesh vs Turel, Misfortune: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Orange longbow vs Qari: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Orange's arrow swishes well past Qari. Turel would have been hit by blue's khopesh if not for Kito's hex which turns the swing into a miss. None of you are harmed on this enemy turn.

Everyone's turn.

Turel dodges the clumsy blow from the thug easily and returns the favor with a kick up high to the man's temple. "Surrender now, and I will show mercy on you." He calls out in an even tone.

Round 4:
Flurry of Blows #1, Crane Style: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 9;
Damage, Non-lethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Flurry of Blows #2, Crane Style: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 1 - 2 = 19;
Damage, Non-lethal: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Turel's AC is currently 18 for Fighting Defensively.

Ra hustled forward and started huffing up the stairs towards Oranges sniper perch. (Double Move).

Pointing towards Orange, Kito shouts "You might want to surrender before Ra-Khefer reaches you. You may not have a chance after he swings at you with that weapon."

She then repeats that same strange giggle, with the cloud over Blue's head bouncing along.

Intimidate blue thug: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4 Yup, that was about what I expected!

Aleris' Round 5

"Or before I decide to stick you again!" Aleris adds as she moves closer, following Qari and Kito. To emphasize her point she readies another arrow and takes aim, sending another arrow speeding towards the wounded man.

Attack vs. Orange (MW Longbow; Bless): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Qari yells with glee as she moves to close in on orange, firing her cold blast as she ducked and dodged from the attacker's longbow. Moved myself.

RTA with PBS 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24

Damage2d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 + 1 = 9

"Guess I was a little late with the warning..." Kito muses as Aleris and Qari unleash on the bowman.

Orange is down from Aleris' arrow and Qari's blast. Just blue left. Turel's second blow hits blue, 11hp damage to blue so far.

Sorry! I was busy. Even though I am not very good in this fight I am sorry I was lagging behind. My rounds would be spent getting to Turel and then casting guidance for an extra +1 to hit.

Limping as quickly as she can over to Turel while ignoring her failure to even shoot. Tapping Turel on the shoulder and grinning, Break his face.

Turel, concentrating on his foe exclusively, nearly jumps out of his robe on feeling her touch.

By the Sands! Does she like to live dangerously here? Apparently so...

Not taking his eyes off his opponent for a second he replies to her in a level voice. "Perhaps later!"

We will have to have a serious discussion about this...later.

Polux draws his blade, but does not attack - "Surrender fool" - he urges the bandit between him and Turel - "You are defeated"

The remaining thug, already badly beaten by Turel and on its last legs, sees the eight-to-one situation and realizes that the battle is lost. It drops its khopesh to the ground and raises its hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

Combat is over.

Polux proceeds in tying him up, and relieving him of any valuables or weapons - "Good choice" - he snarls.

Kito goes around and checks if any of the other thugs are still alive. She will stabilize any that are. Then she will gather up their weapons and any valuables they may have.

Heal: 10 + 6 = 16

Combat over, Harmose is more annoyed than angry at these ruffians. He didn't understand the exchange with Aleris, but it was much too short to likely be useful.

So he assumes a demeanor of towering rage and walks up to the tied up foe. They need information, and these fools are likely to weak-willed to figure out that he's not as furious as he appears.

Bluff: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"What the HELL was that? Is this amateur hour? Did you really think you could defeat a team of our caliber? Who sent you to attack us? Don't you dare lie, because we'll know the moment that you do!"

Or Aleris will, anyway...

You stabilize those that you can, which turns out to be the majority of the attackers. The surviving and conscious gang members beg for their lives, offering what gear they have in exchange, as well as information. The thugs reveal they were specifically hired to ambush anyone approaching “some old temple down the way” and stop interlopers from entering the site, but they don’t know why, and frankly, they don’t care. They don’t know the name of the person who hired them, but they can describe her as a Taldan woman in a wide brimmed hat.

Gotta love her :D

Harmose watches as they dump all their gear in front of him. Maybe we can sell some of it. Then a thought occurs to him. You never know when you might need some backup muscle or a distraction.

"That'll do," he says, coolly. "Under two conditions. One... You owe us a favor to be cashed in on some future date. Two... if I ever hear of you lot assaulting innocents or mugging people again, we will come after you. This crime wave stops. NOW."

"What are your street handles? Where can we send word?" After he gets their contact information, Harmose turns to Polux and grins. "Polux , අපි ඔබේ පෙම්වතිය පට්ට සුපිරි කමක් ද?"

Ra trudged dispiritedly down the broken stairway, dragging his flail behind him.
"He was already dead when I finally got there."

Turel shakes his head sadly on hearing of the man's death. "Velriana has much to answer for. While I was willing to compromise with her and her band before running into these thugs, I am no longer." He responds in a steely voice.

"I can already tell that I hate the Scorched Hand group. Hiring thugs to roll us? That's terrible. I'm going to give that b#%~* a cold blast to the face," Qari grumbles.

Peering in the direction of the temple, Kito says "Then we should delay no further."

Falling into line but not bothering to say anything. Everyone seems to be of the same mindset on this.

"Sorry Ra-Khefer...I guess I got a little carried away with the rush of battle," Aleris admits, looking both sheepish and rather regretful.

When it comes to the matter of Velriana and the Scorched Hand, she simply sighs and shakes her head. "If they're willing to hire goons to try and keep us away at whatever cost then it sounds like our course is set. We should get moving again."

You resume your travel through the Necropolis toward the Sanctum of the Erudite Eye. During the last mile, you call back whatever you can remember about the Scorched Hand, compare notes and try to put together a clear picture of your rival group. The following information consists of things that you discover while talking to the rest of your group. You may read all the spoilers, not just your own, as you are all comparing notes. The spoiler tags are simply for convenience of reading, to avoid a wall of text.

If Deseri, Qari, Polux or Ra-Khefer posted remembrances and Int/Wis checks, point me to them as I've missed them.

The only recollection I could come up with was posted 8-24-16 at 2:15 pm. I doubt it's enough to do much for the squad, though.

Found it! I rule that's enough of a remembrance to warrant a roll, so roll away, Qari! Int/Wis, whichever you prefer.

Intelligence check 1d20 ⇒ 1

Unfortunately, Qari's remembrances bring up no useful memories.

As the group walks towards the Sanctum, Turel muses for a moment as to his limited experiences with the members of the Scorched Hand. After a moment he speaks up, "I remember hearing of the cleric Khelru, to whom Velriana is quite close. If a conflict breaks out we may be able to sway him to our cause."

Ra simply cannot recall personally interacting with any of them.

Harmose shares his memories with the group.

"I don't know if we can sway Khelru. He's more in love with his god then he is his partner. The odd thing is..." Harmose grabs Aleris's hand, "it does not have to be that way. The heart can embrace so many forms of love. There is no reason that one cannot be passionately devoted not only to your gods, but also to your lovers."

"I get why Velriana and Khelru want access to the Nethys temple. What I absolutely don't get is why they couldn't come to us like adults... I offered that option to them, but did they talk to us? Nope, they hired thugs."

"So... how do we want to approach this? I'd rather talk, but they've shown no inclination to treat with us. If we must fight, I'd rather go non-lethal, but I'm pretty sure that they have no such intent as far as we're concerned."

With the sorrow plain in her voice, Kito says "Velriana will not be open to discussion. I suspect that she will kill any who stand in her way, even if that person were a member of her own team."

Aleris gives Harmose's hand a squeeze, nodding in agreement. "I'm like Harmose...I feel conflicted about fighting them on this since I don't have any personal stake in exploring this temple. It makes more sense to me to let those that revere Nethys search it first."

She sighs. "But it sounds more and more like Kito is right that Velriana won't listen to any sort of reason at this point. I guess maybe she thinks it's an insult to her and her faith that her group wasn't selected to explore this place - so now it's personal, whether we want it to be or not."

"But you know even if Khelru won't listen either, maybe Idorii will? She's the only one in the group that can't use magic of some sort, so she's got little personal stake in the whole thing beyond whatever gold she can earn," she points out.

Shaking her head, Kito says "She may claim that it is divine right, but it seems to me she is just rationalizing her decisions. She strikes me as someone who is always grasping for more power."

"This is a dangerous attitude to have, especially when studying arcane matters. There are some magics that should never be used."