Nebten Presents: "The Harrowing" (Inactive)

Game Master Nebten

vill... or von't?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 or 15 if it's an Enchantment effect

She continues to stand their silently pondering your purpose.

Go ahead and react. There are no noticeable effects from Passing/Failing the Will Save besides the fact that your character knows it had to make a Will Save. Sorry I wasn't more clear in the previous post.

As the woman simply stands and stares, Kaelin suddenly starts, then begins to look at the images on her arms, trying to keep her examination as subtle as possible. Where is it...where is it... As she looks, she calls out to the woman. Good day to you! We're lost - any chance you could help us out?

After several seconds, she gives up searching her own tattoos and begins to examine the pictures on her cohorts' arms. Suddenly, her eyes light up for a split second, and she sidesteps over to Shayn and slips a hand into the crook of his elbow, her fingertips coming to rest where the Mute Hag looks out. This how it's supposed to work? she whispers to Galstak, exerting an effort of will.

The Crone slowly draws her hands together, spreading her fingers and forming steeple. She taps them rhythmically from thumb to small finger and then in reverse.

When Kaelin activates the The Mute Hag, its borders highlight green, then fade from Shayn's arm.

The Crone looses about a foot of height before everybody's eyes. But she still gazes unnervingly at the Pathfinders, rapping her fingers.

Something beneficial occurred, the party just doesn't know what it is.

Galstak nods at Kaelin's whispered question, and follows up on her words to the creature.

"Indeed. We are lost, perhaps most profoundly, and have come to find those with power and authority in this land to talk of matters." He rubs a finger over the edge of the fine wood desk. "At least by your trappings, you seem to be one such stature. Forgive us if we do not show proper deference, but we are strangers here and have yet learned little of the masters of this land. Perhaps introductions are in order. The world knows me as Ghost-Breath of the Skoan-Quah, from the Storval Plateau." He pauses.

Kaelin looks in wonder as the tattoo responds to her touch and the crone shrinks. Huh, she mutters under her breath. It worked. I'll be damned. Then she snaps out of her bemusement and follows Galstak's lead. And I Kaelin Terrall of Absalom.

The tips on the blades of grass become frosty and your breath can be seen as your introductions tale off. The purple skinned woman reaches out with one hand in a come hither fashion while mouthing, I will help you out.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Kaelin looks back to Tariel and Shayn, hanging further back from her and Galstak. It's all right, guys. She says she can help us out. Her grip on her weapon loosens slightly, though she keeps it in hand.

That's my action. Gotta love Wisdom-dumped characters. :)

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Galstak nods and approaches the strange hag, although uncertain of her intentions.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 3 go, my 10 wisdom!

Lol!

Shayn believes her completely, even smiles with the offer of help. Finally!, he thinks.

Tariel's Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Tariel notices something isn't right in the way the Crone is moving.

"Oh geez! Incoming!" Tariel ducks off to the right while drawing his blades.

Initiative

Shayn: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Galstak: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Kaelin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Tariel: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Crone: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Shayn is up!

Everybody sees the Crone winding up.

Shayn doesn't lose time. He pulls two cards from his deck to help him with his act:

First card (Attribute only): 1d6 ⇒ 3 CON+4
Second card (Attribute only): 1d6 ⇒ 1 STR+4

He then proceeds to summon his shadow creatures around the crone as a Move action.

Adding good monsters to his list with Summon Good Monster, he proceeds to summon 1d4+2 (Superior Summoning)
Celestial Eagle that are enhanced by the Harrowed Summons (+4 to CON and STR according to the cards) and Augment Summoning (another +4 to CON and STR).

Quantity of Eagles: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

He puts the 6 Augmented Harrowed Celestial Eagles around the crone (one in each side, two in the back middle and left, two in the front middle and right) in such way the creatures attack the monster and try to block its view.

He leaves a spot in the front (front left) for any party members who wants to go engage in melee.

A DC 22 Will (vs. Shadow Puppets) will cut their damage and health to only 20% of it. It's the same effect summoning them all, so no need to roll 6 times (succeeding once will apply to all) ;)

Shayn casts then Good hope (1/creature per level = 10 creatures, the entire party and the eagles).

Each of the eagles proceed to immediately attack.

I forgot to add the flanking bonuses to the attacks below - please add another +2 on all attacks

Rounds of Bardic Performance: 20/27 + 1 = 21/27
3rd. Level Spells used: 1/4 + 1 = 2/4

From what I'm reading, Summon Monster conjured by Shadow Conjuration is still effected by SR. If there is any evidence that says otherwise, we can talk about it in Discussion and redact as needed.

Shayn SR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Frost continues to form along the pillars and posts as the Crown draws her hands back. Her skin of her face pulls taunt as she screams silently in hate and rage. She then juts her open palms forward at the Pathfinders to release a blast of ice and sleet.

Cold Dmg: 11d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3, 1, 5) = 27 x 1.5 = 40 points of dmg (pod).

Shayn, Galstak, & Kaelin Reflex 19 for Half dmg.

Everybody is up. You'll go in the order you post. Good luck!

I agree it does allow Spell Resistance like you said - it's a spell-like ability, emulating a spell which allows SR ;) I didn't know if the creature had SR, hence why I didn't roll. I'm okay with your roll, thanks!

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 Adding +2 morale for Good Hope

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

HP 53/73

flex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Galstak roars as the ice hits him, his affable demeanor falling away. He looks deeply into the eyes of the hags and small tendrils of ghostly matter leap from his eyes into its.

SR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 Uh, so about that spell... it was going to be blindness

Reflex save + Good Hope: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17

Kaelin's entire body is coated with ice as the blast hits her full-force, and she screams as the cold begins to bite into her. With a shout of rage, she hefts her weapon and runs full-force for the old crone, putting all her might into a powerful swing and aiming for the woman's face in hopes that any blood may obscure her vision.

Since the crone is unarmed, she is considered flat-footed against my attack thanks to Catch Off Guard. This means that I get sneak attack damage, as well as a free dirty trick attempt as part of the attack. I'll attempt to use that dirty trick attempt to blind her for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds, standard action to remove. She also will not be able to make attacks of opportunity for a round thanks to Slowed Reactions.

Attack with charging, Good Hope, Power Attack, Payback; damage with sneak attack, Power Attack, Payback, Good Hope: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 2 = 251d8 + 7 + 2d6 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + (1, 2) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 29
Dirty trick attempt with Improved, Greater Dirty Trick, Good Hope: 1d20 + 14 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 6 + 2 = 32

Crone's Spellcraft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

The Crone throws her head back and acts as if she is laughing but no laugh can be heard. Only a wet clucking.

Kaelin charges the Crone, but as she swings for the witch's eyes she notices two things. First, My Crone, what large teeth you have. Two, the crone has no eyes, just empty sockets as dark as coal.

Kaelin cracks the Crone across the crown, but the wood bent a little as the wheel didn't do as much damage as it should have.

The Crone has Natural Weapons and therefore considered armed. Will remove the 3 pod from Sneak, no Dirty trick, no Slowed Reactions in effect.

Shayn can go. I will bot Tariel if he doesn't act by days end.

sorry! Been playing catch up in school! But you almost got what I woulda said perfect! Cept instead of jeez, probably woulda said crap :P

Tariel will to the crone, in a way to avoid an AoO if possible, but flanking with kaelin. If he can't reach a flanking spot he will just move up to a side.
But in case.
acrobatics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 +2 if flanking

damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
if flanking: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 6, 5, 5) = 25 applying -2AC with SA, -4 against my attacks.

(Heh, d6s love me... D20s... Maybe I should buy some chocolates or sumthin?)

Tariel tries to tumble into position to give himself and Kaelin an advantage. However he trips as he tries to quickly ascends the dais leaving himself open.

AoO Claw vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 20 - 2 = 211d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 = 5
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Seeing his fellow Pathfinders in perfect position, Shayan steps forward casts Haste on the party.

With blood on one of her claws, the Crone decides to get the other one bloody and maybe take a bite of the pretty little thing in front of her.

Claw 1 vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 20 - 2 = 381d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 = 9
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Claw 2 vs Kaelin: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 20 - 2 = 371d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 2 = 10
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Bite vs Kaelin: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 20 - 2 = 281d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 = 9

Confirm Crit Claw 1 vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 20 - 2 = 321d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 = 9

Ichor and blood slowly pour from the Crone's mouth as she produces a sickly smile.

Dmg totals
Tariel: 28 pod
Kaelin: 22 pod

Everybody can go! Tariel & Kaelin are flanking.

Galstak blesses the party with fervor!

With several patches of skin turning white with frostbite and blood flowing freely from bite and claw marks, Kaelin keeps fighting desperately, swinging her improvised weapon fiercely and pulling out every trick she can think of to incapacitate the dangerous foe.

Full attack action, taking the +2 to attacks, AC, and Reflex saves from Blessing of Fervor and trading in my first attack for a Dirty Trick attempt via Quick Dirty Trick. Buffs: *Blessing of Fervor +2 to attacks, *extra attack from Haste, *flanking +2 to attack, *Good Hope +2 to attack and damage, *Power Attack -3 to attack and +9 to damage, *Improved/Greater Dirty Trick for +6 to dirty trick attempts.

Dirty Trick attempt to blind with Blessing of Fervor, flanking, Good Hope, Power Attack, Improved/Greater Dirty Trick: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 6 = 38

This should be enough to blind her, which leaves her flat-footed with a -2 AC on top of being flat-footed. Being flat footed, I can also use free dirty trick attempts with both of my next attacks. I'll attempt to deafen her with the attempt on the second attack and entangle her on the third attack.

Extra Haste attack with Blessing of Fervor, flanking, Good Hope, Power Attack: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (13) + 16 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 32
Damage for extra Haste attack with Good Hope, Power Attack, sneak attack: 1d8 + 7 + 2d6 + 2 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 7 + (2, 6) + 2 + 9 = 30
Dirty Trick attempt to deafen with Blessing of Fervor, flanking, Good Hope, Power Attack, Improved/Greater Dirty Trick: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 6 = 27

Second iterative attack with Blessing of Fervor, flanking, Good Hope, Power Attack: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 29
Damage for second iterative attack with Good Hope, Power Attack, sneak attack: 1d8 + 7 + 2d6 + 2 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 7 + (3, 4) + 2 + 9 = 32
Dirty Trick attempt to entangle with Blessing of Fervor, flanking, Good Hope, Power Attack, Improved/Greater Dirty Trick: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 2 - 3 + 6 = 32

This is the highest level martial character I've ever played, and gods, I didn't realize how much bookkeeping there was, especially with a character concept like Kaelin. Just imagine if I was two-weapon fighting on top of all of it. :)

EDIT: Oh, and Slowed Reactions will now definitely be in effect - no attacks of opportunity for one round.

Glastak fires up the Pathfinders and rallies them on to Fight On.

Kaelin wipes the blood off her face, then flings a large glob of it at the hag's empty eye sockets. The unearthly creature gazes forward without any recourse as Kaelin unleashes her final fury. Kealin cracks the side of the head without a moan from the hag but only a dull thud from the impact. Kealin then swings downward to try and buckle the crone's knee. The evil crone raises her leg to check the attack but Kealin still damages the woman's shin.

Didn't blind the creature without eyeballs, therefore Deadly Surprise is not in effect. Tariel & Shayan are up!

Shayn buffs the party with Haste.

My creatures won't do much against a blind creature... I'm counting on you guys!

Psst...you already cast haste as a GM-bot last round.

Lol sorry! Now I found it over there. He did the same as I'd do, heh! For this round, I will target Dispel Magic her.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

ahhhh dammit! I just got this hunk of junk armor lady!

don't let the pain show buddy. Don't let it show.

heh! Got ya!

He uses his first attack to fient the crone. If my first attack hit, her AC is -6 against me, -2 to everyone else, if at any point any of my attacks here hit, attacks after that one receive this benefit.

bluff: 1d20 + 15 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 8 = 29 (+8 from FCB) if successful she's flat footed until the start of my next turn. (This works on any creature with some sort of sense allowing them to function in combat ;) )

attack: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 2 = 21
attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 2 = 16

O.H.attack: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 2 = 25
O.H.attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 21

damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + (6, 5, 1, 5, 3) = 27
damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + (2, 3, 2, 4, 4) = 25
damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + (3, 2, 4, 4, 5) = 30 damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + (6, 4, 1, 3, 3) = 28

why? Why do the dice hate me so much????? Why!?!?!?

It appears Tariel doesn't actually have the proper feats to use Improved Two Weapon Fighting or Improved Two Weapon Feint. We'll just use that as an attack roll instead. It also appears he doesn't have bonuses from flanking or Haste included.

Shayn casts his spell but no visible effect can be seen.

Tariel swings wildly but only his off-hand is able to land purchase on the Crone's skin. He's able to draw ichor from a caved in abdomen.

The hag looks in the direction of Kaelin. She draws up one clawed finger to her empty eye socket, then points at Kaelin's eye. The crone then tries to rake the rogue's face!

Claw 1 Called Shot (Eyes) vs Kaelin: 1d20 + 20 - 2 - 10 ⇒ (4) + 20 - 2 - 10 = 12
Claw 2 Called Shot (Eyes) vs Kaelin: 1d20 + 20 - 2 - 10 ⇒ (10) + 20 - 2 - 10 = 18
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The eye gouge causes Kaelin to draw back in horror and pain. She passes out from all of the trauma.

The Crone then turns to Tariel and tries to bite into his shoulder.

Bite Called Shot (Arm) vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 20 - 2 - 2 = 29
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Dmg Totals:
Kaelin: 12 pod, Bleeding & KO'ed
Tariel: 13 & any attack rolls, ability checks, or skill checks made using the wounded arm take a –2 penalty for the next 4 rounds. The wounded arm is the one you made your primary attacks with.

Pathfinders are up!

SR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Shayn tries again to use his move action to bring some of his creations, under the thought that, somehow, the crone would be able to perceive them - but he, again, fails to overcome its spell resistance.

As a standard action, he Mirror Images himself.

Images: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

He chooses the +2 to attack, dodge bonus to AC and Reflex from the Fervor, and then five-foot steps to try to go into a position of flanking with someone.

Do we have any weapons at all? Are we just trying to sucker punch the crone with nonlethal and eating the AoOs? Or people here have Improved Unarmed Strike/natural attacks?

I got an improvised weapon, which suits me just fine, and there were short swords up for grabs from the crows a bit back.

Ghost-breath chooses silence over a battle cry, but he does utter a short word and a longspear woven of ethereal force springs into his hands. He moves up, circling with Tariel around the twisted hag.

And flanking

So since I've got the bleed going I can't roll to stabilize, correct?

There were also a dozen daggers. We can say you took one of them, Shayn. But Shayn isn't close enough to 5' and step into melee. That's correct Kaelin, can't stabilize while Bleeding.

Multiple Shayns suddenly appear but the Crone cares not. Galstake forms a spear into existence within his hands. Stepping over his bleeding comrade, Ghost-breath prepares for battle.

Tariel is up!

Tariel frozen in fear from the gash on his arm, he turtles himself between his blades in a defensive stance while stepping to the side to flank with Ghost-Breath.

Tariel goes full defensive

The hag likes what she tastes and tries to gather more blood for her drooling maw.

Claw 1 vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 20 - 2 = 29
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 = 9

Claw 2 vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 20 - 2 = 19
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 = 9

Bite vs Tariel: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 20 - 2 = 20
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 2 = 7

Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Kaelin continues to bleed out near the writing desk.

Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Dmg
Tariel: 11 pod (you were supposed to have -2 to dmg on the previous rounds attack)
Kaelin: 1 pod (you were supposed to have -2 to dmg on the previous rounds attack)

All awake Pathfinders are up!

So that puts me at -1 - technically I wasn't unconscious last round, but I'd have walked out of the main melee, taken bleed damage, and fallen unconscious. Put me about 20 feet away from the melee, now unconscious at -1 and bleeding.

Ghost-Breath strikes out thrice with his semi-real spear.

1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 - 2 = 15
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 6 = 16
1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 2 = 28
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 6 = 13
1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 2 = 14
1d8 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 6 = 18

AC 15

Shayn tries once again to bring his creations as a move action. He's quickly running out of his performance.

SR: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

... And he fails again to go through the SR (with the very same 17! three times in a roll!).

He tries yet again (as a standard action), but now - instead of creating Shadow creatures to attack the crone - he tries to create Silvanshees to heal his bleeding allies.

Assuming I don't have to SR to have my Silvanshees touching my allies.

1d3 ⇒ 3 + 1 = 4

He pulls two cards of his Deck while doing to, Harrowing his summons.

1d6 ⇒ 1 STR
1d6 ⇒ 1 STR

The four Silvanshees are Harrowed with +6 STR and Augmented (another +4 to CON and STR).

Silvanshees 1 and 2 appear behind Tariel and touch him with Lay on hands.

1d6 ⇒ 1
1d6 ⇒ 3

Silvanshees 3 and 4 appear behind Kaelin and touch her with Lay on hands.

1d6 ⇒ 3
1d6 ⇒ 4

Shayn ends his action with another 5-foot step towards the crone. He's still Mirror Image'd.

You gotta believe I can still be useful!

Kaelin quickly gains a moment of conciousness and scampers away toward the wayang.

Ghost-breath quickly jabs at the hag and is only able to land one solid blow.

Shayn summons reinforcements in the form of several kittens! They quickly heal Tariel and Kaelin, stopping their bleeding wounds ... for now.

Tariel & Kaelin(?) are up.

With the silvanshees' healing, I'm back up to 6/81. Any chance kitties can stay close? :D

Having briefly fainted from the severity of her wounds, Kaelin recovers to find two strangely intelligent-looking housecats standing over her, their paws laying against her and glowing with a strange radiance. Well, I ain't gonna say no...

She rises to her feet, grabbing her weapon as she stands and sees Shayn. These look like your handiwork - any chance they can stay with me? With that, she moves forward, ready to leap into the fray again.

Move action to stand, move action to move forward to ten feet from the crone.

Tariel spits some blood and continues to ignore, or at least attempt to, the bleeding wounds across his body.

alright you crusty crone, my turn now. Eat this!

attack1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
attack2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
attack3: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

O.H.attack1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
O.H.attack2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

crit confirm: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
crit confirm: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Again, useing the debilitating strikes to cause -6AC to his attacks (active after first hit of SA)

damage(A1): 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + (2, 5, 1, 5, 1) = 26
damage(A2): 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (1) + 6 + (2, 2, 2, 4, 5) = 22
damage(A3): 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + (2, 1, 1, 6, 1) = 19
damage(O.A1: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + (5, 6, 3, 5, 4) = 33
damage (O.A2): 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + (3, 6, 4, 2, 6) = 33

Crit damage 1: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Crit damage 2: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

If after -6AC an 18 hits, total damage done(before other modifiers) equals 154 pts.

If only a 19 hits, 143 pts of damage

If with -6AC only to hits above 20 hit, that's 110pts of damage.

OK, now that I think about it, the "Lay on Paws" is done by doing the cat paw-paw massage.

Kaelin rises with wheel in hand, ready to join the fray once more.

Tariel finally comes to his senses and unleashes a barrage unseen before. Once the first wound drew blood, the remaining only came easier. Each stab drew more and more ichor. The hag throws up her hands his desperation, crying out silently to the skies. Falling to her knees in quiet agony, Tariel slides up behind the hag and slits her throat.

She limply falls to the ground. Ichor and ichor pours out of the smiling wound across her throat. More fluid than can be contained in the mortal shell drains from the hag.

On her person is an onyx quill, the Black Nib. A few moments, the chill on the air passes.

Well, how else is a cat going to heal? :)

Kaelin leaves close examination of the body to others, but she does notice the strange black feather emerging from the crone's pocket. She draws it forth and begins to examine it. Wonder what this is? Could it be one of those tokens?

heal: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

"It seems this creature was far from ever having lived. What madness or dreams wrought such a creature?" He shakes his head. "Her skin is patched together like a child's doll, and her head empty of anything, save malice."

"Come Kaelin, let us mend your spirit." He lays his hands upon the half-blooded; ghostly tendrils wrap over her body and the wounds slowly knit themselves together, not without pain.

clw: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
clw: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
cmw: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 5) + 10 = 19
cmw: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 6) + 10 = 23
cmw: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 5) + 10 = 21

Was there not a castle or manor around here somewhere?

Maybe misremembering something, Ghost-Breath? You are in a garden grove upon a stone dias. There is a well near the wall's edge and stone pillars all about. Alas, no castle or manor anywhere.

The Shoanti looks at the quill carefully, reaching out to feel the magic of the world.

Any abilities of note beyond it's value as a plot item? Same for the amulet. spellcraft quill: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 spellcraft quill: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Was this then the "Prophet's Garden"? And if this is the token we need, should we try these "Fends" next?"

He does pause and consider for a moment. "I wonder if it is all a lie. Nothing here has been friendly or truthful - why do we believe the screaming man - Blanco, was it? - about the tokens or He could have lied about Sonnorae just as easily as any other here."

The quill and the amulet do not currently present any magical auras. They are very well made and would be worth a hundreds of gold pieces in the open market.

Galstak is able to gain a glimmer of magic coming from the well. Slowly approaching the well's opening, a moaning can be heard. Peering into the well below, it appears the moaning is only the wind.

Long gouges can be seen in the side of the stone walls. Blood-stained finger nails are embedded every few inches between blocks. The bottom of the well is several feet down. There are twigs and grasses pressed into place like a make-shift nest. Embedded in the nesting are a variety of items that may be useful in your journey.

Well, the way I figure it, Blanco Batty's about the only lead we got. If he was pulling our legs, then we got jack s#$& to go on, and that seems like a step backwards. So I'm gonna take his word for it and keep going, at least until a better option presents itself. And he knew Garracy's name, said it without being asked - that's not nothing. Kaelin dusts off and looks questioningly at Galstak, recognizing his look of concentration. You see any weird magic in that stuff?

"Yes, in the well below. It looks like all manner of arcane trinkets are woven into a nest of sorts. Apparently this creature was both a cross between a golem and a bird." He makes a small snort. "It will take a bit of climbing to get them. I don't suppose anyone brought a rope into the world of dreams?"

Will this help? Kaelin shrugs one shoulder to indicate the bag thrown over it, full of scraps of former petticoat. Won't be great, but it may be enough to do the trick if we braid it together.

The "shadow cats" disappeared, and Shayn allowed himself to sit on the floor.

I could conjure something winged to carry us there too... - he says - ... But we probably need to rest. These mortal fights are getting everything off me...