Red Blessing : Stars and Shadows

Game Master Nimon

About a half hour from the witch's hut, not far from where you encountered the Gnolls before. Sands and the other mounts halt and will not go forward without a push. As you stop to assess the situation you feel the ground shake. Suddenly from all around you grey skinned humanoids pop out of the ground with primitive weapons, or just bare hands, and grab at you and attack you. Make ride checks if mounted, reflex saves if not, DC 15 to remain on your feet. If you fail you start the round on your back.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Tremor Mutant initiative

Kera worries about Kerrick and his reaction to the bugs. Having never seen him scared before it makes him seem more human and less monster. She listens as the others talk just taking in what is said and what needs to be done. She mostly agrees with Karrick in the fact they weren’t getting paid to deal with this Shepherd stuff. However Kera also didn’t want to deal with a rampaging god either.

As they made their way through the desert she notices the animals reluctance to move then the tremors. Taking out her sword and reading her shield she prepared for attack.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"You underestimate Nidal," replies Muziel to Grachius's explanation. As a Nidalese nobleman, Muziel always resented Chelaxian claims over his land. "But that explains why the Hellknights are involved. Where is your entourage now?"

Muziel is eager to intetrogate Grachius, but his questions are cut short by rumbling.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Ride: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Seeing Miikae reveal the seals, Pervince wanders toward her. "Those seals remind me ..." (further explanation pending)

When the rumbling begins, Pervince holds fast upon his dog. "Don't let them grab you!"

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Miikae knows something is up when Sands refuses to move forward. "Sands can smell something... careful everyone." As she finishes speaking the ground shakes and creatures attack them. She loses her footing and unfortunately falls over next to Sands.

Initiative
25 Kera (If you stand you will receive an AoO)
23 Tremor Mutants
22 Miikae/Sands(If you stand you will receive an AoO)
17 Pervince Handles his riding dog handedly
5 Muziel (If you stand you will receive and AoO)

The odd creatures

"MIIKAE!!!"

Kera was quick to her feet knowing this would still give the mutants an opening to attack her. (I will take the AoO)

She strikes out hoping to get to her friend before anything worse happens to her.

Attack Roll(With Power Attack): 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 1 = 24

Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10

Sands bite AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Grapple attempt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Sands rears and bites the creatures as they drag away his human companion. Miikae tries to stand up, dirt and dust falling from her in clumps.

Sands Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Sands Hoof 1: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Sands Hoof 2: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Sands continues to rear again biting and kicking whatever would dare attack his dear Miikae. Miikae spends the rest of her round drawing her cold iron scimitar.
Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 (sorry, busy weekend!)
Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 (attempt to identify these creatures if they're Humanoid type)
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

The Identify DC is the spoiler above. You are correct it is local

Round 1 so far
25 Kera Stands and power attacks a tremor mutant1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 AoO against Kera for standing
23+Karrick
23 Tremor Mutants attempt to grab those that fell, Miikae was grabbed
22 Sands finishes off one of the Tremor Mutants, Miikae is able to break the drag maneuver
17 Pervince
5 Muziel Still on his back

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Muziel struggles to his feet, risking an attack by one of these mutants. Then, taking a step away from his attacker, he quickly throws a bomb at it, whatever it is.

Bomb, point blank, Touch AC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6 and 4 splash, DC14 reflex for 2 splash.

@Nimon: Karrick's initiative is 5, the 23 was his Reflex save
_____________

Helping Muziel to his feet, Karrick notes flatly to the alchemist. "They're mutants. You're better off using water, burns 'em like acid." After that, he springs into action, unsheathing one of his blades from his back as he charges ahead, leaping off of a rock and then rolling past one of the mutants, coming up in a kneeling position behind the one Kera is fighting, his cloak flaring out around him as he lands.

With one fluid motion, Karrick brings the blade up and across the back of the mutant, still on one knee as he strikes. "Kera! Take 'em out!"

_____________

Move Action: Flank with Kera
Acrobatics to avoid any potential AoOs for movement: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Attack Roll @ Mutant (Flanking w/Kera): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24
>> Damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
>>> Sneak Attack: 1d8 ⇒ 4

The DC on the Knowledge Local was 17, so far no one has made it, but I will grant you a circumstance bonus to cover the difference after Muziel hits one with his bomb and it is less effective than he expected. Good catch on the initiative difference.

Karrick and Kera kill another Tremor Mutant. As an immediate action the last tremor mutant wails in anguish. Roll Will Save vs Sonic Damage DC 12. If you fail you are dazed for one round.

Round 2
25 Kera
23 Tremor Mutant(1)
22 Miikae/Sands
17 Pervince
5- Muziel
5+ Karrick

"Show off..."

Kera thinks with a smirk as she watches Karrick move. When he tells her to end the mutant she had no problems with that. Though it seems his friend does.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Made it...just barely

Moving over to the screaming mutant Kera plunges her sword into him.

Attack (Power Attack): 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 1 = 12

Doubt that hits but...

Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10

Oh shoot, I'm sorry Nimon. I misread yoru post and thought I made the DC, I didn't even look at the DC note on the spoiler.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 (hurk)

Karrick rises from one knee, drawing out his other blade in preparation of closing in on his next foe. Unfortunately, the sudden ear-piercing scream from one of the mutants leaves Karrick reeling, his head jerking back as if something had physically struck him.

Its all good, I think in the circumstance you would have made that connection with the firebomb washing off of it.

Miikae Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Sandd Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Miikae Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Sands Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Miikae shrugs off the feral scream and seeing her ok and up again so does Sands Together they move and attack the mutant with Kera.

"Water? I'm not wasting my precious wa-" Muziel is cut off by an ear-piercing scream Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 that makes him recoil in anguish.

Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Taking out his pistol, Pervince waits until he sees a decent chance to hit, but only a moment. He keeps his gun steady through the wail, and fires twice.

Pistol, Deadly Aim, Focused Aim, Point Blank, Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 _/ 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Pistol, Deadly Aim, Focused Aim, Point Blank, Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 _/ 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Miikae and Pervince Whom Ninja'd me as I was writing thisis able to finish off the last of the group. The exposed ground reveals a tunnel that leads to a large underground den. These mutants have been raiding for a long time, mostly Gnolls, but other items are here as well.

Time for a well deserved payday. There is 20,000 in raw coinage wealth. That should be 4,000 each. When it comes to coin wealth I divide it equal among the party in PbP for ease of tracking WBL, items are yours to distribute.

Items Found(possibly better quality than listed upon closer inspection

• A MW Gold Iron Bayonet
• A Watt's Guild traveler's any tool (non-magical version of the wondrous item as found in UE)
• A Bandolier of Five MW Silver Daggers
• A Case of random gun parts, Best Quality, Greystone name on the case.
• A MW Darkwood Cudgel
• A Pair of Altkin Dueling Pistols in a quick draw vest(John Wesley Hardin Style)
• Plethora of broken items and rotten food.

Muziel wades through the sea of broken items and stench of rotten food to get at the choice items. "Well, well. These creatures have been quite successful in their raiding." He picks up the vest with pistols and dangles it out toward Pervince. "I think this outfit would suit you quite well."

Muziel will take his share of the gold and any spare pistols Pervince would not find useful.

Miikae pulls her scimitar out of the creature and turns to Pervince, "Nice shooting, thanks for not hitting us," as she sheaths it over her shoulder she smiles then checks Sands, "You did well facing these monsters."

As they explore the den Miikae casts her Detect Magic on all the items.

Looking into the den Kera gives an approving nod before going into it with Muziel.

”Between this and what we got off the Gnolls we shouldn’t be hurting for awhile.”

She shot Karrick a look letting him know she remembered he had all those gems.

”You and Sands alright Miikae?”

Kera suddenly shoots Karrick a look

Grachius!

She hurried to get out of the den and check on their prisoner.

Slapping a hand against one ear to try an equalize the pressure, Karrick lets out a grunt and gives his head a shake. Working his jaw slowly open and closed, he walks towards the den with the others, while Kera dashes out to ensure Grachius is secure -- a fact that Karrick couldn't much care about. Taking a few minutes to spy all of the coin and scavenged supplies that the creatures took, Karrick offers a look back at the others for a moment, and then surprising absolutely no one yanks up the bandoleer of silver knives, draping it casually over his shoulder.

"I'll take a cut of the coin, too," Karrick remarks with a grimace, still trying to clear his ears. "The rest is yours..." is directed vaguely to the rest, for he has no interest in the guns or their components.

Grachius was knocked over in the encounter, but remains whole on the surface. This is why I traveled with several armed guards. There will be more, the wailing those things do seems to carry long distances.

What did the 20 on knowledge history tell about Miikae's seals? I'm presuming the dueling pistols are ordinary pistols.

Pervince shuffles the gun parts around and picks up the MW gold-iron bayonet. As Muziel offers the pistols to him, Pervince shakes his head. "You can hold on to those. I'll make something out of these." Good thing we got these back. Could those pistols have belonged to that Altkins woman?

Craft (Firearms) to determine what I can make with the parts: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Drinking that healing potion Muziel gave me some time ago: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

meant to detect evil also. Unfortunately I don't have religion. Anyone else?

"The daggers and that cudgel are magical, I am unable to determine more than that." Miikae fills one of her sacks with her share of gold and secures it to Sands. She nods at Grachius. "Let's get moving quickly."

There are no Evil Items. The Dueling Pistols are Altkin dueling pistols, with properties from that guild. Craft skill or appraise for more details.

Hearing that they are magical, Muziel takes a look at the daggers and cudgel. Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15. The symbols on the daggers look familiar, but he can't place it. "Maybe you should hang on to these daggers, Karrick."

You continue back to Martel, putting the witch's hut behind you Some of you mentally as well as physically.

The air is dry and the day is hot, hot as it has been. You can see a group of people at the gate that spot you and start to walk your direction. When they are about one hundred feet away you can tell one of them is Gloria Altkin.

There he is. I thought that was you. Never thought you'd get out of Avernus.Step aside, me and this bald one have some business. I am calling you out Karrick. You killed my Uncle with your little bomb. Such a cowardly thing that, but no matter today you'll pay. The Altkin gunslingers with Gloria step aside to give her space, but they have their hands on their speed shooters.

You have a chance to speak before the duel starts. Any act of aggression will start initiative unless you can bluff past my Sense Motive, in that case you will get a surprise. You are aware of Gloria's abilities, and she seems to have some wrong assumptions of the situation. Diplomacy is not a bad course either...

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Gloria's Sense Motive

”Shut up Grachius”

She says helping him up then getting him moving again. As the other look over the weapons to see if they are magical or religious Kera keeps an eye on the prisoner.

Once on the move again she is on high alert. Seeing the crowd by the gate Kera has a bad feeling. When the gun slinging gutter wench starts in on Karrick she has had just about enough of this lawless vengeance.

”B***h is going to have to get through me first.”

She growls in a low voice only her party can hear. Kera wasn’t about to let some gun toting banshee with an over inflated ego come at one of her friends.

Snorting once, Karrick steps past Kera and pushes at her shoulder. "Stand aside, Pip." With the bandoleer of daggers still just casually slung over his shoulder and not properly fastened, Karrick steps ahead of the others and exhales a tired sigh.

"Look, lady, you want your insides on your outsides, that's fine. I ain't gonna' tell a woman how she should die." Then, furrowing his brows, Karrick slowly reaches up to lift his goggles, revealing his bio-luminescent, serpentine eyes. "But if you want t'make the people responsible for that dead man a'yours pay in blood, yer' barkin' up the wrong tree. I spent time in that pit because I was a patsy. The real criminals? They're livin' large back in Martel."

"But if you wanna' go fer the f*ck of it," Karrick brushes his cloak open and pulls his hood back. "Hope y'don't mind bringin' a knife to this here gunfight."

Gloria looks sternly at Karrick as he speaks, she can tell when someone is lying generally and she believes his story. Ye, you do look too dumb to figure something like that out on your own. So you were a patsy eh? Then you can show me who hired you yes? Do that and I'll let you live. I'll even let you keep those butter knives. Double cross me, and anyone you ever said a kind word to will burn in agony, but I bet that's a short list ain't it. So what'll it be?

Smiling crookedly, Karrick lets one side of his cloak fall closed over half of his armor. "I'll do you one better," he notes with a cock of his head to the side. "I'll walk you right on in to their guild house, and if you wanna' go in guns blazin', then be my guest."

Shooting a side-long look to Muziel as if apologizing for the delay, Karrick reaches up to lower his goggles. "But I can tell you now, you ain't gonna' like it. It was the Altkin that did this," Karrick explains with a slow step forward. "Before the split, goin' on fifteen years ago now. They hired me for a courier job, paid me up front..."

Running one hand over his shaved head, Karrick looks down to the ground, then back up to Gloria. "Some people died, 'cause of what I delivered, an' then they had me thrown into that pit for fifteen years. Fifteen years in the dark, surrounded by the worst criminals in the Wastes..."

Coming to a stop a few paces away from Gloria, Karrick rolls his tongue over his teeth behind his lips, as if tasting something bitter on them. Perhaps his own words. "I don't just wanna' kill 'em."

He squints behind goggled lenses that reflect Gloria's expression back at her. "I want every last one'f 'em who signed my life away t'suffer."

"An' I saw one of 'em just mindin' his own business at the Vault."

The Vault, that's Niven territory. We can start there. Its time to clean house and with everyone else looking for the Duchess there is no better time. You want them to suffer? Follow me. Altkin, Niven, don't matter to me, but first. Look at these men with me. Do you know any of them? Gloria says drawing her pistols and aiming them at the men with her.

The question elicits a look of curiosity from Karrick, but he steps around Gloria and looks at her men, then back at her with a crooked smile. After a few paces, Karrick starts walking by the men one by one, half his cloak still hiding one arm and part of his body. "Eenie," Karrick murmurs, passing one man, "meanie," then another, "miney..." is said as he walks past someone he does recognize.

Then, as he looks like he's about to stop at an innocent man and point him out, Karrick swiftly turns back on the man he passed by. Drawing one of his blades from within the cover of his cloak, Karrick lashes out in a fluid stab to drive that kerambit straight up under the traitor's ribcage by way of a trip through his gut.

"Moe."
_____________________________
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 (drawing blade unseen)
Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 (For "feinting" +Hero Point)
Attack Roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
>> Damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
>> Sneak Attack: 1d8 ⇒ 4

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 Vanzulii's Sense Motive

1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 Vanzulii's Initiative
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Karrick's Initiative
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Gloria's non-dueling initiative

Karrick sees a red haired man that spurs a memory. He had seen him talking to the man he noticed at the Niven compound the day he was given the package. As he works his way over to him the red haired man drops to the ground, an all too familiar red smoke starts to fill the air.

Gloria fires blindly at the prone target.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 Concentration Check for Vanzulii

Karrick will get to act once in this surprise round, you may use your attack roll if you like or choose another action. After that roll your own initiative and we will start with round 1

Sometime before this battle, Muziel will mention that the daggers bear an ancient symbol of Pharasma, and are likely blessed undead slayers.

"Not another assassin," says Muziel. Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Miikae watches the exchange, keeping out of it. She remembers the woman who gunned down the man last they were here. Detecting evil on her and those behind.
Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Miikae has a bad feeling about it all and it is confirmed when the red smoke appears. Not again...

"He's casting a spell!" unfortunately she cannot recognise the spell.

"Not for long..."

Kera will rush into the smoke to go after the man

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Ill keep the attack roll from above, yeah.

The moment the ruse is up and the assassin drops to the ground, Karrick spins his knife around in one hand and drops to a knee as he strikes down at the prone assassin.

Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

I was afraid you'd say that. Now I have to redue my concentration check for my spell with the higher DC. I think I'll use his Villain point for this

1d20 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 8 = 16 New concentration check, and he fails

Karrick's attack strikes true and disrupts his casting.
Gloria's shots are able to strike home. Vanzulii is extremely wounded.

Round 1
21 Vanzulii
17 Karrick
14 Muziel
13 Gloria
10 Kera
5 Miikae

Vanzulii desperate to escape attempts a different approach.
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 No escape for Vanzulii, you may take an AoO Karrick

Haha my initiative is appropriate for not wanting to kill another red mantis.

Pervince will also watch the event unfold.

Kera will get into melee range of the assassin (if that only takes one move action)

Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 1 = 24

Damage: 1d10 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15

"You're," Karrick hisses sharply, rising up to stand tall as the assassin tries to flee, "not," he spins his one drawn around in his hand to hold it in a traditional grip now, "[b]going anywhere!" The blade swings down towards the assassin's face with all of Karrick's frustration and anger driving it forward.

___________________
Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 (+2 if flanking)
>> Kerambit Damage: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
>> Sneak Attack, if Flanking: 1d8 ⇒ 7