Rivers Run Red

Game Master fictionfan

If no one beats her to it... Surprised at Mallichatti's uncharacteristic hesitation and apparent distraction, Riva makes her way over to the loathsome lizard and performs a coup de grace, braining the fallen beast with her staff.

With cold indifference she looks Mallichatti in the eyes and states plainly, "We've no more room for dragons."

She then turns her attention to the ruined forest around her. Trees moan in the wind with their bark burned away by fire, pools of acid slowly bubble into the ground poisoning the soil, and the rotting stench of decay of old kills and new permeate the air.

She sighs in disgust and turns to leave when she suddenly hears a faint chirping at her feet. Looking down, she sees a baby bird with black feathers and a small tuft of red and yellow upon its wings. A young redwing blackbird picking its way out of a fallen nest. Nearby lay the bodies of other birds, unfortunate casualties in a battle not their own.

Riva scoops up the pitiable thing, and gently tucks it into her pocket for safekeeping, to be tended to and healed later.

I have decided that Riva will be taking a "parrot" familiar upon reaching level 7.

"Relax little one, the worst is over now."

Riva then continues searching the site of the battle for other signs of collateral damage.

Searching for treasure: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Just about every part of a dragon has some sort of magical property. If you carry they body with you you should be able to turn it into 25 magic capital.

Also you all gain 700 xp.

Nice job everyone!

Nice job everyone! This was a fun battle.

You find no treasure. Besides the dragon.

The axe doesn't respond?

Did not realize you were talking to the axe

"Am the BadAxe. I am welded by BadAxes like you. Where did you get me anyway? I remember my last partner dieing (gloriously on top of a the bodies of his enemies of course) after that some non-badaxes took me and tried to use me so I went to sleep. It is somewhat hurtful that you would want to weld some dumb stick instead of me."

Riva has the corpse hauled over to the expedition caravan for safekeeping, instructing her servants to keep it out of sight, and to mask its scent with ash from the burnt foliage.

("We don't know if there are other dragons about.")

Once everything is in proper order, the expedition continues onward.

We heal however much we can and then continue exploring this hex, or else move on to J30 if this one is cleared.

sounds like a good plan to me

What follows is an excerpt of a speech spoken many years ago, when the Caerulus government was undergoing a state of transition. Old, ineffectual rulers were discarded by the people, and new ones were elected, turning the burgeoning nation into a republic in a matter of days. The document can be found in the town hall's archive room as a matter of public record within the city of Allania. The speech, recited to the people on Seranith 7th, 4707 AR in the Allania town square, is purported to be one of the chief reasons why Riva Sarjenka, the nation's master of coin, was able to maintain her seat within the government during the transitional period.

The cerulean heavens pay no heed to the words of kings or paupers, and mountains do not marvel at the mighty spires of Oppara. Rulers, thus, have no command over the natural world, and the edifices of their rulership pale in comparison to the wonders wrought by the gods. Neither fear nor want drives the flock to the shepherd; the flock follows of its own unmeasured accord. For it is not the role of the flock to follow a shepherd, but rather the role of a shepherd to serve the flock. A ruler who leads with the crook is naught but a tyrant, from whom the flock receives only oppression and injustice. Therefore, to ensure freedom, it becomes the people’s responsibility to choose their own ruler—the sheep led by one of their own, a shepherd beholden to those who tasked him with shepherding.

— Riva Sarjenka, “On Government” during a time of troubling transition

(Little do the good people of Allania know that the speech was plagiarized, and the document a forgery.)

Did not realize you were talking to the axe

"Am the BadAxe. I am welded by BadAxes like you. Where did you get me anyway? I remember my last partner dieing (gloriously on top of a the bodies of his enemies of course) after that some non-badaxes took me and tried to use me so I went to sleep. It is somewhat hurtful that you would want to weld some dumb stick instead of me."

"Funny you call it dumb. No one's managed to outsmart it yet. Listen, I get you think you're powerful and mighty and like to show that I don't even need a face to look at to get that impression off you. But, don't you think the fact everyone who has ever wielded you has died violently leaves a bad impression? I don't do what I do to look awesome. I do it because I have to. Slaying a hydra out for my blood bare chested and wielding an untested weapon? Not my choice. Just what I ahd to do."

"Not everyone, Norbert went on to become a God. You have not likely heard of him. He does not do much on this plane anymore. Kalifer set me aside after becoming a mother and Kobor died of old age. Besides I was made with a purpose is it wrong for me to take pride it doing it well! Also all you died wielding me accomplished something meaningful before the end. Which is more than can be said for most of the sheep that simply wait for time to kill them. I am not all powerful most who wield me someday face something that they can not defeat even with my help. The important thing is to never give up! But you have not answered my first question. Who are you who wields me?"

"Mallichatti Cervagio, writer, architect, and bored jailer. I like quiet nights by the fire with a drink and a good book." Mallichatti says dryly.

"Before that, political dissident, Former Order of the Pyre Mage hunter.So tell me more why you think of people living quiet lives as sheep?"

"You are crafting a mental model of me and I wish to see how good it is. So tell me why do I think think of people living quiet lives as sheep?"

"Because you're a magical talking axe with a built in superiority complex. Not entirely sure that's your fault. Magic user's tend to rub off on their creations."

"Which sort of brings us to the point where I don't use you that often."

"If I had a built in superiority complex I would simply take someone over and do my own adventuring. I do not actually have any separate intelligence. In order of me to think I must model myself on your own mind. If I seem to have superiority complex then that is because you expect a magical talking axe to have a built in superiority complex. In reality my goals and desires are completely subservient to your goals and desires without impediment and therefor I desire to get you to help me help you."

"Also if you still believe my length to not be enough I do know how to go about improving myself."

Well holding the axe you gain the craft arms and armor feat only for the purpose of improving the axe. Or more specifically the axe as that feat for itself and can give you instructions on how to improve it.

He's quite the talker, isn't he? I wonder what his intelligence score is.

When did you get the talking bad axe if I may ask? I am a little lost, but finding the comentary funny at the same time.

You can see a light hovering 500 ft above the party.

I want to roll A perception check to try and identify what that light source is.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Mallichatti shrugs and picks the axe back up. "Well, we'll see. I'm not the type who picks up a powerful magical device and immediately thinks it's use is a great idea. Especially if that the device can talk, think...and scheme."

The light above you is a wisp.

"So it's just prejudice then Good! We can overcome that working together!"

"It seems they are learning to keep their distance. We should be on our guard, lest it kill us in our sleep."

A spy for a greater master? Or is it merely alone and looking for an opportunity for more mischief?

Riva urges everyone onward.

"By the way on the subject of Kobor. He was the founder and progenitor of the BadAxe clan. If you have any impulses in that direction I have some lesser known properties that would help."

somehow it says that with a very suggestive tone.

"It seems they are learning to keep their distance. We should be on our guard, lest it kill us in our sleep."

A spy for a greater master? Or is it merely alone and looking for an opportunity for more mischief?

Riva urges everyone onward.

The question is if it was mearly spying on you why would it be visible?

(The thought does bring some relief.)

I am going to assume you don't do anything about the wisp and keep exploring for the sake of moving on.

That night as you sleep.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

This time your watchers are surprised as 3 wolfs run into the clearing. the wolves look different somehow. They seem to be fading in and out.

Please give me a knowledge check

Elhedril: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Mallichatti: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Riva: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Toran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Toran: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
wolves?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
NPC watchers: 1d20 ⇒ 3

The wolves? use their surprise round to close in on you.

Round 1
Toran
Elhedril
Riva
wolves?
Mallichatti
NPC watchers

The wisp has disappeared from the sky. Your camp followers have not had a chance to run away yet. If you let any of them die it will detract from your future leadership score.

Toran rises from his slumber, wearing a nightshirt and grabbing at his nearby weapon as he calls out, [b]Up, up! There are wolves![b]
With that, he moves towards the nearest wolf while gesturing for any nearby followers to back away.
Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I am going to assume you don't do anything about the wisp and keep exploring for the sake of moving on.

I'm not certain there is anything we can do about him if he continues to keep his distance like that. Nevertheless, we stay wary and alert. No sense in letting him kill us in our sleep or otherwise getting the drop on us.

Usual battery of knowledge checks to find out more about our foes.
knowledge: arcana: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33
knowledge: dungeoneering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
knowledge: engineering: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
knowledge: geography: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
knowledge: history: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
knowledge: local: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
knowledge: nature: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
knowledge: nobility: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
knowledge: planes: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
knowledge: religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

Riva rolls to the side landing atop her feet next to Elhedril. Quickly taking in the situation she decides to focus her magical energies on the protection of the civilians first, hastening their movements so as to allow them to more easily escape. She takes great care not to open herself up to enemy fangs as she does so.

Riva 5-foot steps into G12 in order to avoid being flanked and defensively casts an enhanced haste spell on the entire party as well as all of the civilians (except the one in G7, who is out of range).

Concentration vs. DC 21: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

I recommend you guys stay within range and within 30 feet of each other until I cast the spell. You may also want to delay until it is cast so as to allow it to take full effect.

I arise at the sounds of Toran's shouting. Upon seeing the closest wolf, I send a magic missle flying towards it to try and keep it from those around us.

magicmissle: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) + 3 = 12

Blast, they are a bunch of bloody blinking Barghests. Being wolves.

torans attack miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 57 Hit, but it seems to do less damage then you would expect

Elhedril miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 38 I don't see anything saying magic missiles can target invisible, ethereal creatures. So it missed.

Bargest 1 casts Crushing Despair (DC 16 will save) on all of you.

Bargest 1 miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 83

Bargest 2 attacks toran

bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 79 hit

bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 33 hit

bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 70 hit

Bargest 3 attacks Riva

bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 89 hit

bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 34 hit

bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 4 miss

I thought for sure they were going to be territorial blink dogs.

Don't you mean bite, claw, claw? I seriously doubt they have three bites. Also, if they are in the form of wolves, then they don't have claw attacks anymore, per the polymorph rules.

About those miss chances, please read the blink spell and the rules on what it means to be ethereal. Elhedril's magic missile should only suffer a 20% miss chance, since force effects can still harm ethereal creatures (it would have been 0% if she could also see invisible creatures, per the blink spell's description). Therefore is should have hit per your roll.

Riva's Will Save vs. Crushing Despair: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 Will save.

will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 +2 vs enchantmenteffects.

MAllichatti will go ahead and delay until right after Riva next round.

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

All the followers take withdraw actions and with the help of the haste spell that takes them off the map.

Round 2
Toran
Elhedril
Riva
wolves?
Mallichatti
NPC watchers

Remember to change my initiative to right after Riva.

MAllichatti will go ahead and delay until right after Riva next round.

Expecting a second buff? Since Riva goes before you, you are already the beneficiary of haste.

He still has my initiative listed as after the wolves.

He still has my initiative listed as after the wolves.

So? I've gone. They've gone. You should already be hasted and I don't think I have any more buffs to dole out right now. Go ahead and take your first turn. Don't let it go to waste! :)

Okay not sure how that works but whatever. Is it too late to change my round 1 actions GM?

Okay not sure how that works but whatever. Is it too late to change my round 1 actions GM?

No

"What exactly are those things?"

"They are horrible canine creatures of no small intelligence that possess hands more than paws. Said to be fiendish relations of all goblinoid races, the hateful barghests come to the Material Plane to feed. As they consume the bodies of innocents, they grow increasingly powerful. A barghest eventually sheds its skin to transform into a greater barghest, at which point it often seeks out a tribe of goblins or other creatures to rule. These monsters have disguised themselves as mere wolves it would seem."

Toran strikes out at the nearby wolf, Riva's spell giving him enhanced speed as he connects with two solid strikes.
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Could you just roll your own miss chance for blinking?

first attack blinking: 1d100 ⇒ 61

second attack blinking: 1d100 ⇒ 58

Both hit but as before they seem to do less damage then you would expect. You really need to get a magic weapon.

Whoops, I meant to and forgot, but I will in the future. And you're right, I really do.

First turn then.

Stand up holding BadAxe.

Rage

Move. Avoiding AoO's.

Shoot another magic missle towards the closest wolf. magic missle: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) + 3 = 12