Sheik Voodoo's Katapesh Nights (Inactive)

Game Master voodoo chili

As long as they are not resistant to my bolts, I will happily find this little canine beast.

Almah lays a finger along her lips thinking. "This may be the first evidence of good fortune for a change. Perhaps there is hope for Shank. It has been decided that he will be held prisoner, but not tried until you return. Please do your best to bring back evidence of this Pugwampi if you should find it. Hurry though, the day is ending."

So we are to go an a Gnoll fairy hunt then? Interesting. WEll shall we then?

"Kzrira; my dear, would you like to lead the way?"

Sounds like a plan, lets follow mini-dog man and see where Mr. Bad Luck went to after lighting the wagon on fire.

I begin to follow the trail.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Kzrira's skilled eye follows the little doggie tracks over to the corral and finds that when they emerge, they are followed by the hesitant steps of a small goat. This makes the trail much easier to find as it cuts across the wadi and up the slope into the surround shrub and cactus.

The going is slow through the prickly brush heading up slope along the edge of the canyon and the light fading quickly, but just when Kzrira begins to lose the trail in the darkness you hear a wail like that of a small child up ahead.

Quietly - I think that our target decided that he wanted dinner and the best way to get it was by starting the fire.

I take out my crossbow and quickly, but quietly move forward.

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

With the sun down behind the mountains, the only light is from a low crescent moon. Due to the dim light and treacherous flora, Kzrira is forced to move very slowly toward the noise. She soon finds the wails are coming from the center of a particularly dense thicket of spiny scrub and cactus.

This will be dense undergrowth- 1/4 movement, 30% concealment,-5 to stealth, DC 15 acrobatic check each round to avoid the painful spines.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 19

I slowly proceed into the thicket watching for the dog.

I whisper behind me.

We gotta get this thing. I think the kid is still alive, but can hear someone sharpening a blade.

I slowly follow Kzrira closely, step for step.

Perception : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Acrobatics : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

I cast a few incantations quietly and perform a few hand gestures while pointing at Kzrira (Cast Message). "I don't hear that, only the crying child. Lets get there before something happens to them."

When Karethas hears the cry up ahead he crouches down and quietly chants a quick spell. A familiar shimmering field surrounds him for a moment, but quickly fades to invisibility. When he sees the dense thicket, he sighs deeply. Leaning over to Amir and Faelor, Karethas whispers, "That's going to make this much more difficult, but we should hurry and try to save that kid before it becomes dinner. Those herders back at camp seemed extremely fond of it."
Cast Mage Armor

Kzrira carefully leads the way and at once feels an oppressive aura as she enters the thicket. She nearly stumbles as thorns grab her leggings, but manages to catch herself before she falls against a vicious clump of Asmodeus' Rod.

Right behind her, Faelar is not so lucky and after nearly running into her steps back right onto a Kelishite Dagger plant. Fealar-1 hp

The tiny evil voice and knife sharpening stop up ahead leaving only the plaintive wail of the goat somewhere in the midst of the dark thorns.

Whisper: Faelar, can you see anything. My vision is greatly restricted, does your elven blood allow you to see our quarry?

How close are we? Can we see it yet?

I continue to move forward, wary of the plants, but desiring to get a shot off before the poor kid becomes this thief's dinner.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Great time for double 1s. So much for surprise, apparently I have now stepped on something sharp and let out a great shout of pain.

I grunt with pain as the Dagger plant embeds itself into my foot. But I try to keep it quiet, we are whispering, so we must be doing so to try and stay quiet.

Can I see anything with the Low-Light Vision?

I whisper back to Kzrira, "I am not sure, I am trying to avoid any more of these painful plants right now. Give me a second and I will try to have a look." I look up ahead and try to make out anything that I can.

Acrobatics : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Perception : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Stealth : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

I'm assuming Karethas and Amir are holding back for the moment.

Favoring his injured foot, Faelar stands tall behind Kzrira trying to to look past her through the thicket. Unfortunately, a rock rolls under his good foot and he falls onto Kzrira dumping them both into a Manticore Bush. 1 hp piercing damage each.

Faelar didn't have time to get a good look ahead, but a nasty squeaking laugh is heard over the bleating goat for a moment.

"Ow, ow, ow! Sorry about that, I can't seem to find my footing in here and who is that laughing?"

I try to stand again and once up, I offer my hand to the fallen lady to help her up.

I put my finger to my lips - Shhh - I am sure we were heard, but if not, lets get that little dog.

I stand up and continue to slowly and carefully make my way through the briars, taking care to avoid the Hag's Claws and a nasty looking Ogre's Crook.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Yet another 1 - lets hope I get these out of my system before a real fight. Apparently I am still noisy and blind, but at least I did not fall down this time.

now you're getting in the spirit : ) Faelar- give me an acrobatics if you follow.

Kzrira finally makes it out of the thicket to find a rocky ledge that drops off precipitously behind a skittish goat tethered by a hairy rope to a particularly large Asmodeus' Rod. The poor thing is covered in spines and bleating piteously.

Karethas nudges Amir and gestures to the side of thicket that is more heavily covered in plant growth. He then heads to the opposite side, hoping to keep the creature pinned in if it decides to flee.

As soon as I leave the thicket, I crouch down an scan the area for anything other than the goat, my crossbow cocked and ready.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 17

The second I see the dogman, I will fire.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

No dogs to be seen in the dim moonlight.

Whisper: Faelar, do you see him. Obviously it heard us and took off, but I doubt it will have deserted its dinner. It is still here, the question is where. If I had to guess, it is looking to charge one of us off the cliff. So be careful.

I begin to slowly make my way toward the kid, watching for any movement in the area.

Seeing Kzrira put her finger to her lips again, I get the message and stop talking. While trying to navigate the thorny thicket.

Stealth : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Acrobatics : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Once out of the thicket, I will have a look around.

Perception : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Upon hearing Kzrira mention it may try to charge one of us off the cliff, "I have an idea!" I begin to whisper in a foreign tongue and perform some unfamiliar hand gestures. " vehafor vin trilvol ekess hofiba tikilvi batobot shilta ocuir. ir di thorn vur skjall."

Along the edge of the cliff, a thorny thicket appears, much similar to the one we have just traversed. It is about 50 feet wide, 10 feet deep and 10 feet high. Making it so it looks like there is no cliff edge at all. Just more thicket. I walk over to Kzrira and whisper, "Cliff, what cliff?"

I make sure that I am within arms reach of Kzrira, with a hand on the wand that is hanging off of my belt.

I have cast Silent Image, it requires a DC : 14 Will save to disbelieve if it is interacted with.

Darn the luck! just as Faelar is about to leave the thicket his shirt is snagged on a Hag Claw bush and as he tries to free it, another branch catches his tearing shirt and skin. Faelar-1 hp slashing

Faelar casts a spell and the the cliff is transformed into more thicket. As the pair of adventurers walk toward the goat, it becomes agitated and starts running around the thorny tree.

Still carefully scanning the area for any threats. I crouch down and try to comfort the scared kid.

Handle Animal(untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 15 Technically HA is a training required skill, but I would think that this is a low enough DC that I should have some ability to succeed.

Amir shakes the cobwebs from his brain as Karethas points on to the thicket. Taking to his best effort at stealth, Amir moves in tandem with the wizard in an attempt to approach the space from different angles...Sorry about these last few weeks, and weekends in particular, have been messed up. I got my game face on now though. Initiate, Rogue/Wizard Pincer maneuver A7!

Stealth! 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

I follow Kzrira cloesly, but my mind seems to be elsewhere. (Silent image is a concentration duration.)

Rombard is freaked enough that it'll take higher than a DC 10, so no chance of calming him without ranks in animal handling or wild empathy.

The freaked out goat leaps away as Kzrira approaches, but she manages to grab the hairy rope.
it'll take a grapple check to control him and/or a slicing attack to cut the rope.

Kzrira; my dear, if you are able to hold this animal still I may be able to calm it by removing some of these spines and taking away some of its pain." While speaking quietly with Kzrira, I am slowly moving around behind the goat to the Asmodeus' Rod, where I attempt to untie the rope from the tree without hurting myself in the process. If that is not possible, I stop trying to untie it and just stand behind the goat.

(Hoping me standing by the cliff edge, will make it so if the goat can get free, it won't run towards the edge and fall off.

Faelar, would you per chance have the ability to put this kid to sleep?

If not:

Grapple: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 vs. CMD

"Sorry, I do not have that ability. By the way, where is the child we heard crying?"

"Sorry, I do not have that ability. By the way, where is the child we heard crying?"

Glancing back at Faelar: There was no child. This is the kid, a baby goat. Which as you can see is scared to death.

Kzrira gets hold of the little goat as Faelar unties it. Unfortunately, she is distracted by his question and Rombard wriggles free and makes his escape. At that same moment a tiny voice is heard fifteen feet away at the edge of the thicket and the rock beneath everyone's feet is suddenly slick with grease. The little goat manages to stay standing and bolts for the thicket away from everyone.

Ref save DC 10 or fall. If you fail, give me a second check DC 15 or fall over the cliff. Roll twice for each save and take the lowest.

Are the saves just for Faelar and Kzrira in the thicket, or for Amir and me outside of it as well? I will make the rolls, just in case.
DC 10
REF SAVE: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4(0 Base, +2 Dex)
REF SAVE: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5(0 Base, +2 Dex) Yep, there are the rolls.
DC 15
REF SAVE: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15(0 Base, +2 Dex)
REF SAVE: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9(0 Base, +2 Dex)

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Reflex-2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Hearing the voice, I turn and fire a bolt at it.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Attack-roll 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Dunno if I need to do this. Lowest of each save huh? That sucks...

DC 10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24Ouch 8

DC 15: 1d20 ⇒ 111d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 And 11

Soooo....off the cliff then?

This is why I love Witches, give them evil eye, cackle, fortune an misfortune, and by second level they can make any battle very different.

I take it, me trying to keep my balance, will disrupt my concentration enough to break my spell?

DC 10 Reflex Save Scores :
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Managing to keep my footing, I walk away from the slippery area carefully, towards the laughing. I place a hand on my sword handle, "Greetings and excuse me, would you mind showing yourself? I would rather not have to fight you, if we can talk things through."

In case you require them.

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Diplomacy : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

I don't know if I needed to roll the skill check twice, but hey they scored the same, so doesn't matter.

ok, I guess Amir and Karethas are getting antsy if they want to make random saving throws- you two are well away from the cliff and grease spell.

round 1
Kzrira
Pugly
Amir
Karethas
Faelar

Kzrira and Faelar luckily keep their footing on the slick rock, but Kzrira unfortunately fires too early and her bolt hits dirt. The creature hidden in the thicket takes a shot at the yapping elf, but the little arrow misses Faelar's ankle.

Karethas hears crashing in the thickets and suddenly a bloody little goat runs out so full of pain that it can barely stand.

Round 2-
note- without extra light, all human attacks have a 20% miss chance (only one roll needed.)

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Two can play that game little pig.

Attack-Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Attack-Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Miss check: 1d100 ⇒ 78

Kzrira- not sure what the intimidate is about as demoralize is a standard action. plus you needed to reload as a move. still, you did just kick the aura of unluck to the curb so...

Kzrira loads another shot and fires at the small dark shape in the brush. There is a satisfying yip as the creature is impaled onto a Manticore Bush.

out of combat.

Sorry - did not realize that the intimidate was a standard action, never really do it in combat. Can make that my round 2 action and the attacks the round 3 action if you want. My move would have been to reload. I was pretty amazed when the 19/20 showed up, and even more amazed when I got the second 19/20 on the crit confirm. Figured the chance of confirming was near zero after hitting.

...WOW...!

no worries. i'll just ignore the intimidate. thus ends the Perils of Rombard pt. 1

Once I hear the "Yip" I reach into my bag and pull out my Wayfinder, opening it I press the button on the top of the device and a bright light floods out of the compass. Revealing all the secrets that the darkness has to offer.

As "Light" for caster level 5.

Faelar's light reveals a horrible little creature pinned to the thorny bush. It looks like a vile bipedal lapdog with filmy eyes and blood leaking from its slobbering jaws. It is dressed in filthy rags and armed with a crude bow, battered dagger, and whetstone.

I look at the creature, then back at Kzrira, "Good shot; my dear, truly amazing!"

I walk over to the creature and un-pin it from the bush. I carry the creature over to Kzrira, "Should we take this back as evidence? I am sure the herders would like to see what took their dear goat."

I am guessing it is the Pugwampis, but just seeing if Faelar can recognise it from sight.

Knowledge (Nature) : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Antsy? No no no...er....yes

Amir will emerge from the brush to see Faelar investigating the small creature. Ah our mystery faerie, imp, what have you. I think we should take it back burden of proof and all that. Amir will look around the area, What of the goat?

The goat ran off, lets see if we can catch it before it goes too far and gets eaten by something else.

And yeh, I will carry this hideous thing back to prove that Shank is not the culprit, at least not this time.

I pick up the goat and try to find the easiest path through the brambles avoiding anything that involves Gorgon, Medusa, Claws or Fangs in its name. With Faelar's light, I assume that the going will be much easier.

Karethas looks through the bushes at the creature and the injured lamb. "What a pitiful looking creature!" When Kzrira and Faelar turn to the Pugwampis Karethas laughs and says, "I was referring to Rombard, it is so small and so....trembly. Perhaps some healing would be in order?" Karethas casts Daze at the little animal to make it easy for someone to grab it.