Strange Aeons, with GM Pendrak

Game Master karlprosek

Durril glances over at his (former) cellmate and replies, "So it would seem, hm?", before his inscrutable gaze returns to the doppelganger.

Pretty sure Xander still has the keys.

At the suggestion of not killing the thing, the whites of Harrow's eyes could be seen as he ground his teeth.

"Keep it alive!? No ... no it dies!"

Improvised Weapon: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (6) - 4 = 2

Harrow's arm's motion is jerky, despite his intent. His eyes seemed to shift between green and black as he was arguing with himself.

"Maybe Shield has a point!" Harrow's male voice got out before the crone voice cackled: "Oh, sure! Like Doctor Manyface would tell us anything!"

Lorn can’t find a blunt instrument on the table, but he finds a sharp shard of metal that fits his hand well enough.

“Drop it?” asks the doctor, in response to Lorn, “If you insist.”

She carelessly lets the half of a garden shear fall to the ground with a clatter, but as she does, she drops her human guise as well. Human features bleed and melt into a faded, shapeless, alien form with a gaping maw, large white eyes shaped like sharp ovals, and a long, pointed blue tongue. This grayish humanoid creature seems almost unfinished, with a narrow head, gaunt limbs, and a sinister, noseless face.

Doppelganger

It lashes out madly with it’s claws, one at Alico, one at John, delivering cruel blows to both.

Alico takes 6 points of damage, and John takes 10 points of damage.

Mashiki can cast her readied spell, then John, Durril, Xander, and Lorn can act. Mashiki can go ahead and take her full action for round 4 as well, because she is in the initiative before the doppelganger now.

Map

As the creature shifts and lashes out at her companions, Mashiki yells "Stop it!". a small amount of purplish black liquid quickly pools in her palm and congeals into a jelly like blob which she tosses at the doppledoctor.

Readied action since she didn't surrender

Acid blob (ray)+Point blank-melee(-cover if the guy on table counts as cover): 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 5 or 1

In her haste and reluctance to hit any of her companions the blob flies high and splashes against the wall, hissing for a moment as it eats away at the stone before evapourating into an acrid, vinegary smelling mist.

Broomstick lady's eyes go wide in panic as the creature lashes out, inflicting grievous wounds on her fellow prisoners and she instinctively flings another acid glob.

Acid blob (ray)+Point blank-melee(-cover if the guy on table counts as cover): 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 16 or 12

Acid damage + Point blank: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

The blob violently sizzles for a moment or two as it corrodes whatever it splashed on before evapourating in a sharp smelling mist.

Both attacks are ranged touch attacks

The doppelganger does not have cover from the guy on the table. The second attack hits the doppelganger's touch AC of 12 (regular AC is 16). Good time to mention this, by the way, this is something I do with my home group most of the time, which is after a character has a couple of goes at a creature, I generally just tell the party the AC of said creature. I think that will be especially helpful in PbP, since that gives you guys more lee-way to write out your own actions if you know if you hit or not.

The second glob of acid that Mashiki sends flying strikes the doppelganger straight in it's chest, dealing it a serious blow.

With a bellow Lorn smashes out cracking the bizarre creature across the side of her cheek with his club, reasoning that they would be better of worrying about whether to dispatch her or not once she is downed.

"We can discuss it once she, it, is downed!"

Club: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 2 = 20 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Like I said, Lorn couldn't really find anything to serve as a club, but the shard of metal does 1d3+4 which is easy enough to work out from what you rolled. He deals 6, instead of 8, still a solid blow.

Lorn rips a gash in the creatures's cheek with his improvised weapon.

John, Durril, and Xander can act.

Distracted John replies "Who throws things with their mind? Who does that?"

and then he takes a claw to the face, nearly putting him down.

He stabs back weakly with his garden trowel.

Trowel: 1d20 + 4 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 - 1 = 1 (power attack, improvised]

damage: 1d2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Xander's eyes go wide as the creature's true form is revealed. Reading about things like this is one thing; experiencing it is QUITE another. "Ye gods," he gasps, momentarily loosing his composure. In that same instant, he realizes that the broom lady just threw globs of acid. She could have just burned through the damn lock?!
He grabs a sharp instrument off the table next to him and finishes cutting the ropes holding the man (or unlocking his manacles with the keys, whichever is required).

John is unable to make contact with the monster this time.

Xander is able to cut the ropes binding the man to the table, and he sits up, dazed but happy to be free.

Durril can act.

Durril finally moves out of the cell, if only because his view of the action is becoming obscured by the crush of bodies around the creature. Raising his hand again, he fires off a shining ray, but misses.

Move in front (i.e. to the left) of Xander, cast Ray of Enfeeblement (fort save to halve ability damage). Not sure about cover modifiers so I'll just do the base.

ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
STR damage if hit: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Durril's ray doesn't make contact with the creature.

"You again," shouts the shapeshifter, staring down the paladin, "You're the one who dared lay hands on me! I'll fix you!"

The doppelganger claws at Lorn furiously, staggering him with the first attack. It turns it's second attack to Alico, and rips into him, rendering the spiritualist unconscious and bleeding out.

Lorn, Durril, Xander, John, and Mashiki can act. Lorn is staggered, at 0 HP. Alico needs to make a DC 13 Constitution check in order to stabilize.

The Google Slide should be fixed such that you guys can move your own icons now, if you wish.

Swaying on his feet lorn shakes his head, the pain cutting into his consciousness and making his thoughts slow and thick. Aware that violent motion will cause him to fall he waits piece of metal poised hoping to make it easier for his unknown allies to strike at her by offering a flank.

Delaying until just before her action. Moved him around as he originally tried to flank.

"I am really tired of monsters cutting me apart...." slurs as he tries to staunch the flow of blood with one hand.

He stabs at the monster with the other.

Trowel: 1d20 + 4 - 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 - 1 + 2 = 3 (power attack, improvised, flank)

damage: 1d2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

The ferocity of the doppelganger's attack took Harrow by surprise, and he fell to the dirty stone floor bleeding from the two claw wounds.

Xander dashes around the table to the other side. "I don't suppose you're a powerful wizard, eh?" he asks the man he just freed. In the meantime, he tries to help their fallen "ally." Do I know how to do this? Hmm, how hard can it be to stop bleeding?
first aid(heal): 1d20 ⇒ 13+inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 1=14.
Damn, harder than it looks.

Broom lady grows more frantic as she sees claws and blood everywhere "What is going on! Is this still a dream?"

She yells at the newly freed man on the table "Get out of the way! Uh... sir. Please?" as she bobs back and forth trying to get a shot around him. When he manages to slide off the table she throws a third blob of acid at the former doctor.

Acid blob (ray)+Point blank-melee: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 1 - 4 = 8

Unfortunately between all the bobbing around and panicking her toss goes wide, burning another spot on the wall.

All of a sudden, Durril's countenance changes, going from dispassionate to snarling in an instant, and he goes into a more animalistic stance. Eyeing the doppelganger with contempt, he releases a horrifying scream.

Swift action to manifest dark half (increase the DCs of your psychic spells by 1, gain a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, become immune to fear effects, etc.), then cast Ear-Piercing Scream.
1d6 ⇒ 1 (ugh) sonic damage + 1 bleed damage, dazed for 1 round. DC16 fort save to prevent daze and halve damage.

Too late to edit, but I forgot that EPS states that only the target can hear the scream. Just in case anyone wanted to react to that.

The broomlady, already a step over the edge, gives a little shriek as the dagger man who had been so calmly standing beside her a moment before suddenly takes on a snarling, feral countenance.

The dark and monstrous version of Durril, to all outward appearances, let's out a wordless scream, but the doppelganger can clearly hear something, as she clutches her ears in pain, blood dripping out between her fingers. She seems to be dazed by whatever magic the dark Varisian evoked.

The doppelganger is dazed for one round, and unable to act normally. She can no actions, but has no penalty to AC.

Lorn and Mashiki can act, and then after they both have, the whole group can act again (including another attempt from Alico to stabilize).

Seeing the doppledoctor reeling, frustrated with trying to avoid the others with her acid blob and ultimately wanting to get away from the feral man she is standing beside, Broomstick lady calls forth strange, alien words with no meaning to her lips. She doesn’t know what they mean or why she remembers them, but she knows what they do. As she does so her hand is wreathed in crackling purple sparks. ”Why is everyone trying to hurt everyone?”

She moves forward to get closer to the creature threatening everyone ”We’re sorry. We really don’t want to hurt you, but We don’t have any other way to make you stop.”

Shocking grasp (no metal on target): 1d20 ⇒ 8
So many low rolls. With any luck that one point of bleed will be enough to finish her off before we all die.

She reaches out to touch the doppleganger, but hesitates at the last moment and loses her opportunity. The purple sparks still dancing about her hand.

"Fall evil spawn," Lorn tries to roar, but ends up slurring as he lunges forward with his piece of metal smiting evil. But before he can even register whether his blow has connected or not he collpases to the floor blood trickling from his mouth...

-3 to hit and -1 damage if she is not evil.

Smite Evil: 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 4 + 2 + 3 = 16 Damage: 1d3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

spell recollection: 1d100 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 "The amnesiac can’t remember the new spell (but can still cast spells this round)."

Durril racks his brain for another way to defeat the creature, but his clouded mind prevents him from remembering anything useful. Instead, he resorts to throwing another of the creature's "medical" implements at it, but he's struggling to maintain his mental control.

Telekinetic Projectile again
ranged attack (not touch): 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 4 = 7

John lashes out at the doppleganger with the last of his strength.

Trowel: 1d20 + 4 - 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 - 4 - 1 + 2 = 20 (power attack, improvised, flank)

damage: 1d2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

As Lorn falls unconscious, he manages to pierce the doppelganger in the chest, and as he falls, his weight goes down onto her and pushes the makeshift blade deep into her.

When they settle to the floor, the doppelganger is also unconscious and bleeding to death, joining Alico and Lorn. The shapeshifter, who has been so loud and arrogant thus far, is silent as she falls.

You win your first combat! Now what?

Cage stabs it in the neck to make sure.

The doppelganger shudders as it takes it's last breath.

Cage leaves the bloody trowel in the shapechanger's neck and sits down hard.

"Owwwwww......"

Dammit. Why won't the bleeding stop? Xander growls in frustration.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
"There, that's one."
He quickly moves to Shield to assess his injuries.
1st aid: 1d20 ⇒ 20
"Ah, he's not too bad." At least this one isn't bleeding all over the place.

So that was a cure light wounds on Alico and a successful Heal check on Lorn?

So that was a cure light wounds on Alico and a successful Heal check on Lorn?

correct

So am I conscious again?

So am I conscious again?

Yes, at 1 HP I believe.

Broom lady, still shaking from the ordeal, moves over to Shield and Pouch, the sparks continuing to dance across her hand. Shield had tried defending them in the dream and had also originally been open to the idea of trying to take the doppledoctor alive, before it started really hurting everyone.

Pouch had been in the same cell with her, maybe they were related somehow? He was also helping the injured, stopping the bleeding and tending to their wounds. She liked them.

”Who are you? Why do you have something inside you that wants to kill you? We saw it in the dream!” She looks at the man with the harrow deck. ”And why are you growling like an animal! Maybe some of us were supposed to be in here after all?”

She looks at the man who had been strapped to the table ”What’s going on?”

Xander looks up from the wounded man at the broom lady's comments. "Yes, where the hell are we? And how do we get out?" I've no desire to spend any more time here than I have already.
Since the body is nearby, he also begins to look through the "doctor's" clothes to see if there is anything useful.

Feeling life return to his limbs, Harrow looked up at the half-orc who lingered long enough to see the downed Chelaxian recover, if only some what.

"Thank you, dearie," he called after Pouch, tenderly feeling the scabbed-over wounds.

At Broom's questions, his green eyes glinted. "You misunderstand, child." And the female voice rose to dominate his next words.

"As for the growling?" He shrugged as the echo to his voice returned. Harrow then looked at the doppelganger. "Who managed to kill it?"

Durril is back to his normal blank-faced self by the time the strange woman asks him about growling like an animal. He gives her a questioning look and shrug, as if he had no idea what she was talking about, as he looks around at their surroundings.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Broom lady brightens up at Alico's question "Oh! Shield man stopped doppledoctor! It was quite heroic, just like in the stories."

As if she had suddenly forgotten about the horrors she had just witnessed she adopts an storyteller like demeanor. "Grievously wounded, he valiantly waited until the last moment when he knew he had no other choice. Then, with his last breath he lunged at doppledoctor, striking mightily and stopping her from hurting anyone else!"

She looks at Grimm "And then when she fell down Cage man stabbed her in the neck" she hurriedly adds.

Xander doesn't find anything on a search of the doppelganger.

As Durril looks around the room, he doesn't notice anything anyone didn't see before. To the east is a closed door. To the west is another small table, and a large pile of rubble and rubbish. There are a number of seemingly full sacks scattered around near the rubbish pile.

"I think Shield will be okay. He just needs some rest." He stands up and heads to the small table. "Let's see if there's anything else useful in this godforsaken nightmare," he murmurs as he begins to poke about, opening sacks and moving around garbage.

"A little hurt here....." Cage groans from the floor.

"Nobody start any nightmare fights until I get a chance to sleep for a week."

Durril joins the half-orc in sifting through the garbage. He doesn't think there's anything he can do to help the wounded, so he might as well make himself useful somewhere else.

Xander and Durril find six sacks, each with various pieces of armor, weapons, and other equipment, but notably they find each of the items from their collective nightmare in separate packs. Additionally, they have a strong feeling that the other items in their respective bags are also theirs.

A cold, iron furnace hunkers in this corner of the basement, its four-foot-square door gaping half open. Nearby sprawls a heap of gory clothes and other dubiously flammable trash.

As the others begin looking around and rummaging about, Broom lady stays put, smiling nervously and fidgeting as she looked around with uncertainty. She looks back at the man who had been tied to the table ”Hi! We’re… well, We don’t remember who we are. You can call us Broom, or Broomstick, whichever you prefer. Do you know what is going on sir?”

As she listens she is distracted by Cage’s plight. ”Here, maybe We can help.”

She touches the table and with a 'pop' the purple sparks discharge from her hand, momentarily filling the room with the smell of ozone and scorched wood. She then kneels down beside Cage and begins examining him.
healing: 1d20 ⇒ 9

"We have no idea what We are looking for. Maybe Pouch can teach us, he was looking at the lock and looking at the hurt people and now he is looking at the garbage. He seems to like looking at things. Oh well, there is something that we do know about!"

She smiles and begins speaking those alien words that didn’t make any sense to her, but that she remembered anyway. The blood stains on Cage’s gown fade away and the grime drifts off his clothes like dust. When his attire is spotless her smile brightens and she begins another chant. With practiced care she begins gently teasing together the rents in the cloth. Where she touches, the fabric slowly begins to knit back together as if it had never been parted. It takes a while, but when she is done, the white outfit looks like it had just come off the tailor’s bench.

Seeing the others rummaging through the discarded things and finding assorted items, Harrow walked over to join them. In one bag he saw the harrow deck from the nightmare city. He examined them, not finding the blood and grime from that encounter, which failed to comfort him. He figured the other items in the bag her also his, and so he began to equip himself. Now has the gear as listed on his sheet, unless otherwise stated by our fearless GameMaster

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Hmm," He noted the object in the rubbish and fished it out. Giving the instrument a couple of plucks, he looks at those nearest him. "Anyone fancy a tune?" He asked with a smirk.

Lockpicks! Thank heavens. There's something reassuring about having them near to hand. "It looks like there's something here for everyone. I'm assuming these were taken off our persons when we were incarcerated." He looks quizzically at the gear as he puts some of it on. "Why do we remember nothing of these events? Surely we would recall being captured, stripped and tossed in a cage. Physical trauma seems unlikely. I suspect someone has tampered with our memories magically."

Durril shrugs at Xander's questions as he looks over the piles of gear and trash. "Whatever happened, we should probably find a way out of here." Finding what seems to be his pack, he looks inside to find a chain shirt - definitely strange, since he has no recollection of any kind of combat training. Still, it's better to be safe than sorry, so he suits up.

After he's done, Durril takes a curious look in the furnace nearby - since it doesn't seem to be on, perhaps there's something other than ashes inside?

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

From his spot on the floor Cage asks "Is there a bag over there that might be my belongings?"

She looks back at the man who had been tied to the table ”Hi! We’re… well, We don’t remember who we are. You can call us Broom, or Broomstick, whichever you prefer. Do you know what is going on sir?”

The man looks confused and pained by remembering.

"The name's Campre Linweigh. I'm an orderly here at Briarstone. Or was. There was a riot. The patients, even some of the ones that were usually docile went mad, and they seem have seized control of part of the prison. Even worse, there are ghouls about, and these doppelgangers. And outside... there is a yellow mist. A lot of people tried to escape into it, but something in there tore them to pieces."

Okay, you guys have your gear back at this point. Are you going to wait until Lorn is back up, or do some exploring without him?