The Ninja DM's Shattered Star - we're back

Game Master Spiral_Ninja

Kelgeah switches back to her scorpion whip, visibly agitated now. "I don't care for pointy things on flying insects. Begone, pests!"

She then lashes out with the sharpened whip at the nearest vermin.
attack: 1d20 ⇒ 8 slash damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Bah. probly a miss. Bout to think about quick draw for next feat, lol.

Taize stabs at the bug attacking her with her trident. Just stabs at it, rather clumsily.

trident-attack: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
damage: 1d8 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Round 1:
Fletcher: hit
Talon: missed
Taize: missed
Hralyk: missed
K'nyaz: missed
stirges: missed
Kelgeah: missed

Round 2:
Fletcher
Talon
Taize
Hralyk
K'nyaz
stirges
Kelgeah

The stirges back off and swoop down again, changing targets this time and having much more success.

Fletcher=1, Hralyk=2, K'nyaz=3, Kelgeah=4, Talon=5, Taize=6

stirge 1 vs 1d6 ⇒ 2 Hralyk
touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Stirge 2 vs 1d6 ⇒ 5 Talon.
touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Hralyk feels the creature insert its proboscis. Then, realizing that the creature is firmly attached, tries to cut the creature off of him.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Hralyk destroys the one on him.

Did the Stirges deal damage to us yet?

Talon found it very annoying that this foot long beast managed to land on him and slip the needle like mouth between the scales of his armor. "Get off!" He slices at it with one end of his sword - the angle would prevent him from using his dual style, though.

THB Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

THB Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

And Talon finishes off the last.

They don't do damage until the end of their turn, so no damage.

Severing the creature off of him and letting it fall down into the pit below, Talon rubbed the spot where it had managed to hit - he was surprised that he didn't feel like he'd taken damage. It probably hadn't had time to actually pierce through the flesh, then. That was certainly a good thing.

Looking down at Hralyk, he noted the large man had taken care of the other one - hopefully there weren't any more lying in wait. Talon really didn't like fighting enemies so much smaller than himself. He also noticed that the ladder had fallen apart.

"Kel, mind giving him a lift up?" He asked the elf, sheathing his exotic weapon and taking out his bow again. Once the larger man had been brought back up to their level, Talon nodded at the others as he led the way forward, continuing to look out for any beams that won't support their weight. Hopefully their target wouldn't be far now.

Like elsewhere, the ceiling has collapsed into the room below, but most of the rafters have gone with it in this area, leaving large gaps of empty space over the drop. A large fireplace in the room below climbs the wall as a wide chimney into here. The crumbling, charred brick of the chimney has been chipped away to create a large hollow within, with a tangle of discarded planks and other rubbish now serving as a floor.

Only one rafter still reaches across to the other end of this room, and in the hollow, illuminated by flickering torchlight is your target. Standing guard at either side of the platform are two goblins with crossbows.

A young Varisan woman calls out to you. "Who dares enter my domain?"

Kelgeah's eyes light up with anticipation at the new appearance. Young, healthy, and she seems to be upset at our intrusion. This should be fun.

She then turns to Talon with a smile. "Well, fearless leader? It's only right that you have the honor of introducing us, if that's your plan."

Guys im away with work and limited to updates on my phone. Ill try to keep up though. Should only be for the next couple of days.

Hralyk looks at Talon and grins, unstrapping his greataxe once more.

"So you know, I'll be charging the goblins once more if fighting breaks out. Feel free to join me, or proceed to our target."

Talon shakes his head at Hralyk. "There's only one beam across - charging across it will only end up with you falling down there," He whispers quickly, pointing at the muck below. "If you must go across, do it slowly, we'll cover you - and remember, we want Natalya alive."

He turns to address the woman across the way, looking at the two goblins training their crossbows on the party. Best to let them see him as the target. "My name is Talon Neverion. You are Natalya Vancaskerkin, correct?" He asks her. Though not much of a spokesman, he tries his best.

"We're here on behalf of Venture-Captain Heidmarch. Seems that you've failed to deliver on the item you promised her a few days ago. I have to say, it's been a real pain tracking you down to here - honestly, why are you even here working with goblins - sewer goblins, in fact," He shakes his head. "The stench alone should be enough to keep any sane person from making this place any sort of encampment."

Talon keeps one hand behind his back as he talks - pointing to K'Nyaz, then to the left, and pointing to Fletcher, and then pointing to the right. Hopefully they would notice and get ready to take out the goblins from range.

"So, here's my proposal. You can either give up right now and surrender into our custody, where we'll take you far away from this godforsaken place back to the Venture-Captain where you can explain to her what you've been doing... or, we can have ourselves a short tussle where we'll inevitably defeat your weakling minions and this guy here will carry you like a sack of potatoes back," He thumbs over at the more muscular Hralyk.

"Believe me, you don't want to hear the third option."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Although his bow is at his side, Fletch has an arrow nicked and is has his sights set on the goblin to the right.

K'nyaz notices Talon's gestures and acknowledges what his intentions are with them. He eases left as directed, steeling himself to launch acid at one of the goblins if things turn sour.

Not bad, Talon. I hope she chooses option two, though. Subduing someone is so much more fun. Kelgeah readies her bow and drops an arrow out of her wrist sheath. But the vermin will have to go.

The young woman steps forward. "Ha. So she knew she couldn't handle ME! Does she think you can, then? Surrender to me, and join me as I claim my destiny!"

She looks at you condescendingly. "You've done well to get this far. You would serve me well, perhaps. Let's test you further. See the power at my command!"

She gestures and suddenly a creature appears in the open space between your group and her; a horse-sized wasp covered in yellow and black vertical stripes—its stinger is the size of a sword and drips with venom.

"Get them, my pet!" she calls.

Looks like option 2 then.

"...she could have told us she was a spellcaster..." Talon mutters to himself. "Take out the flunkies!"

On his turn, Talon will notch an arrow and fire at the wasp.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The arrow will unfortunately miss its mark, but hopefully it will spur the creature to attack the heavily armored leader.

Without any map placement to confirm, I'm going to assume that the wasp will be in melee range at some point, since it's got to get in melee range to attack us. Given that...

Hralyk, seeing the giant wasp flying nearby, attempts to bring it down with a mighty swing.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

...and don't forget the fly check to see if it stays aloft...I get the feeling we'll need all the help we can get. :-)

Kelgeah takes her cue and fires at the goblin on the right.

ranged attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

aaaaand apparently hits the wall or something. pfft.

Fletcher also lets fly at the goblin on the right.

shortbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

K'nyaz, being familiar with summoning magics, tries to discern what degree of power she has at her disposal. Maybe the insight can help them. In the meantime, he launches the acid he had prepared for the leftmost goblin. He offers a warning to the others, "If she have stronG magic at disposal, ve must keep her threaten in melee, disrupt her attempt for castinG." He gives a nod to Hralyk, this being what he wanted in the first place.

Spellcraft 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Standard, Acid Dart 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 ranged touch, in the rare chance that hits 1d6 ⇒ 1

"If we take out those goblins, I'll gladly "threaten her." Spells don't quite come out properly when you're dealing with burning lashes all over."

Init:
Fletcher init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Hralyk init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
K'nyaz init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Kelgeah init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Talon init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Taize init: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8
goblins init: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Natalya init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

victims: Fletcher=1, Hralyk=2, K'nyaz=3, Kelgeah=4, Talon=5, Taize=6

Round 1:
goblins fire their crossbows
Natalia casts
Hralyk swings at the wasp
Talon
Kelgeah swing & a miss
Fletcher miss
Taize
K'nyaz casts

goblin 1: 1d6 ⇒ 4 vs Kelgeah
heavy_crossbow_attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
heavy_crossbow_damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10

goblin 2: 1d6 ⇒ 6 vs Taize
heavy_crossbow_attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
heavy_crossbow_damage: 1d10 ⇒ 10

Taize, startled, targets the wasp with a lightning bolt. (domain power)
1d20 ⇒ 7
1d6 ⇒ 5

On to Round 2:
goblins fire their crossbows
Natalia casts grease on the rafter leading to her base.
Hralyk
Talon
Kelgeah
Fletcher
Taize
K'nyaz

Goblin 1 vs 1d6 ⇒ 2 Hralyk
heavy_crossbow_attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
heavy_crossbow_damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1

goblin 2 vs 1d6 ⇒ 5 Talon
heavy_crossbow_attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
heavy_crossbow_damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Taize calls to Natalia. "This is unnecessary. Venture-Captain Heidmarch is not your enemy. She simply wants you to return with the item as you promised. I'm certain she will reward you appropriately."

Kelgeah flicks another arrow to her hand, nocks it, and fires at the same goblin.

ranged attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Seemed that their route across was currently cut off by the grease. Talon thinks briefly, drawing and firing his bow at the wasp yet again.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Shortbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

His arrow flies true, dead center on the large creature. "I'm going to climb up from below - if you can jump across, do it! Everyone else, covering fire!" He directs them, before leaping forward, trusting that his ring of Feather Falling will protect him from a rough landing - less so from the nasty muck he was putting himself in.

Sorry, my wife monopolized my computer all day yesterday doing her college homework. Geez, it's like she doesn't understand priorities. ;)

That being said, I would have issued a warning, but I don't know if it's too late for the others to change their actions based on that.

K'nyaz, recognizing the creature for what it is, or more appropriately, what it isn't, tries to warn the others. "Do not fight vasp, is not called from elsevere. Is only trick of mind, try see it for vut is not really dere."

K'nyaz decides that he may be the one capable of harrying the woman until others can arrive. First he needs to find some protection so he is not disrupted in his casting. He manages to make his way across the beams to the corner right above where the goblins were blockaded in the previous room. The corner should offer him some added safety while he works. He concentrates on actually calling a creature from another plane of existence.

Move, acrobatics to balance 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Standard, cast Summon Monster I, celestial eagle, in the space above the southernmost goblin. 1 round casting time, it will appear right before his turn next round.

Come on, guys. We've got this!

His voice, clear and strong continues his earlier song - remembering the positive effect it had.

Dare! Dare to believe you can survive
You hold the future in your hand
Dare! Dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare!

Bard song. Inspire courage. +1 competence bonus to attack rolls and damage.

Ahh, our own inspirational soundtrack. Life is good.

Round 2 actions:
goblins fire their crossbows
Natalia casts grease on the rafter leading to her base.
Hralyk
Talon fires on 'wasp' then jumps down
Kelgeah takes out her goblin
Fletcher begins inspire courage
Taize
K'nyaz moves at half speed along the rafter, summons

Taize, hearing K'nyaz' comment, directs her next bolt to the remaining goblin.

attack: 1d20 ⇒ 13
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Miss Vancaskerkin, stop this and save your people!"

Ah, crap - didn't realize I was up. Sorry...

Hralyk, hearing K'nyaz's comment, shifts his focus away from the wasp. He moves to the southern-most rafter, seeing that it is the least distance to jump, then attempts to jump across the gap to the next rafter.

Acrobatics (Jump): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Just waiting on the start of round 3 here, since I'd like to know what Natalya will do first before climbing up to her platform. Also, to see if Hralyk makes the jump or not.

Hralyk makes the jump, and the startled goblin falls back, dropping its weapon and calling out in goblin.

Natalya replies "Stand firm! We can take these fools! Take out their leader!"

She turns toward Hralyk and casts.

ranged_touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Acid_splash: 1d3 ⇒ 3
goblin 1 drops it's bow and swings one of those sacks-weapons at Hralyk
goblin 2 fires crossbow at Talon
Natalia casts acid splash.
Hralyk
Talon
Kelgeah
Fletcher
Taize
K'nyaz

melee_vs_Hralyk: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13 if hit: 1 point of damage, save fort DC 12 or be sickened for 1d6 ⇒ 4 rounds; save reduces it to 1 round.

goblin 2 vs Talon
heavy_crossbow_attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
heavy_crossbow_damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Well, better they're shooting at me than the others, Talon thinks as he touches down in the muck, avoiding the crossbow bolt fired by the goblin. "You think you can take me down? Just try it!" He goads the minions, letting off one arrow at the second goblin before heading to the other side to begin his climb.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

He'll start to pull himself up, dropping the bow - seems that he can't hit worth a damn with it anyways.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

It figures I get a nat 20 against an illusion and a nat 1 against a real threat.

Fletcher continues his song. With Hralyk leaping across and Takin bellowing his defiance, he knows it is having the right effect!

Within his song he hides certain subliminal messaging, only perceptible to his intended target.

Free action to maintain bardsong and standard action to cast sleep on Natalya. Dc 14 Will.

Everybody's trying to break your spirit
Keeping you down
Seems like it's been forever
But there's another voice if you'll just hear it
Saying it's the last round
Looks like it's now or never
Out of the darkness you stumble into the light
Fighting for the things you know are right!

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Natalya hesitates, seemingly caught up in Fletcher's song, then shakes it off.

"Nice try, but I'm still stronger than YOU."

Kelgeah continues the assault on the goblin with the crossbow, firing off another arrow in hopes of dropping it.

attack, ranged: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

"Oh, but Natalya dear, you don't seem to understand. Your strength matters little here; you've backed yourself into a corner with no way out. Not that I mind you resisting; more fun for me to subdue you. But you ARE coming with us, one way or another."

Kelgeah, remember the bonus from bardsong. +1 attack and damage

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Fort Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Ouch...that'll be 4 rounds of sickness, please...

Hralyk grunts when the acid from Natalia's spell makes contact with his skin, and begins coughing and gagging uncontrollably when the kobold's weapon hits his arm. Still, despite that, he aims a powerful swing at the nearby kobold.

Attack (Bard Song, Sickened): 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 17
Damage (Bard Song, Sickened): 1d12 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 9

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

Talon, down below you see a ladder concealed in the fireplace. You also notice movement in the sewage, as if something is swimming toward you.

Above, both goblins drop and Natalya, furious, cries out "How DARE you! You'll pay for this insolence! Cyvis, take them!"

Talon, you're not surprised.

A sinuous greasy-scaled black snake with the gray, lipless goblin head with serpent's fangs rises from the muck and belches at Talon.

Talon DC 13 Fort or be sickened for 1d6 ⇒ 6 rounds from the stench.

Re-initating
Fletcher init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Hralyk init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
K'nyaz init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Kelgeah init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Talon init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Taize init: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
Cyvisinit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Natalya init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

New Round 1:
Fletcher
K'nyaz
Natalya
Talon
Kelgeah
Taize
Hralyk
Cyvis

Fletcher=1, Hralyk=2, K'nyaz=3, Kelgeah=4 Taize=5

Natalya ranged touch on 1d5 ⇒ 2 Hralyk, again.
She doesn't like you, it seems.

ranged_touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Acid_Splash_damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Cyvis attacks Talon.

bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Oooh, she's got a snake too? Oh we're going to have all sorts of fun with you, if I have any say in it."

Talon was more than prepared to climb the ladder - until the goblin-faced snake suddenly rose up out of the stinking waters. He recoiled as it suddenly unleashed a most nasty belch right in his face.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

He gags and shakes his head, trying to get the stench out of his nose, his eyes watering up. "K'nyaz, a little help!" He gasps out, unleashing his two-bladed sword and striking. "Everyone else, focus on Natalya! Knock her out!"

Move Action to draw, so single attack.

TBS Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 - 2 = 13
TBS Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 - 2 = 5

As K'nyaz finishes his spell, an eagle bearing plumage of gold and silver appears before the woman. As it does so, Voroan calls out to it in the strange tongue he shares with K'nyaz. The bird hears and attacks the woman.

Fly check to hover 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Full-attack on Natalya
Talon 1 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21, on a hit 1d4 ⇒ 4
Talon 2 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17, if it hit 1d4 ⇒ 3
Beak 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

K'nyaz, comfortable that the bird will at least keep her occupied for a bit, tries to do what he can for Talon. He fires another of his conjured acid missles at the snake-creature.

Acid Dart 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 4 = 12 ranged touch (melee penalty applied), if it hit 1d6 ⇒ 4 acid damage.

The strange snake just barely avoids both attacks.

The eagle's first attack connects, but Natalya manages to dodge the rest, retreating to the cover of the fireplace.

Natalya: -4
Cyvis: -3

Taize calls on Gozrah, sending one of her lightning bolts at the snake-thing.

1d20 ⇒ 15
1d6 ⇒ 3

K'nyaz, you forgot to add in Inspire courage bonuses - in which case, your acid dart would have just barely hit then. Let's all take advantage of the Halfling's help here by not forgetting his bonus effects.

Yes please, I like to feel like I'm useful lol.

Dare - dare to believe you can survive
The power is there at your command
Dare - dare to keep all of your dreams alive
It's time to take a stand
And you can win, if you dare

Maintain performance and cast sleep again. Dc 14 Will.

Natalya will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Looks like you're inspiring HER. ;)

Again, Natalya shakes off Fletcher's spell. "Is that the best you've got?"

Not only is it the best I've got, it's all I've got left lol. Oh well looks like we doing it the hard way!

Kelgeah glances around the battlefield for a moment before aiming at Natalya. "Oh well. I'll have to use a spell or two to revive her if she drops. No real loss." she tries to move in closer without stepping on any grease or weakened beams, and fires another arrow.

ranged attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2