The Red Arm of Absalom - Ongoing Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

“If she changes when she dies, wouldn’t it be easier to just not kill her?”

"Agreed. If the body is her prison then let her stay in it." Uesugi shouts out

"That's an interesting thought, Stali," Gallix says thoughtfully as the battle rages around him. "Maybe we should give that a shot." He quick dances forward, his footwork carrying him right to the base of the bookcase upon which Shadow Orchid stands. The brawler crouches slightly in his stance, then propels himself up and forward, planting one foot on the side of the bookcase and launching himself up so that he seems to float in midair parallel to the aged assassin. From this vantage point, he delivers a single blow aimed squarely at the side of the old woman's head--a knockout blow, if it lands true...

5ft step; Outslug Style, Lunge in effect.
AC25 from Outslug this turn.
Attempting a Knockout blow. DC18 Fortitude save on a hit or target falls unconscious for 1d6 rounds (may attempt another save each turn). Full details are spoilered below.

Knockout: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 91d6 ⇒ 5

"I can't see! What the hell!" The bodyguards curse as they begin haphazardly slashing at the air.

Gallix's fist slams into Shadow Orchid's temple with intense force, but the assassin digs her hands into the shelf and focuses as the pain of the impact ripples through her body. She soon opens her eyes, still fully conscious.

"Ah, now I see you. Try that again and I'll skewer you instead of your feathered friend here!" Yellow taunts Sirettis as he wipes the last specks of glitter from his eyes.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D.
Xun Bodyguard Blue (blind)
Stali (-14)
Shadow Orchid (-48, 9 NL, overcome with grief)
Sirettis, Gallix (-6)
Xun Bodyguard Yellow
Mr. Peppers, Uesugi

Mr Peppers tries to remember if he thinks it is possible to defeat such a magical tattoo with dispel magic. If it functions as a permanent spell then perhaps a well placed dispel would do the trick...

Spellcraft vs Tattoo and how they work...: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25

Regardless, Mr Peppers decides to weave his magic to aid in the groups protection from fire.. just in case her flaming dragon comes to being. He reaches around the room to bestow this arcane blessing. Protection from fire in case a flaming dragon IS born.

Cast communal protection from fire: 108 fire protection for everyone.

D. double-taps against the yellow guard.

Sand bullet, PBS, overflow, burn bonus, cover: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 1 + 3 - 4 = 22 Dmg, PBS, overflow, burn bonus: 5d6 + 5 + 5 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 2, 1) + 5 + 5 + 1 + 6 = 28

Sand bullet, PBS, overflow, burn bonus, cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 + 3 - 4 = 12 Dmg, PBS, overflow, burn bonus: 5d6 + 5 + 5 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 6, 3) + 5 + 5 + 1 + 6 = 41

Trip yellow, overflow: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 1 = 15

Slipping the sheath of his katana from his waist he sheathes his blade and begins to bludgeon Shadow Orchid with the flat side.

katana 1st strike '2hand'+p.a+non-lethal: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 14 - 2 - 4 = 12
If hit=True Cornugan Strike (demoralize): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 6 = 18

katana 2nd strike '2hand'+p.a+non-lethal: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 2 - 4 = 17
If hit=True Cornugan Strike (demoralize): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 6 = 15

Looking up at Shadow Orchid and her dragon tattoo, Mr. Peppers concentrates closely... Yet no auras show up around Shadow Orchid's back. He doesn't sense that the tattoo is magical in any way. It looks just like a plain tattoo.

D opens his palm and sends forth another torrent of sand that cuts and scrapes the bodyguard, while Uesugi attempts to hurt Shadow Orchid non-lethally - and manages, bruising her side with the blunt of his blade.

Blue scrubs his eyes with his tunic desperately, but can't get the glitter out.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D.
Xun Bodyguard Blue (blind)
Stali (-14)
Shadow Orchid (-48, 24 NL, overcome with grief)
Sirettis, Gallix (-6)
Xun Bodyguard Yellow (-28)
Mr. Peppers, Uesugi

Stali attacks blue, figuring it is better to take another minion out quickly.
+1 menacing Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, entangled: 1d20 + 12 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 2 - 2 = 16
Slicing damage, entangled : 1d8 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 2 = 7
Sneak Attack damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 6) = 19 Hampered

+1 menacing Adamantine Aldori Dueling Sword, Second Attack, entangled : 1d20 + 7 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 2 - 2 = 16
Slicing damage, entangled : 1d8 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 - 2 = 8
Sneak Attack damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6, 3) = 14 Hampered

Looking forward to the entangled condition from that dang tanglefoot bag ending...

Shadow Orchid continues weeping uncontrollably. "Will we fight forever over a book? What is the --" She stops herself, and her face contorts. "No! I am an assassin, and you are intruding in my affairs. I will kill you all!" And then she cries more. "No.. I won't.."

The guards look up at her in confusion. "What's wrong with you? They barged in demanding the Abysium Codex. Meddling, cunning visitors, no doubt."

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D.
Xun Bodyguard Blue (blind)
Stali (-14)
Shadow Orchid (-48, 24 NL, overcome with grief)
Sirettis, Gallix (-6)
Xun Bodyguard Yellow (-28)
Mr. Peppers, Uesugi

"Ah, now I see you. Try that again and I'll skewer you instead of your feathered friend here!" Yellow taunts Sirettis as he wipes the last specks of glitter from his eyes.

"Of course you will." Sirettis forces her will onto the yellow tunic guard. "Go to sleep."

Wow, Shadow Orchid's rolling really poorly on those Will Saves. I'll take 'em!

Gallix bounces back again and helps with the effort of taking down the remaining guards.

5ft step; Brawler's Flurry, Outslug Style, Lunge in effect.
AC25 from Outslug this turn.
All attacks directed at Yellow. If he falls, remaining attacks are redirected at Blue.

Flurry AdCestus: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 121d6 ⇒ 3
Flurry MCestus: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 Damage, Outslug: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9
Flurry AdCestus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Damage, Outslug; Shock: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 121d6 ⇒ 6
Flurry MCestus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 Damage, Outslug: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Gallix hits the poor blind bodyguard with the one-two punch, sparks flying from his fist. "You'd... hit a blind man?!"

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D.
Xun Bodyguard Blue (-24, blind)
Stali (-14)
Shadow Orchid (-48, 24 NL, overcome with grief)
Sirettis, Gallix (-6)
Xun Bodyguard Yellow (-28, helpless)
Mr. Peppers, Uesugi

Mr Peppers lets his minions continue the thrashing, he casts detect magic in an attempt to find the overwhelming blue glow he expects is the tome.

D. steps 5ft forward and, leaving the two guards to the others, aims for Shadow Orchid.

Air starts vibrating, gather power as he prepares for a knock-out sand bullet.

Sand bullet, PBS, overflow, burn bonus, cover, nl: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 3 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 1 + 3 - 4 - 4 = 27 Dmg, PBS, overflow, burn bonus: 5d6 + 5 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 5, 6) + 5 + 5 + 6 = 44

+50% for 66nl if it hits.

GM Red: I'll wait to see if D. knocks her out before posting

Shadow Orchid is blasted with a sand bullet aimed in such a way that it only serves to knock the wind out of her, and she falls back on the bookshelf unconscious.

Mr. Peppers finds the bookshelves on this floor of the store void of any magical auras. Much of Shadow Orchid's gear glows with auras, however. I can get you this post-combat, if you intend to loot her.

Combat Map

-- Bold is up --
D.
Xun Bodyguard Blue (-24, blind)
Stali (-14)
Shadow Orchid (-48, 90 NL, unconscious)
Sirettis, Gallix (-6)
Xun Bodyguard Yellow (-28, helpless)
Mr. Peppers, Uesugi

___
I'd normally call it here, but "Fight to the Death" tactics are what they are!

"So your master lies at your feet yet you still would battle with us. Know no mercy will be given to you then." With that Uesugi draws his katana from the sheath and strikes the closest bodyguard.

katana 1st strike '2hand'+p.a: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 - 2 = 19
If hit=True Cornugan Strike (demoralize): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 = 12

katana 2nd strike '2hand'+p.a: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27
If hit=True Cornugan Strike (demoralize): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 6 = 17

crit? katana 2nd strike '2hand'+p.a: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 2 + 2 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 = 12

"That's right! I will surrender to nobody!" The bodyguard retorts. He quickly learns to regret his words as Uesugi cuts him down, ending the fight.

Out of combat

Shadow Orchid remains unconscious above the bookshelf. A set of stairs lead up.

"Alright! Peps? D? Shall we head upstairs then?" Gallix offers to lead the arcane master and the telekinetic Tien terror up to look for and retrieve the book they're after.

"Mr. Peppers see what magic she has on her we should remove it all in case she wakes before we secure the book."

D. hovers the KO'ed Shadow Orchid onto the floor.

"We should tie her tightly, also to a heavy object for good measure, so she will not escape."

Shadow Orchid carried two potions in a small bag. She is wearing a cuirass and is carrying with a wakizashi on her belt. Her belt, cloak, and ring all glow with magical auras.

Mr Peppers quickly takes each item and passes it along flippantly "For being such a master assassin her equipment resembles that of a year one Pathfinder Agent."

Spellcraft to ID: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38
Spellcraft to ID: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36
Spellcraft to ID: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37
Spellcraft to ID: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (17) + 22 = 39
Spellcraft to ID: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37

"I should be able to find the artifact easily with detect magic, unless of course it is contained by strong magic or thick lead sheeting. On another note, being as this woman IS an assassin, there is some risk in her recovery and wanting vengeance. I'm not sure how to resolve that and be true to my conscience."

He follows Gallix upstairs detecting magic as he goes.
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

“Leave her alive, unmolested and with her merchandise intact.” Stali suggests while checking if any of the minions live. He would try to stabilize any that are still alive.

“We bested her in combat. Provided we don’t make it personal, I think it is unlikely she would push the issue.”

Looking towards the stairs, he asks “Do you want my help, in case she trapped the area?”

"Yes"

“Alright.”

Stali joins them going up the stairs, on the lookout for tricks or traps.

Sirettis looks on with indifference as the battle ends. "Disarm her, search for traps
and let's take the book." She looks around the shop. "She will have to answer to her superiors first for her failure." She pauses. "Maybe we will fight an angry dragon someday."

"Been there, done that, Sis," Gallix calls back down the stairs as he leads Mr. Peppers and Stali up.

Perception for traps: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Whatever way it will be, she will eventually die, and change form.
-If-, the rumors are indeed true."

Stali attempts to stabilize the bodyguards with quick bandaging, but only one seems still be breathing. After tending to his wounds, the party leaves Shadow Orchid fully equipped and ventures upstairs, scanning the area for traps.

The second floor contains more shelves and tables of books, and a number of rolled-up sleeping mats in a neatly stacked pile. A small table next to the mats has a lantern and a few books on it, but none of which seem magical. In fact, the room is entirely without auras.

As for the third floor, bookshelves cover the east and west walls and a table piled with more books sits in the middle of the room between two more bookshelves.

A large glass display case set in the center of the western bookshelf holds a great tome made of strange blue-green metal plates. The book glows with a moderate necromantic aura.

He also finds that the display case holding the book is trapped, noting a hidden space in the ceiling where a heavy scythe awaits. It isn't clear how to disable it... until he also notices a specific book on the adjacent bookshelf has been worn much more than the books next to it.

Sirettis uses her prehensile hair to carefully pull all of Shadow Orchid's equipment off.

"Stali, do you need me to move the book? I can reach with my hair."

"On the surface that appears to be the book we're after. Perhaps it is a decoy, perhaps not. I'll need to get a closer look to find out for sure." He steps back and lets Stali do what he's trained his short life for.

"Have at Sir."

“Let’s worry about the trap first. This might be the real one, considering they bothered to trap it. Nice display case.”

Stali warns the others where the trap would strike, then once they are clear he works to disable it.
Disable Device: 10 + 24 = 34
Disable Device: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29 If the 34 didn’t work, looks like Stali gets to dodge a Scythe

Stali finds that removing the worn out book is enough to cause the scythe to click and recede, successfully disabling the trap.

He also defeats the strong lock on the brass chest. Inside the brass chest is a potion of cure moderate wounds, a magical gem, magical mat.

In addition to the goods, the chest also contains a letter and a small black book. Both are written in Elven.

With the trap disabled, the display case safely opens, and the metal plated book lies in wait. Warmth radiates from its cover.

Spellcraft to ID, DC27: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28 Mr Peppers looks at the mat with a magical, discerning eye before explaining what it does.

"The mat is a ki mat, meant for a monk. Each hour its owner spends sitting on the mat without taking any other action, he can attempt to center himself by making a Wisdom check with a DC of 10 plus the monk‘s current number of ki points (note that ability checks, like skill checks, do not automatically succeed on a 20). If the check is successful, the monk regains 1 ki point." He slides it aside. "What exactly Ki is I do not know."

Spellcraft to ID, DC31: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25 The gem however seems to take a bit more time. He looks at it with his blue eyes and his brow furrows in contempt. "This one will take a bit more time, one moment."

He pulls out his spellbook and sternly flips a few pages and begins reading, tracing the lines of spell runes with his fingertip with a less than amused look on his face before casting a different spell and studying the gem once more.

Spellcraft to ID, Identify Spell: DC31: 1d20 + 22 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 22 + 10 = 45
"Ahh, merely an air elemental gem. Crushing it will summon a large air elemental. Similar to the one we found in one of our earlier missions, but less powerful."

"Mr D, would you be so kind as to levitate the book from its cradle and open to the first page, I'd like to see what I can glean from it with this spell active."

He swapped in the Identify spell, not sure if it'll help with study the tome, maybe at least determine if it is what we're after.

Once this is complete he'll happily check out the other Elvish items. "I've scanned these for magic, but can anyone detect any poison? Assassins know it does not reveal itself with the loving glow of magic." Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

(book starts to hover towards the team)

Take 10 on K Local for a 19.

"Ah, a joint effort between the Golden League and the Aspis Consortium." Sirettis grins. "When both groups discover her failure... well, let her live. Killing her would be a mercy at this point. We do not have to worry her anymore. Let us leave."

She takes the black book. "Shadow Orchid's Black Ledger. This will solve many unknown murders."

Mr Peppers nods in agreement with Sirettis's translations.

"I would prefer to bring her to the authorities myself than leave her to be hunted down by her association. A fair and damning trial gives much more closure to the departed's families than a random murder that likely will never be heard of." Well at least we found useful information that cleans up this borderline action for us.

The book floats over and flips open. The pages are all made of blue-green skymetal, and match the description provided by Venture-Captain Amara Li. This is indeed the Abysium Codex, and Aram Zey will surely be eager to begin the deciphering process.

Anything more here, or head back to the Lantern Lodge? Is D going to float the book all the way back? Makes for a fun visual :)

If that is what you'd fancy to see... :)

"We've got what we have come for. Perhaps we can put something over it for a disguise... a sheet maybe? With a smiley face... ghostly. We could start our own ghostly holiday, hrmm." He smiles, also wanting to get a better look at the book but fearing being poisoned from the metal.

"So are we leaving her here or putting her into prison where she belongs? I suspect she'll get the same result in the end."

"If we bring her to prison, she will kill her way out. Leave her to her fate. Maybe she will kill more Aspis agents for us on the way out."

Stali shuffles his feet, uncomfortable with the situation.

“I was going to suggest we turn her over, but it is possible she would just escape.” He scratches his beak in thought. “We could turn her over to the Way of the Kirin. They are traditional enemies of the Golden League and likely skilled at fighting them.”

Gesturing at the book, he says “If you want to parade through town showing that off like a mysterious trophy, I will follow at a distance. I do not like attracting attention to myself like that,”

We can go back, but Stali wants to not look like a part of the group if they are floating the book the whole way.

“How about we put it in a bag and the bag in an extradimentional space?”

Stali brings out his wand of healing and asks Sirettis to use it on him.

Sirettis will heal Stali twice.

CLW: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (5, 8) + 2 = 15

"Then let us turn her in to the Way of the Kirin. They will know how to secure her."

"Yeah, I'd say we turn her over too. Especially if she's working with the Aspis. The less cut-throats and assassins they have working with them, the better."

Gallix offers his own pack to hold the Codex, but doesn't have an extradimensional space to offer like Stali suggested. "Maybe it won't poison the holder if they don't touch it directly," he offers. "I could put it in my bag and just hold the bag by one of the straps. Do you all think that would work?" Gallix tries to recall what he can based on his own alchemical training to see if this plan makes any sense.

Rolling Craft (alchemy) in case his alchemical training will tell him anything about how a skymetal would affect someone holding onto it.

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

"As for the book... I will bear the burden. If we are ambushed my magic will be less affected than your attacks."

"Just drop it into my Haversack. Let me empty it out first, I don't want to ruin some of my good evening wear or my freshly laundered blankets." He starts pulling out his fancy duds and handing them... as he looks around the room to decide who has the cleanest hands of the group...

"Master Uesugi, would you hold these please?" Mr Peppers magically cleans the man's hands before handing his extra clothing and things to him.

"Drop it in D and we'll be off."

(tome floats into the bag)

"There. That's out of the way.
Now, i reckon it wise to have a little look ahead, just in case there are some of her associates posted about. I'll be back in a minute or two."

D. goes ghost as he walks out.

Stealth, overflow: 1d20 + 15 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 10 = 37
Taking 10 on perception for 22.

Gallix is sure touching the Abysium Codex, or abysium in general, will cause deleterious effects. He surmises it would be something like a curse.

D scouts the streets of Goka leading up to the Learned Crane, and finds that everything looks clear. No one seems to be watching, so the party escorts Shadow Orchid over to the closest Way of Kirin outpost, where a hooded man grabs the elf by the wrist and tosses her inside with a grin, assuring you she will be processed appropriately.

I know very little about that organization having not played scenarios they're part of, so I can't elucidate much more than that! Moving us along...

The book is placed safely in Mr. Peppers' bag, making it warm to the touch, and you all head back to the Lantern Lodge, where Aram Zey is busy pouring over a thick encyclopedia. Amara Li dismisses another Society agent as she sees you approach.

"Ah, you're back," she nods. "And in one piece, thankfully. Have you retrieved the Abysium Codex? And what of Shadow Orchid?"