The Red Arm of Absalom - Ongoing Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

D. reads some of the backs of the books.

"Maid in Absalom?
To Bee or not to Bee?"

..."What strange literature you westerners have."

"Children enjoy when I read Good Night, Moons to them. As well as, " Sirettis hesitates "Everyone Poops."

Mr. Peppers asks for everyone to take care. "Do you need assistance, Mister Peppers?" Sirettis looks at the books in the room. She's not a librarian or a hardcore mage, but the pursuit of knowlege intrigues her. Knowledge sets you free.

Mr Peppers, there's no clear ruling on this, so I will rule on it. The auras are coming from inside a book and are not active spells affecting the book (that is, they are not indicative of a magical trap).

D pokes through a few books and finds one text titled From Rivers to Mountains. Inside the dusty tome are a selection of maps and travel literature related to Isger, detailing trade routes, forests, and towns, but with no mention of Saringallow.

Reading the book will grant you a +2 bonus on Kn (Geography) checks relating to Isger and Survival checks to avoid getting lost in Isger's wilderness - mostly useful had this module been played before the goblin fest, since they're all interchangeable.

Gallix finds a nice spot of wall to lean against while the study buddies peruse the bookshelves. "Find anything interesting, Peppers?" he asks lazily.

Well then! If he feels the book isn't trapped then hurrah! Actually, I guess a fair question would be, does the book resemble the glow and signature a spellbook would? Like his own, which I would assume he sees under the effects of detect magic frequently. So either way he's going to check that baby out!

Mr Peppers gingerly pulls a book off the shelf, and only one, his eyes glowing blue and his lips curling up into a smile. He raises his finger to his lips in response to Gallix, then takes a seat quietly and begins looking through the book, ignoring the rest of the room and party completely.

His blue eyes fade back to black as he makes a quick motion and speaks a short Elven phrase that he often spoke while studying his spellbook on their travels. The smile on his face returns as he buries himself in those beautiful words of magic.

"This will take awhile I am to assume?" Uesugi faces the direction they came from standing guard while the scholar feasts on the words within the book like a goblin chewing on cured elf ears.

Mr. Peppers opens the book and quickly realizes it's been hollowed out inside and its contents are a treasure trove of magical scrolls. Inside the compartment are eight scrolls very tightly packed and containing the following spells: alarm, charm animal, comprehend languages, disguise self, jump, mount, obscuring mist, and shield of faith. All CL 1st

Mr Peppers cracks open the hollow book and sees before him a cache of beautiful scrolls. After reading through each with read magic, and being a bit disappointed they aren't all arcane, he reveals his findings to the group "Eight magic scrolls! What a find! Its a pity that a couple I can't use without some serious effort but they are all still useful for sure."

He reads each of them off and explains their effects to anyone who shows any slight amount of interest. "Did you all find anything else interesting? I guess I should take a look for anything else."

No thoughts on using that perception elixir? If no one wants to use it Mr Peppers would for this room specifically so he doesn't miss anything good in the way of books. Remember we lose it at the end of this adventure.

Perception + Library boon: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24 Add in +10 if no one else wants to use that elixir. EDIT: Hrm, Lucky Number? Sure USE IT! +2 more! 26/36!

Fine by me Peppers

Sirettis takes the opportunity to look for books on the history of the family and estate.

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 = 19

Go for it, Peppers! What do your elf eyes see?

Okay, I am thoroughly confused. Are we supposed to be just rolling perception to find books? How about knowledges? How about Profession Librarian?

Profession Librarian: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11

The library is wonderful, but Cup spends a few minutes not randomly running through it, but trying to get a sens of its organization and layout. Every library is different, and home collections often have organizational systems that might be more based on the size of the tome or the recency of the acquisition than actual subject matter.

Perception, Nixa bonus: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 24

Cup is specifically looking for books dealing with the Bile and its origins. As an artifact of the Abyss, there should be something here dealing with how it was imported and why, but she is of course interested in other areas of knowledge as well.

Knowledge Planes, Chronicle 14 bonus, Nixa bonus: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 + 2 = 29

Then she notices the research fervor in Mr. Pepper's eyes, and sighs. She could never resist the needs of scholarly researchers. "Let me aid you, Pep! Go ahead and drink the Elixir, and I'll keep helping you find volumes here."

Perception, Aid Another to Mr. Peppers: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 2 = 25

Cup gives Mr. Peppers another +4 to his check.

"Either of you book-wyrms find any books about combat techniques useful for fighting abyssal creatures?" Gallix finally peels himself away from the wall and casually scans the spines of the books for titles that catch his eye.

Perception, aid Peppers: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 Another +2 for Peppers

"Hmm...how about this one? 'Destroying the Deathless'? Sounds like it might be useful."

Mr. Peppers finds one more book titled The Nine Secrets that appears to be valuable and hasn't rotted over, but as he picks it up and begins to slowly pull the cover open, he spies a small needle looped around a string attached to the spine that will snap if he continues. Once snapped, it's obvious the needle will shoot outwards from the book into the unfortunate reader's face.

Cup finds a third book titled History of Isger. Although the history contained within is now thoroughly outdated, it still speaks of Chelish nobles involved with the state's founding. As such, reading it grants +2 on Kn (History or Nobility) checks pertaining to Isger. The bonus lasts for 1 hour per 10 minutes of reading.

Mr Peppers aims the book towards the wall and lets the needle trap fly "Sneaky sneaky! Must be an interesting and valuable book perhaps." He looks up from his daze "What else are we finding? Anything cool? Its too bad most of these books are beyond repair, they seemed to have quite the library!"

"I have found a rather interesting History of Isger!" Then she looks at Mr. Pepper's find. "How come mine didn't have a needle trap in it? How am I supposed to avoid the bleaching by only looking at safe books? Ooh... I wonder what else might be trapped here!"

Perception: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 = 27

She returns to searching the shelves with excitement. Rare, dangerous, deadly books were the best!

The Nine Secrets reads like a collection of bad poetry, and it's difficult to make out what it actually means, except for maybe a certain linguist in the group, perhaps?

Outside of that, Cup doesn't find any other books on the shelves that aren't falling apart or have their pages covered in mold. There's one door to the east that opens to the Ballroom.

Take 10 on linguistics for a 17

On closer inspection Mr Peppers translates the cryptic, hidden messages in the book. "Hey now, this book is about diabolism and Hell. They just took some efforts to disguise it, not to mention the trap. Lets keep a hold of this one for sure. I'd say anything of interest we should take with us, they'll just rot here."

Linguistics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Cup stares at the poetry, muttering under her breath as she translates the lines.

In the Inner Halls of Hell
That land where law and devils dwell
Asmodeus dips his pen
In its blood-filled well
Selling present glory for a tattered soul
A pittance! Wilt thou pay our toll?
Come bold ones, hither then
Through the flames of those who fell...
Will this be you? Pfft. Who could tell?

She shivers and looks up. "This could be rather useful to those who wish to understand more about Hell, Asmodeus, devils and diabolism."

She pulls out her wand of Kreighton's Perusal and offers it to the others. "We've found some very interesting books. Would anyone else like to have a chance to study their contents quickly?"

Sirettis finds no additional information, but she does keep a book from the library. "I am ready to advance when you are, Miss Poshkettle. Mister Peppers."

I assume my K History roll didn't turn up anything interesting?

I hadn't posted since Wednesday? Oi...

D. had only went past the books' covers, seeing the most peculiar titles.

Other than that, the awe-ing was left to the scholarly types.

Yeah, with that Kn (History) roll, you weren't able to find any historical books outside of the one Mr. Peppers had already dug out.

I think you guys are more or less done in the library. The Ballroom is through the east doors, or you could always backtrack to the entrance and continue east that way. What would ya like to do?

Ballroom would make the most sense I guess based on our current progression.

We're going Michael Jackson's Ghosts with this?

Ballroom!

Uesugi seeing they are done looks at the map and motions towards the door leading to the ballroom.

Gallix nods back at the samurai and makes for the eastern door, checking for traps around the door frame or the handle.

Perception (traps): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Mr Peppers looks up from his books and sighs "I suppose we should continue on I guess. Lots of interesting reading for tonight though!" He removes one scroll from the book and puts it into his scroll tube and puts the rest of the book of scrolls in his backpack after offering the up to the other casters. Kept obscuring mist handy

His eyes return to being a glowing blue as they prepare to enter the next room, drawing out his crossbow and checking that its in firing order.

Detecting magic as they go! Perception + Elixir: 1d20 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 10 = 32

Grabbing Nine Secrets and the History of Isger, Cup annoints herself with charges of Kreighton's Perusal for both volumes.

Someone might as well have the contents of both volumes in memory. She then packs all three of the rare volumes carefully into Oolong's saddlebags. "On to the ballroom."

As she walks, she looks down at her gorgeous new green shoes. Who knows, maybe I'll even get a chance to dance with these...

She envisions whirling around the floor with tall, dark and dashing by her side, then reluctantly dismisses the fantasy.

He'd never tango with me, no matter how cute he'd look with a rose clenched between his teeth.

lol the pointy eared guy will be forever known as Tuxedo Mask now.

Ya I think not...

Stranger things happen. :)

The door from the library creaks open to reveal the grand Sarini ballroom. The floor, walls, pillars, and fireplaces are all made of polished marble. On the north side of the room, a grand staircase with divided flights leads up to a balcony overlooking the ballroom floor. An angel of black marble is standing menacingly on a platform behind the middle landing of the staircase.

As Gallix leads the way in, he quickly notices a small, blue, bile-covered creature mounted atop a giant centipede on the stairs. It gleefully laughs and says something in a strange language.

The two other ballroom denizens, a fey creature similar to the one you saw outside, and a giant centipede hiss and growl, rearing up to attack!

The sofas, stairs, and chairs (oh my) are difficult terrain. The brown squares are pillars. The creature on the stairs is the one who's mounted atop a giant centipede.

___________

Ballroom Tango, Round 1
Mr. Peppers, D, and Sirettis
Blue centipede, mounted creature
Uesugi and Longjing
Mite
Cup and Gallix

Mr Peppers hears some unpleasantries echo out from the room as Gallix opens the door. "I'm not 100% sure what evil sounds like, but I think that's an accurate representation right there!" So he steps forward and reaches his arm around into the doorway and thwacks Gallix in the back with a bundle of garlic as he says: "The power of Aroden compels you!" Pro Evil on Gallix, 1 minute

"I'll get you soon enough 'Sugi!"

Sirettis enters the ballroom behind the couch.

She tries to knock the green-tinted fey asleep.

Slumber Hex: Will Save DC 15 or fall asleep for 3 rounds.

D. hears the weird speech too, and follows Sirettis into the room, and likewise takes cover behind the couch.

"Bile covered creature, if you'd be so kind to cooperate and drop..."

Sand bullet: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25Impact: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11

Will save, green: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Sirettis heads for cover and hexes the green tinted fey, watching it slump over the polished floor and fall asleep. D blasts the mounted one with a bullet of sand, carving a decent wound across its chest.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
The blue-legged centipede scurries forward to bite Gallix, but the glare from the daylight reflecting off the marble floor hampers its vision.

The mounted creature pushes its centipede steed downstairs and fires at Gallix with its shortbow.
Shortbow, PBS, rapid shot vs FF+PfE+into melee: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 2 + 1 - 4 = 20
Dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Shortbow, PBS, rapid shot vs FF+PfE+into melee: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 + 1 - 4 = 2
Dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Gallix gets a minor gash cut across the shoulder, but the fey-like creature gleefully laughs at his injury all the same.

Uesugi and Longjing are up!

"Rawwwwwwwk! Noble steed, let us slay this blue villain together!"

Bite Aid Another, Uesugi: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

The feathered dragon rushes forward to bite the blue villain. This will provoke.

Aid Another +2, Luck +1

AoO vs dragon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
The squirmy, thousand-legged centipede can't quite reach Longjing with its oozing mouth!

Uesugi is up! The mite is helpless, so Gallix and Cup may also post

Crowd yelling: CDG! CDG!

Uesugi moves past the barbarian as Little Dragon distracts the monstrous centipede. Hurdling over the the couch that is partially blocking the entry into the room he moves forward and draws forth his ever sharp katana cutting across the exposed carapace of the centipede.

katana '2hand'+p.a+little dragon: 1d20 + 7 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 1 + 3 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 3 = 15

Cup remembers that somewhere in Minnesota, Hmm's son is having a birthday party. How she knows this... Well, extra planar knowledge has always been her specialty. She thinks about singing "Happy Birthday dear Duncan, then decided that might be too likely to break the fourth wall, and so far it looks like they want to keep Sarini mansion intact. Maybe she should just do a variation, here?

♫ Happy Coup de Grace to you
Happy Coup de Grace to you,
Happy Coup de Grace, ugly mites
Happy Coup de Grace to you! ♫

Inspire Courage!

Gallix adopts his mobile stance again as the fey creature catches him across the arm with an arrow. He ducks smoothly to his left, away from the door, and delivers a series of jabs toward the centipede. He keeps his hands up defensively, however, as he remembers his old master's lessons.

Swift action to enter Outslug Style, 5ft step, Flurry, Combat Expertise, AC18 (20 with Prot from Evil)
Flurry MCestus, CE, IC: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 1 + 1 = 7 Damage, IC, Outslug: 1d4 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7
Flurry MCestus, CE, IC: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 1 + 1 = 16 Damage, IC, Outslug: 1d4 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7

The blue centipede meets its demise at the hand of the samurai, his blade carving a fatal wound along the length of the creature's body.

Gallix is up for the current round, and Mr. Peppers, D, and Sirettis can act for next round

Oops I've been ninjaed! Redirect that attack to the mounted one, Gallix?

Mr Peppers peeks his head into the room to check for immediate danger, then seeing none, heads in and bounces the garlic laden wand off of Uesugi as he promised. "The power of Aroden compels you!" Prot Evil 1min

Knowledge Check on that rider? Most my checks are +7 bit guessing its planes..

Knowledge: Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Haha! Gotcha! Sorry for the slow weekend. Parents are in town so I haven't been able to get any time for posting.

Not a problem at all. I won't be able to update after about 3pm eastern. I moved you up to the rider, but you'll only be able to take one attack if you take a move action. Let me know if you'd rather do something else.

Gallix swings at the blue-faced rider but the creature ducks down into its mount's waxy body, avoiding the jab.

Mr. Peppers recognizes the rider as a bile-infected fey mite, but this one seems especially vicious, skilled at ranged combat and with a certain affection for vermin.

D & Sirettis are up

Sirettis advances, drawing her light mace. She stops in front of the sleeping mite, and stares at the remaining rider.

Slumber Hex, DC 15 Will Save.

D. quickly moves past the sofa.

Hopefully before Sirettis hexes him, he flings another grain of sand at the rider.

Sand bullet, inspire: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13Pew, inspire: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 6 + 1 = 14

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
D's sand blast flies past the rider and into a marble pillar, splashing the area with rubble. Sirettis stares down the rider mite and coaxes him to sleep.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
I'll need a fort save DC 13 vs poison, Gallix
The fey rider now asleep, its mount crawls out from underneath it for what's likely its last bite at Gallix. Twisting forward, the centipede's bile-covered mouth connects with Gallix's ankle and sinks into his flesh, poison flowing into the wound.

There's one creature left other than the two CDG candidates. Order is Uesugi > Longjing > Cup > Gallix > Mr. Peppers > D > Sirettis, but everyone is up!