To Rule the Razor! (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Swanson

With no charge lane open, Wedjat just protects Nef.

"Step aside Ke'ahilani!" - Reknar roars - "Wake up and let Wedjat charge in!"

Hawani #4 Reflex DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 save, takes 3 points of damage.
Hawani #5 Reflex DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 save, takes 3 points of damage.

Both of the remaining hawanis shrug off the explosive sneeze without too much difficulty.

Round 2: Rata Fenn, 'Lani, Nefertiti, Wedjat, Oren, Reknar, Jacinth, Aikane, Hawanis.

Let me know if you want to move here 'Lani.

Ke' will take a couple of steps out of the way too.

Oren casts Magic Missile at the closest Hiwani, and uses his Pearl of Power to recall the spell.

Damage 3d4 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1, 2) + 3 + 2 = 12

"Screee!"

Powerful Charge: 1d20 + 11 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 3 = 24
Damage: 4d6 + 20 + 3 ⇒ (2, 6, 5, 5) + 20 + 3 = 41

Right Talon: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 3 = 32
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 = 11

Left Talon: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 3 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 3 = 10

Bite: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 3 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 3 = 10

Wedjat charges, shredding the hawani in front of him.

Now let's hope he can survive when the remaining hawanis fight back...

CRACK!I see at least one crit needing confirmation.

And I doubt this hawani will live through that onslaught ;)

Reknar is right...as always :P

Oren slays the hawani on the front line, allowing Wedjat to shred the final hawani into several jagged chunks of flesh.

COMBAT OVER!

"Aaaah, aaaaAAAH,"
Still sneezing, Ke' stumbled over to the double doors and sneezed through them with a jet of colorful fire.
"CHOOO!!"

He snuffled a bit, then nodded.
"Alright, I should be find now. No more sneezing." He said, not entirely satisfied with the power of his fire sneeze.

"Well done everyone!" Jacinth says with an approving look as she scurries clear of Lani's fiery sneezes.

With a bit of organization, we actually make quite the effective team don't we?

"How is everyone? Nef, Lani? You both suffered wounds...are you feeling well, under the circumstances?" she asks, knowing full well the diminishing power of the hawanis' bite.

"I got bit, and my will got sapped." Nef says flatly. "Poor judgment on my part, I was at the wrong place at the wrong time."

"However, I still have the will to see this through," she says grimly. "Shall we go on and kill a demon?"

She pulls out the CLW wand and starts to cure herself.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Ke' sucked down a couple of his potions.
Cure Light wounds potion: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Cure Light wounds potion: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Burping, he grinned and said; "Ready as I'm going to be."

"Done and dusted" - Reknar pipes in - "Smooth as a young girl's bo..." - he seems about to say something, but stops short with a grin - "Never mind" - and proceeds in strip searching the ones they just defeated, and the area beyond them.

Aikane silently glides into the room where the hawani's were. He quickly surveys the room and then does a more detailed examination of the door to the north.

Take 10, Perception of room, 10 + 12 = 22
Perception on door: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 +2 if traps

Oren will scan the area with a Detect Magic once Aikane gives him the all clear signal.

Aikane and Oren examine the room closely nearly gagging at the stench of death in the close confines of the room, but find nothing else in the room.

As you spend time searching the room, you are all morally certain your foe Hawanapoki lurks on the other side of the doors. Spending a few moments preparing yourselves for the final battle, you pull open the doors where a grisly scene awaits you.

Four eight-foot-tall sculpted basalt totems covered with intricately carved runes stand bound to one another with gossamer strands of mithral. These monoliths surround a diamond-shaped pool of disgusting, stagnant water laced with streams of fresh blood. Blood droplets rhythmically fall from the ceiling and splash into the water below. Coins and other personal belongings are heaped into a pile in front of the pool. Crudely drawn images of horrific violence and deviant behavior painted in what appears to be blood cover the surrounding walls.

Half-submerged in the pool lays what can only be Hawanapoki. The statue you saw earlier at the top of the island cannot do it justice. Even gazing on its form causes your stomachs to roil in pain. Even worse is the voice echoing in all of your minds assaulting all of your senses.

"SOOO...YOU HAVE ARRIVED. WELCOME TO YOUR DOOM! ALL OF YOU SHALL PERISH IN UTTER AGONY!"

Round 1: Oren, Jacinth, Reknar, Nefertiti, Hawanapoki, Rata Fenn, Aikane, Wedjat, 'Lani.

Pre-Battle Buffs Before Opening that Door

Nef casts Magic Circle against Evil, centering it on Reknar.

+2 to Party Will Saves and AC if you're within 10 feet of Reknar

She also Inspires Courage and Waves her Flag. "This is it. We need to hit hard and smart. We are doing this not just for us, but for all the others that demon has hurt or sullied: the murdered babies, the traumatized crew of the Dulcimer, Maximilian Sidrow who even in death has shown himself to be an unbowed soul, and our own dead: Butterfly, Kal. Maka and Dirty Pete. The cause is just, and you're the best team I could ask for. Let's slay a demon."

"Cold iron. Use it well and cut him deep." Nef touches her khopesh, and nods to Ke'ahilani, who is now wielding it. "Oh, one more thing. Make your attacks and then leave Wedjat his charge lane!"

Inspire Courage + Flag, +3 to attacks and damage

Nef moves to the back of the room where she can get a good view of the Qlippoth but still be as FAR away as possible.

______________________________________________

Once the Door Opens

"You think us doomed? Let me ENLIGHTEN you otherwise!"

Nef casts Burst of Radiance on the Qlippoth.

Will Save DC 13 or be Blinded. If he makes the Will Save, he is Dazzled, and he still takes all the damage because he is evil. This is evocation, not mind-affecting.

Damage: 5d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 3, 4) = 15

Although Jacinth feels the tension of the moment weighing down on her, she can't help but smile faintly at Nef's words. "Yes. Let's." Before she readies her bow, she digs into her pack and pulls out a small potion. "Every little bit helps," she murmurs as she drinks it down, gagging slightly at the taste.

Potion of False Life: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 temporary hitpoints gained.

As she steals a quick glance at Rata, the elven woman's features settle into a look of determination.

No, no 'last minute' words. I will not let this horror rush what need not be rushed, I will NOT! We will win. Then...then I will speak my heart. And hope that he will speak his, too.

When the doors open wide, Jacinth's eyes lock onto the form of their foe, the damnable creature from the Abyss. Even with her stomach churning at the sight of the creature and at the unholy chamber, she raises her bow. "It is time to do what my foolish ancestors should have done long ago! Halam sahlin!" she cries as she fires.

Attack (Longbow; Inspire Courage, Flag, PB Shot): 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage (Cold Iron Arrow): 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12

She then quickly steps back and to the side to allow room for Wedjat and the others to move into the room even as she reaches for another arrow.

Oren casts Haste, then steps aside. "Go get him, chicken," the Mage says as he makes sure the path was clear for the eagle to take flight.

Remeber your Haste bonuses. I think we will need them!

Immediately before entering Reknar will zap himself with the wand of Shield as usual (with 1 min duration shouldn't be an issue), and also use his Tactician ability, to grant Escape Route to the Team ;)

"And here we are..." - Reknar growls through gritted teeth - "The thing about this being our doom and all" - he speaks at the demon directly - "Is that I can't allow that - these are my people see?" - he smiles - "And if you want to get to them, you'll need to get through me first! And you'll find out just how hard that can be! I wanna see you try!" - he finishes with both a threat and a challenge.

Swift Action: That was my Cavalier Challenge - the effect being +2 to damage, and -2 to AC against it. It means also, for everyone (due to Order of the Dragon), a +1 circumstance bonus on melee attack rolls against the target of his challenge whenever Reknar is threatening the target.

After his words, the seasoned warrior moves forward in a Blur, the bardiche trailing behind him and to his left, held in both hands. It produces a grating noise and a trail of sparks at it drags across the floor, then Reknar lifts it and swings hard diagonally from top left - "Hmpf!" - the man grunts with the effort.

Cold Iron Bardiche Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 4 + 1 + 3 - 2 = 30
Damage if it hits: 1d10 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 3 + 3 + 3 + 2 = 24

CRIT?!: 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 1 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 4 + 1 + 3 - 2 = 22
Additional damage if it crits: 1d10 + 6 + 3 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 25

Oren wastes no time in using his magic to haste the party member's attacks which allows Jacinth to reload and fire another arrow at the foul fiend.

Jacinth may take another attack as she is currently Hasted.

Nefertiti calls on Horus' might to illuminate the dank chamber causing Hawanapoki to keen in agony as the brilliant light had not been shed in here in centuries...

Hawanapoki Will save: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 2 = 31 Hawanapoki is Dazzled for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds.

Reknar glides in and nearly slices the qlippoth into two separate halves. A vertitible geyser of foul black ichor spews from the wound coating the top of the stagnant water in the pool. All of your minds feel the pain of the blow almost as if Reknar had sliced off your arm, which is immediately followed up by a wave of rage equally mixed with fear.

Round 1: Oren, Jacinth (Hasted attack), Reknar, Nefertiti, Hawanapoki, Rata Fenn, Aikane, Wedjat, 'Lani.

Jacinth gasps with amazement as she feels the Haste spell take hold on her, her movements quickening...or was it the world that slowed down? With lightning speed, she loads another arrow and fires off a shot at the demon before moving aside for the others.

Attack (Longbow; Inspire Courage, Flag, PB Shot, Haste): 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 29
Damage (Cold Iron Arrow): 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 6

Is this how humans see the world all the time!? No wonder they always hurry with everything that they do!

Jacinth's arrow flies towards the abomination and for a split second it seems as if you feel a brief sense of...clarity...flooding your thoughts before it is overwhelmed with fury mixed with agony.

As the cold iron tip slides into its 'head' the qlippoth reflexively jerks back slowing the penetration...but not enough to save it. As you all watch in a mix of horror and fascination Hawanapoki seems to swell to a massive size and you wonder whether he has performed some fell magic on you before you realize it is merely your fevered imagination.

You watch the qlippoth's body shudder and convulse before it collapes into the pool, the gushing flow of ichor soon ebbing to a mere trickle and mixing with the already fouled water.

The constant murmering in your minds then ceases and is replaced by a sense of quiet.

COMBAT OVER!

It's only when Nef feels the call of her god in her head that she finally trusts that Hawanapoki is gone.

"I can't hear the demon in my head anymore! We did it! We did it!" With tears in her eyes, she kisses and hugs and swings everyone in reach, starting with Oren and Jacinth and then going to the others. When she reaches Reknar, she leaps into his arms. "We did it, Reknar!"

Reduced wisdom = reduced inhibitions.

Oren allows a smile to cross his lips as he sees the others begin to celebrate. He hadn't quite allowed himself to relax as he again detected for magic, afraid this was simply an illusion he was witnessing. "It can't have been done that quickly. Stay on your toes. Reknar struck deep, but I'm doubting the demon is done just yet."

With a touch of disbelief, Aikane asks "Is it really dead? Dispersed? Gone? I'm not quite sure what the correct term is..."

Shaking his head, he slowly enters the foul chambers to look in the pool searching for any indications of trickery. Could this be a trick of some sort...

He gently pokes at one of the cold iron arrows in the pool.

"That...that is it then? Hawanapoki is dead, gone, banished?" Jacinth whispers, scarcely able to believe her eyes. But then she realizes that the constant buzzing sensation in the back of her mind is gone, replaced with blessed silence.

"At las-ah!" she gasps in surprise as Nef grabs her and swings her around in a victory dance. She laughs, finding her friend's jubilant mood infectious. However, her expression does sober at Oren and Aikane's words. "I no longer feel his presence in my mind, but that does not mean that there are no more dangers to face here," she nods somewhat reluctantly. "Let us finish examining this...chamber. Then perhaps we will be able to celebrate."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

It's only when Nef feels the call of her god in her head that she finally trusts that Hawanapoki is gone.

"I can't hear the demon in my head anymore! We did it! We did it!" With tears in her eyes, she kisses and hugs and swings everyone in reach, starting with Oren and Jacinth and then going to the others"[/b]

As Nefertiti celebrates Reknar stands there, polearm hanging from one hand, staring at the gore that was once Hawanapoki, and suddenly remembers all those they had put down to get here, what their lives might have been before coming here. Regardless of anything else, they had been human, reduced to shells...

He spat on the demon's remains - "Never again bastard"

When she reaches Reknar, she leaps into his arms. "We did it, Reknar!"

Nefertiti's embrace shook him from his stupor, and he turned to regard her - "That we did" - the man replied, a smile creeping into his lips - "That we did!" - he added more forcefully, easily picking her up in the air by the waist - "Aaaaah, what the heck!" - he let out, planting a firm kiss on her lips, then holding her at harms length - "Had to be done!" - the smile turned into a laugh and a wink, as he eased the priestess back on the floor, to join in congratulating the others.

Oren allows a smile to cross his lips as he sees the others begin to celebrate. He hadn't quite allowed himself to relax as he again detected for magic, afraid this was simply an illusion he was witnessing. "It can't have been done that quickly. Stay on your toes. Reknar struck deep, but I'm doubting the demon is done just yet."

"Maybe..." - Reknar replied, his eyes scanning the area, suddenly aware it might not be over yet.

With a touch of disbelief, Aikane asks "Is it really dead? Dispersed? Gone? I'm not quite sure what the correct term is..."

Shaking his head, he slowly enters the foul chambers to look in the pool searching for any indications of trickery. Could this be a trick of some sort...

He gently pokes at one of the cold iron arrows in the pool.

"Be careful" - the warrior warns Ai Kane, as he follows the rogue protectively, looming behind his companion

As some of you celebrate the apparent slaying of the qlippoth, the others stand guard over the body of the proto-demon. Seeing it does not vanish gives you pause yet as the minutes drag by even Oren is convinced the qlippoth is truly no more.

Turning your attention to the contents of the pile Jacinth looks it over and sees in addition to clothing and other personal effects of the former crew of the Dulcimer that she recognizes immediately, she also finds included therein 189 gp, an ivory cameo (50 gp), a bronze and sapphire necklace (100 gp), the Duhamel family signet ring (250 gp), a bronze bracelet (25 gp), and one amethyst (10 gp).

In addition to the crew member's belongings, she finds some items underneath that radiate a magical aura. These include...

Still holding a bomb, Ke' looked darkly at the fallen demon.
That... that was far too easy. He thought.

When the jar of pale amber stuff is found, he eagerly approached to test it.
"Sovereign Glue? Excellent! Although, I think I need to find a solvent for it to be truely useful... He pondered aloud.

Looking up, above the pool, Aikane wonders aloud "Where is the blood coming from, and how do we stop it?"

Gesturing at the mithral strands and the totems, he adds "I don't know magic, but this seems more a profane temple than a cage. It needs to be cleansed!"

Jacinth thinks for a moment and then gazes upward. "From the altar, perhaps? My sense of direction is not as good underground, but it would not surprise me if this room lies directly below it. As for cleansing this room and this entire place, I would agree!"

"That sounds like a plan. We need to cleanse this island completely. No half measures here. I don't know about the rest of you, but I really don't want to come back here in the future and some other demon has taken the temple. Let's explore all of it and then figure out how to Consecrate it."

"I can consecrate the temple tomorrow. I will need to do multiple spells, and several hours of rituals, but I can do it." She turns to Oren. "Can you help me get the blood cleaned up? And is there anyway that you know to dispose of this body or destroy it utterly?"

She pauses. "We also need to take care of our charges and cleanse this island."

"We could always burn it," Oren says, with a mischievous look in his eyes. "I have a couple Fireballs that I could bring to the party and crisp it up nicely. While we decide what to do with the body, what are we going to do about that nasty guardian thing we left behind? Do we need to try and destroy it as well?"

"If Jacinth wants to find the the full answers she's been seeking, then yes. Should we go while the Magic Circle that I cast on Reknar still lasts? Captain, it's up to you." She looks to Jacinth. "Do you want your answers, or do we leave your ancestor's guardian in place?"

"Though it is sentient, would not slaying it be the kindest thing to do, releasing it from an eternity of unlife and service to a 'master' long since dead?" Jacinth replies. "The things that it guards might very well give me insight into my people's history here, though that insight might also be found among those tomes in the other room. At the very least, they may aid us in our survival here until we are rescued or devise some other means of leaving."

Perplexed, Aikane asks "Does it even have an existence beyond guarding that secret room?"

"As for the remains of the demon, maybe it is because of all this..." he says while pointing at the mithral filigree. "Could Fiendbinder have done something that prevents the complete destruction? A magical container to hold a part of it's essence?"

While they are en route to the crypt, Nef asks, "Opu, does the book that you found give us any clue on what Urthlan did with the demon? Maybe we can undo it?"

Did I ever figure out what that book did? I expected it to eat my face, but apparently it didn't.

Before rushing into the next combat, does anyone want to lay claim on any of the items we just found? Aikane could make use of the boots or amulet. Giving the arrows to Jacinth would make sense. I'm not sure if anyone announced what they were.

Still looking over what they had found, Aikane is surprised when Nef turns and starts moving towards the hidden room.

Gesturing towards the items, he asks "Is there anything here that would help us?"

Oren realizes the book does have some magical properties but he would need to study the book for an extended period of time in order to realize the benefits.

Are you guys going after the Crypt thing? If so, then go ahead and state your preparatory actions. I will set up the combat later this evening.

Basically the Bead of Force is about all I'd care for...

The sovereign glue for me!

Yeah, I'd figured that since the Kraken went ahead and told us what each thing is, that we just gathered everything we found into a pile and went from there with identifying the magic items. Jacinth is happy to take the arrows, but there's not really anything else there that she'd be especially bound and determined to have.

OK here we go...

You all prepare yourselves to assault the Crypt thing and after blesing your weapons and casting your spells you feel you will be able to handle it fairly easy.

However...

One thing that worries you is the ability for the undead to teleport its foes. After wracking your brains for a while, Rata Fenn comes up with an elegant solution here. "Why not use Wedjat as a decoy 'ere. Once he....errr...it uses its magic then th' rest of us can take it!"

Nefertiti is skeptical of the idea until reassured by Reknar the teleport won't hurt the eagle. Considering how fast he flies he would be able to rejoin you fairly quickly.

You place your plan into action. Wedjat prepares to charge at the undead. Since the Crypt thing had not seen the Haast Eagle before, it takes the bait and once Wedjat enters the vault he vanishes almost immediately.

The rest of you immediately swarm the undead. Even though its fear aura prevents you from approaching too closely you do manage to overcome that by Nefertiti using her spells to bolster your resistances, Reknar enlarging himself and Aikane flanking it, aloowing you all to pummel it to nothing more than a rotting pile of bones...

...Just in time for Wedjat to fly back to you and watch you mopping up.

After destroying the crypt thing you turn your attention to the treasure in here. You all find:

As far as loot goes, I don't think there is really nothing useful for Reknar - perhaps the mithral shirt as secondary armor... Maybe...

"Well, that takes care of that" - Reknar smiles as they take down the Crypt thing - "I don't think I would feel safe with that thing around anyway"

As the chest is opened, his smile grows wide - "Now this is what I am talking about - about time some gold comes out of all this"

Question about reading scrolls - are they subject to Arcane Spell Failure due to armor?

I derp really hard sometimes when I post late at night or when I'm sleepy. In addition to the arrows, Jacinth would want the +1 elven curved blade and the undead-bane longbow since the blade was made for elves, by elves, and no one else uses a longbow. Otherwise, she's content to let everything else be divvied up according to need/want/best use.

"Indeed," Jacinth pants, the rapid succession of battles in such a short span having left her somewhat winded. "Now that we know rescue will eventually come for certain, it seems that all we have to do now is wait and survive - which should be much, much easier to manage now that we have a proper shelter within this place." She turns to Aikane. "Though I would have appreciated knowing that you arranged a rescue in the event of something happening to our ship just a little sooner, I am glad that you had the foresight to do so. Thank you."

"I suspect we will have plenty to do while we wait for the Quell's Whore to arrive. We will need to go and fetch our charges, as well as Maximilian's remains. There is also the matter of cleaning this place up and consecrating it. Nef, I am not sure what use the rest of us can be on the last point, but we will do what we can to help," she continues, mentally ticking off a list of tasks. "That statue up above should be destroyed as well, if we can manage it; I would love to wipe every trace of that thing's presence from this island."

"Other than that, the expected tasks - hunting, foraging, fishing. Now that we have access to a kitchen, our meals will hopefully become a little more palatable now," she grins. "There may still be some dangers lurking about, but as long as we are vigilant, I suspect we can weather them without too much trouble."

Jacinth hasn't forgotten what Nef said about the Kolohe, but she's still got her doubts as to whether or not they'll show up anytime soon.

Oren admires the wand and the arcane scrolls. "Anyone else able to use these? If not, I'll keep them. They might come in handy while we wait for our boat to come find us. Is there anything else here we need to locate right now? I'm anxious to get back to Jacinth's crew and see how the demon's destruction has affected them. It might be rough on them...they might need us."

With a look of absolute horror, Aikane says "Sleep in here?"

Waving his hands wildly, he proclaims "[b]No, no, no! Out in the jungle, where it is clean! This place still reeks of that abomination!"

Looking towards Nef, he says "I'll even help the bird gather food this time."