When presented with something weird, just blame the Thassilonians/Azlanti.
Leofric pauses to catch his breath. "That was a pretty good workout" he comments to himself before pondering his next few words. "At the very least we've found the bodies that were buried outside. Maybe they took advantage of something that already existed. Who cares at this point? WE can do research later; right now we still have a murderer to catch."
As you move through the tombsyou start to approach a door. Unfortunately no one notices a magical trap on the gorund, and a loud explosion of sonic energy explodes, causing some damage to those in the front and undoubtedly warning anything in the next room if the wight scream didn't already.
Sonic Damage:2d8 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8
Ingrge, Aryxix, Lefric: Reflex 15 for half.
After the dust settles, you can make other preparations before you open the door. I assume Ingrge falls back at the door instead of leading the way still.
Out of the corner of his eye, Leofric notices.... Something. Whatever it is, he can only leap to the side to avoid it; whatever warning he would utter is lost in the cacophony that follows.
"GODS ON HIGH" he curses, looking to the others to check on them from where he is rising.
Who does it appear you are activating the wand for Sheela?
Who does it appear you are activating the wand for Sheela?
I was preparing it for all of you who were injured by the trap. Sorry, I was rolling CLW checks before you resolved the Reflex Saves. One usage for each of you will heal the damage you took.
Leofric, upon feeling Sheela's healing magic, nods stoically. "Thanks." He looks back at his companions, hoping that they are in position, and then back at the door the trap was guarding. He cracks his knuckles and growls: "Alright. Showtime."
No one is seriously hurt by the magical trap, and Sheela uses a wand to heal the wounds they did take.
@Aryxis: I'll say 2 minutes are up so far after you all get healed and open the door, so you have 2 more left.
You open the door and take in the scene of the next room. Whatever purpose this vaulted, brick-lined chamber may have once served, today it is obviously the inner sanctum of some depraved cult. Unnerving, spiky runes have been painted on the brick walls with blood, between which dozens of mutilated birds—gulls, falcons, ravens, and a particularly large number of doves—have been impaled. The foul stink of rotting meat emanates from these grisly trophies. Opposite the only visible entrance, a jagged boulder with a bloodstained cloth draped over it serves as an altar, several fly-covered, foul-smelling lumps of meat siting atop it. The wall just beyond the altar has been painted to depict a single curved white feather sitting in a pool of blood. To either side of this symbol yawn archways set with barred doors, turning the alcoves beyond into prison cells. The eastern cell’s door hangs ajar, but deep shadows obscure what might be found in either cell.
The murderer you tracked here is kneeling behind the demonic altar. She stands as you enter, her eyes dark with fury at the intrusion.
The altar is high enough to provide normal cover and you can't be in its spaces. The pews probably obstruct a charge but wouldn't make difficult terrain.
Round 1: Bold can go (Leofirc, Claudia, Ingrge, Syllyn)
Leofric
Claudia
Ingrge (shield 20 rounds)
Syllyn
Zadendi
Sheela
Aryxis
@Aryxis: +4 init wouldn't help anyway, so you can keep your spell up. Also I realize I marked your shield duration in Ingrge's row, so will fix that in next round's post.
Leofric, seeing his grippli companion moving on up, rushes between the rows of pews, drawing his longbow. "I'd ask for you to surrender. But that would assume that I believe you want to surrender" he says evilly, before letting an arrow loose.
The icon for the assassin in not behind the alter and it looks like Claudia hopped right past her as did Leo. The assassin is the one outlined in red, right? So I'm confused. Where exactly is she? If she is close enough Syllyn will rage and engage, if not he will advance and cast.
@Syllyn: yeah sorry I was about to mistakenly skip you and got a phone call before I could finish skipping you! So you do get your turn while the enemy is behind the altar.
Fort Save:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
The killer takes all three hits and shrugs off the worst effects of Syllyn's spell, taking half damage. She looks really rough now.
With too many enemies closing in and near death herself, she angrily blasts a ray of searing light at the nearest enemy, Leofric.
Leofric stomps his feet in anticipation. "Choo choo lady."
Overrun (as part of movement per Bullette Style):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 Damage:1d8 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
He scampers around the corner, dives for her legs only to emerge back up as she buckles under the blow, spinning around to punch her in the back of the head, a rabid grin on his face.
The party's nonlethal attacks mostly miss their mark, but Leofric is able to trample and put the killing blow on the priestess of the demon Shax.
As you start to look around, you notice a figure behind the bars in the small chamber south of you, wide-eyed in disbelief.
"Lady of Light! Am I really saved? Please strangers, tell me you are here to help... I've been in here so long, seen so many terrible things these cultists have done."
The man is dressed in very ragged robes marking him as a follower of Sarenrae. He looks like he has been here for weeks, injured and abused by his captors. The spark of hope in his eyes belies pain in his arm and face.
This desecrated chamber was once probably a store room, and the small side closet the priest resides in transformed into a small cell, complete with bars and a lock.
"She lived crazy and died foolishly." Sheela giggles. Upon hearing the priest, she bounds over to his cage. "Yes, we came here to stop the killings. I got a dagger to the back because she thought I was a Sarenrite." She shrugs.
Diplomacy:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
"I did get a key from her. Let's see if it works here. Please, let me heal some of your physical injuries."
If there is a keyhole to the barred gate, Sheela will use the priestess's key on it. Either way, she will try to heal the priest's immediate injuries, through the gate if needed.
With Syllyn's offer of peaceful surrender cut short by the violent intervention of the puffing barbarian, he turns his attention to the mysterious survivor.
"Who are you and how did you get here. I didn't know these folks were into abduction as well as murder, though it does not surprise me. They must have kept you alive for a reason because they sure haven't bothered to spare anyone else's life. Surely you know why?"
The key Sheela took earlier does open this lock. The ragged tortured man manages a brief smile at Sheela's healing before answering the questions. "Thank you for the aid my dear. I'm Lex - Lex Avai. I was on my way in to Magnimar when she and two of her partners captured me on the road outside town. That one was in charge I think - she said she was saving me for last. I'm sure she meant to take my own heart fresh to finish some ritual. I've been here for days, before they started stockpiling those grotesque trophies." He points to the human hearts sitting atop the altar, reeking from an array of days worth of rot.
He stands, wincing, and takes a few steps out of the cell. "Is it really over? Did you already deal with her friends?"
"Let it be known, the only person who will break your heart is an ex lover." Sheela smiles. "Only one of the three fools have been dealt with, though. What do the others look like?"
Leofric lets go of his anger, panting slightly after the exertion. Casually, he inspects the prisoner as he steps over her neck to ensure she does not come back. "So, last lamb to the slaughter; what makes you so special she'd sacrifice you last?" He looks behind him, to the barred door besides Syllyn, shrugs and goes over to open it and look about within.
Sorry for the hiatus everyone. I'm back and ready to get going, but won't be pushy if anyone else is still up to holiday hijinx.
GM stuff:
SM A:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 SM C:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
SM I = 6
SM L:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20 SM Sh:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20 SM Sy:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16 Bluff:1d20 + 22 ⇒ (3) + 22 = 25 Perc A:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 Perc L:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
The Sarenrite Lex describes the other cultists he has seen coming and going. "One of the others is a burly half orc, a very shady looking character with an eye-patch. The other one seems to be one of the town guard - but I don't know if it's just a disguise or a traitor. As for why I was chosen to sacrifice last, I do not know the answer. All I can say is that they performed a ritual, my own blood some part of it, and what I think was the next day the hearts started being delivered, always by that woman you just felled."
Aryxis and Leofric examine the northern alcove across from the cell. There is no lock on the door, and rather than a cell it appears like normal sleeping quarters with a bedroll, a few personal supplies, and a used chamber pot. Aryxis spots a loose stone - a likely spot to hide some valuables.
But before the occultist has a chance to investigate further, Lex Avai swings his arm at the unsuspecting sorceress who let him out, but somehow catches nothing but air.
Round 1
Lex mutters a demonic languaged curse in a very different and feminine voice, then starts to laugh as he/she vanishes just as the party begins to get their bearings that a new foe is present. The sound of laughing is cut off as the priest(?) disappears.
Round 1: Party is up
Lex? (vanished at '?' spot)
Leofric (post-rage fatigue is already over)
Ingrge
Syllyn
Sheela
Aryxis (14 rounds of shield)
Claudia
When Sheela casts Glitterdust, nothing is revealed, nor did she take any hit when she moved. Apparently the Lex-thing is not at those locations anymore.
None of the party who has moved has encountered any invisible obstruction, and Aryxis's enhanced vision cannot see anything new. No one has been able to detect any sign of where the enemy is yet.
Round 1 continued: Bold can go
Lex? (vanished at '?' spot)
Leofric (post-rage fatigue is already over)
Ingrge
Syllyn
Sheela
*Move Only* Aryxis (14 rounds of shield, see invis)
Claudia
Leofric moves on towards the exit, next to Syllyn. "It wants us to be apart so it can pick us off one at a time. Stay close together. Check the cell, make sure there is nothing left in there." He grits his teeth, thinking to himself: "We better hope it doesn't fly, because otherwise its all on Ingrge."
