GL's Shattered Star.

Game Master Grandlounge

"You see, this one was not a faithful follower. She had the never to say I was an imposter. She admitted to her mistake but at that point, it was too late the wounds were mortal and she perished soon after."

Zeltyeli asks, "I assume this happened recently? Do you mind if I take a look at her corpse, milady? I'm just curious to see if it's the terrible person I think it might be."

"Please feel free to poke around. You are my esteemed guests."

Zeltyieli goes and takes a look at the corpse, trying to determine both if it's the 'competition', and what may have killed her.

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

The body is strangely brittle and dry, and bears obvious signs of torture. The body seems magically drained of energy.

Zeltyieli give me a knowledge planes check, please.

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

Other than the draining being magic, you can't tell much. Maybe the others can if you can pass them the information.

Zeltyeli studies the body, his mind trying to piece together what's happened. Almost without realizing, he speaks this thoughts aloud, "Signs of torture, but that's not what killed her... No, seems ... drained of life essence... somehow... clearly not a natural thing..."

[ooc]Such a time to lack knowledge planes...]/ooc]

Von-Dai listens to Zeltyieli's description of the death and how the body was drained of life essence, and thinks...

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Bad roll, but maybe...

Von, you only have a vague notion there are lots of creatures that can drain life, though the nature of this seems to lean you toward an outsider rather than undead or various monstrosities.

Von-Dai turns to 'Sorshen' and says, "Well, my lady, as your esteemed guests, we would like to withdraw for the evening. I do not think we can adequately serve you until we have rested, and we would be shamed to give inferior service to one as illustrious as you are."

"Do as you please. I will see you in the morning."

We head for the closest rest spot and spend the evening. I assume we do shifts. I'll take mid so the casters can have uninterrupted sleep.

Yup, will certainly have some guarding of the campsite. Ok, given what we know/expect, any spells people think Zel should prep?

Something that can counter/heal energy drain, if you can, and probably some mind control protection like Protection from Evil or Magic Circle Against Evil. If we stay together Magic Circle works, but the possibility of AoE attacks means we may want to spread out (or enemy movement may force the issue. Prayer would probably be helpful. I'm mostly loading up buffs, since I anticipate a flying enemy and I've skewed rather heavily towards ground-based battlefield control in spell selection, but I'll have some direct damage spells and a glitterdust prepped. I'll also have a Dispel Magic prepped, so I can either take out a buff on her or ready a turn to counterspell, if she's casting a lot.

Death Ward doesn't come until we make 7th, so that's less than ideal. I can grab a communal ProtEvil at 2, and prayer is always helpful. I have Fly as a domain spell, so I can get one of us airborne, and I could grab an invisibility purge just in case. And if it's for protection, communal delay poison is hard to beat -- but I'm also thinking some spiritual weapon or similar would be useful -- I debated straight summons (I love me a lantern archon), but they're way too easy to squish.

I have 2 fly spells prepared, so we can all get airborne. I also have see invisibility prepped. Spiritual weapon would be useful, since it's force damage and you can maintain it.

When the spells are set, initiate conversation. Sorshen will be milling about her room. I will take a new set of knowledge planes checks for today too.

Kn(Planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

So what spells are we going to pre-buff?

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

EDIT: Mage armor and see invisibility for me, darkvision for all three of us at wake up. Prior to going up the stairs, fly, communal delay poison, and communal protection from evil for all three of us, and bull's strength and align weapon for Marcus.

I'll throw in a Bless for good measure.

Prep work done, the party heads in. Marcus will take point. He will approach the 'Sorshen' to about 10, and begin to speak.

"Now that we are rested, we are ready to hear of your grand plans for the future and how we fit in. " and once she starts talking, he'll take the whip to her.

You know that the type of feeding you saw yesterday is done by an alu-demon. Based on the magic you have witnessed here so far, she must be capable of some kind of arcane magic. You know that it has normal demon traits: DR cold iron or good; Immune electricity, poison; Resist acid, cold, fire; SR and it likely prefers enchantment magics.

Importantly you know she is a vain and likely crazy creature. If you can shake her resolve that she is Sorshen she will be much easier to defeat or negotiate with.

"Welcome. I'm excited for my lovely new devotees to return to me so fresh and full of vigour. Well, I would like to leave here so that I can reclaim my role as ruler and restore my full power." She pauses to give you time to respond.

I'm not really capable of trying to talk her into such a state since I imagine it takes some skill checks and I lack all verbal interaction skills unless she counts as an animal. One should never assume the fighter is the face man. My inclination is to beat her down with a surprise attack to start.

Zeltyieli blinks. "Can't imagine that the mighty Sorshen would require the assistance of mites like us to leave here.... And she certainly wouldn't be trying to feed from us like some sort of would-be succubus."

Should I be rolling diplomacy -- given that I'm kind of trying to do the opposite of that?

Diplomacy, Intimidate, Bluff are all fine. Anything else can work if you can justify it.

"Indeed. Sorshen was one of the most powerful wizards who ever lived. I cannot see what could bind her here. However, she easily could have bound someone else here. I suspect you are no Sorshen. You are merely a creature she bound to this place, gone mad with delusions of importance. Well, we can free your bindings. Your death will surely bring about your freedom, after all."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Diplomacy (Aid): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

I guess I add to mouthing off.

aid another: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

The creature staggers back. Catching her weight on a desk and shaking her head. But you can sense frustration growing.

You believe that you have a moment to continue to press her, though if left long enough to comport herself, she may attack.

More aid another.

1d20 ⇒ 16

"Yeah, you really fail to impress.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Zeltyieli says, "You wear her face, but lack her presence and power. Like a child dressed in her mother's gown."

"Indeed, had that Grey Maiden crossed the true Sorshen, I doubt there would have been a corpse left, let alone one that was simply drained of her life force. You are merely an alu-demon, bound here by Sorshen for some reason only she knew. You are no Runelord."

Diplomacy, Aid Zel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

With this last barb she begins to real. Sweeping everything off her deck, slamming her fist into the wall and tearing portraits of herself off the wall, her rage in near peak.

One more check if it is diplomacy, it has to be led by Marcus. If you want to use another skill, anyone can roll it. Be creative.

Also, roll a heal check to figure try and figure out how this is effecting her.

Someone else pick something, I'm just a d20.

I am 1d20-1 on any other face skill.

Heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

He said be creative, Von-Dai. Maybe slam her with knowledge?

"Yes, Sorshen would be unlikely to be bound here. But a lowly alu-demon? Sorshen herself probably bound you here as a servant - or was it prisoner? As we entered from the lower levels, we did find a broken obsidian shell. She trapped you in there didn't she, after you did something to displease he? And after your escape, you thought you'd impersonate her since she wasn't around. But then you realized you were trapped here, bound by Sorshen's magic, unable to escape."

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Just realized, I'm wrong. I have good intimidate. "

"You do realize there will be consequences if Sorshen does come back and finds an imposter?"

intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

The description of the magic is not enough to shake her confidence however, the collection of the previous barbs has left the creature open to intimidation. Zel notices that she is shaken and weakened (1 negative level).

Marcus, knowingly or unknowingly comes in with the perfect tactic to capitalize on her fear and self-doubt.

The creature looks at her hand as they start to change. The sudden realization that she has diluted herself for years comes crashing down on her. Zel knows she has taken another negative level for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 rounds and is staggered for three rounds.

The beautiful, dazed, six-foot-three demon struggles to compose herself.

The Bold May Act:
Alu-demon
Marcus
Von
Zel

Marcus will do his normal whip thing.
5' step to close to 15' and attack.

power attack
to hit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32 damage: 1d3 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 damage: 1d3 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

confirm: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 damage: 1d3 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

I considered waiting for Von in case he was going to use haste to open, but he might have a different spell in mind. Given there's only one martial here, haste isn't as leveraged.

Zeltyieli quickly casts a spell, creating a magical chain of force which tries to wrap itself around the demon, entangling her.

Chain of Perdition (Dirty Trick, Entangle): 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 3 = 25

I was going to open with Haste. More attacks for you = more chances to crit. However, since she's staggered...

Von-Dai sees an opportunity in the not-Sorshen's stance and casts a spell of grease under the alu-demon's feet, trying to make her fall to the ground.

grease, DC 18 Reflex or she falls prone. If that works, she'll have to take her action on the first round to stand up.

Marcus quickly lashes out with his whip, landing two hits, narrowly missing a vital location. Zel calls down a blessing to restrain the creature, which entangles the creature.

Ref: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Not to be outdone, Von coats the gown in grease, causing the demon to topple, landing with a splash in the viscous fluid.

The creature stands up, damaged and bloody (provoking) (she can not fail the Acrobacts check).

Everyone may act!

Von-Dai decides to weaken the creature, and casts a spell that fired a purplish ray at it to sap its strength.

Cast ray of enfeeblement

Ray of Enfeeblement vs touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Strength Damage (if successful): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

If that hits and gets through SR, it's a DC 16 Fort save to halve the Strength damage. The Strength damage lasts 6 rounds.

Marcus will continue to flay the demon with his lash.

power attack
to hit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 damage: 1d3 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

to hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 damage: 1d3 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 damage: 1d3 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Zeltiyeli conjures another weapon of pure force to attack the Sorshen wannabe.

Chain of Perdition (Dirty Trick, Blind): 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 3 = 20

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 3 = 15 for 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Von's ray blasts wide. But, reading the woman's movements, Marus scores a tremendous hit. Zel is unable to capitalize on the creature's weakness.

Cast Defensively: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

She casts a spell Von, Marcus, and Zel. Will save against confusion, please. DC 20. If you fail, roll your d100 on your turn and act accordingly.