Eyes of the Ten 2019 --- GM Xavier Kahlvet (Inactive)

Game Master KingTreyIII

Sahess chops into the hound, and Xerazrix steps over and unleashes a giant cone of frigidity! Blue cone

Pretty sure Arnaut is caught in it but has cover from it—someone correct me if I’m wrong.

The hounds’ tactics are to try and flank the party, but it also says that they adjust their tactics as Xerazrix instructs them to, and he has telepathy, so….yeah.

The Red warhound steps to the east and breathes out a smaller cone of frigidity! Red Cone

Green then rushes over to the door and lets out its own cone of frigidity! Green Cone; gonna say that that little part of the wall by the doorway doesn’t provide cover, basically treating the door as going from corner to corner.

Sorry about the really messy battlefield, guys…

Arnaut’s player asked me to bot him, but all things considered I’m going to ignore the instructions given to me for obvious reasons: Arnaut, seeing the Zhu-Li-cicle next to him, uses his gloves to bring her back to life!

Breath of Life: 5d8 + 9 ⇒ (7, 4, 2, 1, 7) + 9 = 30

He then starts inspiring courage and steps to the side.

Sahess’s profile says she gets Cold Resistance 2 while raging, so that’s the assumption I’m using; correct me if I’m wrong. Damage below is the damage after such resistances have been applied.

EDIT: Forgot about Fly checks from Sahess!

Fly less than half speed; DC 10: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) - 1 + 2 = 12

Not lose 10’ of altitude from being attacked; DC 10: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) - 1 + 2 = 20

Not lose 10’ of altitude from being attacked; DC 10: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) - 1 + 2 = 18

EDIT 2: I FORGOT ABOUT GOOD HOPE! Should be accurate now. Sorry, guys!

Hell Freezes Over
Round 1
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope
===================
Xerazrix
Sahess (-36)
Hounds (Red: -40)
Zhu Li (-69; prone)
Arnaut (-58)
Jordan (-58)
Rysus Soth
===================

Because I'm lazy.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 1
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope
===================
Xerazrix
Sahess (-36)
Hounds (Red: -40)
Zhu Li (-69; prone)
Arnaut (-58)
Jordan (-58)
Rysus Soth
===================

Why does this always happen?

"Listen. Xerazrix, our business is not with you. Call of your forces by order of Zarta Dralneen."

And, well, after a heel click to activate the brand new boots of speed and a five foot step, Full attack to the red hound. If it dies, shift to the green.

Effects listed above are active, as well as clustered shots.

"Manyshot: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 41
Damage: 2d6 + 2d6 + 18 + 18 ⇒ (4, 2) + (2, 4) + 18 + 18 = 48"

"Rapid shot: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (5, 1) + 18 = 24"

"Haste shot: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (2, 6) + 18 = 26"

"Iterative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (3, 1) + 18 = 22"

Because of cover only the Manyshot and the Haste Shot actually hit.

”Meep!”

Rysus Who, for clarity, stood up when the door opened, so he wasn’t prone when combat started gets a running start as he jumps to the edge of the room and cowers there in the fetal position.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28

Xerazrix snaps his fingers as a cylinder of ice and hail manifests on top of the group of adventurers outside of the room. Blue Radius

Bludgeoning Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 3) = 15
Cold Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7

The creature then takes a step back

Hell Freezes Over
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Greatness, Good Hope
===================
Xerazrix
Sahess (-36)
Hounds (Red: -106)
Zhu Li (-91; unconscious)
Arnaut (-80)
Jordan (-80)
Rysus Soth
===================

GM, did Zhu want to use inspiration for the second cone attack? My guess would be yes - she hasn't shown any obvious suicidal tendencies, and that is a class feature meant to be used.

Botting Zhu's Inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 5

That would have her taking only 80 damage from all three cones, leaving her conscious and standing (so she could take a turn). Inspire Greatness will add 13 temporary hitpoints, and Arnaut would use his wand of CLW on the nearly-dead investigator before moving - which would keep her (barely) conscious through the ice storm (I'm assuming the ice devil would re-aim the spell to still catch the same targets for the ease of retconning). That, of course, is assuming Zhu doesn't use any restorative actions of her own.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

I know that Seeker-level scenarios (especially Seeker-level scenarios that constantly break the rules) take a lot of time to run, but perhaps we should pause this encounter and talk about rules we might set for the GM regarding things like rerolls, inspiration, and other "reactive" things. I understand that we need to keep things moving in a PbP, and I trust your judgement as a friend, but you're taking on the responsibility of knowing all the characters' profiles as well as all the opponents' - and I think that might be more than we should ask you to do. Can we discuss and perhaps apply some slight retcons?

Alright. Gonna take things step by step for clarity’s sake:

Jordan casts Good hope and gravity bow as well as mirror image.

Sahess casts shield.

Arnaut casts displacement on Sahess.

Zhu Li casts shield on herself and universal formula for a communal resist energy, giving cold resistance 30 to the whole party.

The door is opened and Initiative is rolled. Xerazrix readies a cone of cold once a PC attacks.

Sahess attacks Red...

...which causes Xerazrix’s readied action to go off.

Red breathes on the party, followed by Green moving to do the same.

At this point it’s Red at -40 and Zhu Li at -21

Jordan then full-attacks Red.

Zhu Li’s turn comes (we’ll pretend that she delayed since Xerazrix went after).

Arnaut likely would’ve cast haste on the party, started inspiring courage, and move to where he is now.

Rysus cowers in the corner.

Xerazrix casts ice storm.

Which brings us to now! If anyone sees something wrong or objects to anything else, then speak up.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-36)
Sahess
Hounds (Red: -106)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Laziness.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-36)
Sahess
Hounds (Red: -106)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Sahess reminds the world that you can't spell slaughter without laughter, swinging her blade in manic glee, reveling in the destruction.

Attack: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (10) + 31 = 41
Damage: 2d6 + 30 ⇒ (1, 2) + 30 = 33

Attack: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (7) + 28 = 35 Haste, -PA
Damage: 2d6 + 30 ⇒ (3, 3) + 30 = 36

Attack: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27 Iterative, -PA
Damage: 2d6 + 30 ⇒ (5, 5) + 30 = 40

The sheer number of spells on her make the swings look easy, but it is certain that the muscles and rage are also contributing their part.

Sahess Fly to hover; DC 15: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) - 1 + 2 = 20

With a pained howl the Red hound falls to the floor and shatters into a million icy pieces. Sahess I assume “steps” over to continue her attack upon the other hound.

Fly to move less than half speed; DC 10: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) - 1 + 2 = 17

And the hound growls as its flesh is torn from its body, but standing it still is.

EDIT: Question for Sahess: How high above the ground are you flying?

Hell Freezes Over
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-36)
Sahess
Hound (-76)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Zhu Li examines the target carefully as she enters the room, drawing her rapier as she does so. "Ich gebe dir eine Chance zu verhandeln. Die Gräfin Zarta Dralneen hat mich gebeten, Sie nicht zu töten, aber ich würde mein Leben oder meine Kameraden nicht riskieren, um Ihr Leben zu schonen."

Know Planes: 1d20 + 1d6 + 26 ⇒ (14) + (5) + 26 = 45

Xerazrix looks at Zhu Li, its faceted eyes piercing straight through the woman.

"Sahess, let me cast a spell on your weapon."

When Zhu Li speaks, the remaining hound reaches out and snaps at the woman!

Green vs Zhu Li: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36
Damage: 2d6 + 12 ⇒ (4, 4) + 12 = 20 Not gonna bother with the Cold damage attached to their bites at this point.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess
Hound (-76)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Knowledge (planes): 10 + 17 + 2 = 29

”Oh, well why didn’t you say so in the first place!” Arnaut says with a grin. Sliding over next to Jordan, he sings a strangely calming tune that haunts the devil and dog.

Caster Level vs Devil SR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Caster Level vs Dog SR: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Maintain performance, move action, standard to cast serenity (Will 25). On mobile - can someone move the token?

Oh yeah - missed that earlier.
Perception: 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 24 + 2 = 34

”Why, if it isn’t the proud Master Eddington Keel himself! You’ve gotten a new haircut since I last saw you. Must say, I think I preferred the old one.”

Ooh! That’s a spell I’ve never heard of!

Xeraxzrix Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Warhound Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 SR wasn’t needed for the warhound, btw.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 2
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess
Hound (-76)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

I was presuming I only flew for movement then landed first round, though I understand that would negate some of my attacks second round.

So you couldn't have taken a 5-foot step after killing the Red hound? Well, you could've, but that'd required you to have flown again (not that that has been a problem thus far).

"Arnaut, Sahess, don't kill the devil. Zarta Dralneen said so. Thought now was a good time to let ya know. Let Zhu Li talk to it for a bit, first. Gods know I can't."

Full attack from same location.

"Manyshot: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36
Damage: 2d6 + 2d6 + 18 + 18 ⇒ (1, 4) + (4, 4) + 18 + 18 = 49"

"Rapid shot: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 3) + 18 = 22"

"Haste shot: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (3, 3) + 18 = 24"

"Iterative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (1, 6) + 18 = 25"

"Crit confirm: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (2, 5) + 18 = 25"

Moved Arnaut.

With Jordan’s second shot the hound howls and falls to the ground, shattering into a million pieces.

Rysus continues to cower.

Xerazrix flies over to the other side of the room, still floating five feet above the icy ground. It floats with its spear at the ready.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 3
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix (readied)
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

"Oh?" Arnaut replies with an arched eyebrow. "And Zarta knew there would be a devil here? Or she just asked you to spare the lives of any devils we happen to come across? One might wonder if the paracountess has an agenda outside the guidelines of the Society." He steps forward, clears his throat, lubricates his fingers with a bit of butter from his pouch, and warns the ice devil, "Careful - everything's so slick in here!"

Maintain performance, move (not 5 ft due to difficult terrain), and cast grease (Reflex 20) on the devil's spear.

Xerazrix Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

Jordan delays. No sense failing the faction mission if we don't have to.

"I guarantee Zarta has something else going on. Did you see what we did just the other day? For now, just.....try not to kill it....I guess." Jordan makes no effort in hiding the discomfort in that last statement.

Botting Zhu

Never breaking eye contact with the devil, Zhu walks deliberately across the ice to Sahess and recites a spell from the parchment in her hands as if having already memorized it and merely using the scroll for dramatic effect. "Finish it," she says, words colder than the ice around her.

Zhu automatically makes the DC 21 check to activate the scroll
UMD to Emulate Ability Score vs DC 11: 1d20 + 23 - 15 ⇒ (8) + 23 - 15 = 16

Per Zhu's last post, casting bless weapon on Sahess's sword. Jordan, perhaps this would bring you out of delay?

Suddenly Xerazrix casts a spell as the ice covering the room morphs to form a 15’ radius hemisphere of ice to contain both Zhu Li and Sahess! Blue radius

I'll be honest, that wasn't the trigger I had initially set, but because I didn't notice Arnaut's position the trigger that I did have was literally impossible, and because this devil would be smarter than me I changed the trigger for the readied action partway through. The end result was in your guys' favor; you can burn me in effigy later.

Actually, it just occurred to me that Arnaut moved to his current position after Xerazrix's turn, so the original trigger (to cast wall of ice if he can trap at least one of his foes without allowing a Reflex save for the spell) is still valid and I'm just a fool without foresight. Xerazrix is still "readying," but his turn basically got wasted. Same end result for you guys, just mostly thinking out loud at my end.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 3
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15) {Delayed?}
Rysus Soth
==================

Sahess flies, ignoring the ground in between, and slashes at the beast, landing afterwards. In the event a wall of ice is created mid-flight, she'll detour around it.

Attack: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (10) + 31 = 41
Damage: 4d6 + 30 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 4) + 30 + (2, 6) = 48 Vital Strike

Sahess Fly to move less than half speed; DC 10: 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) - 1 + 2 = 21

By the way, Sahess, where did that last 2d6 come from? Bless weapon doesn’t make your weapon Holy, it just makes your weapon good-aligned.
Xerazrix AoO vs Sahess w/Higher Ground: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 21 + 1 - 4 = 37
Damage: 2d6 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 + 12 = 27
Sahess Fort: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

Gonna assume that Jordan doesn’t come out of delay because….I’m impatient.

Rysus finally manages to grow a pair and jumps up onto the bed, pulling out a bow as he does so.

”Enough, Xerazrix! I have fulfilled my end of our contract; I demand you unbind me from our deal!”

Rysus vs Xerazrix: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 1 - 4 = 28

The arrow pings off of Xerazrix’s hide and flies off into the air, leaving the man completely dumbfounded.

”Uh….mercy?”

Xerazrix turns from the Varisian and looks at Sahess, the air around the devil dropping several degrees as it lashes out against the woman!

Sahess Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Gonna wait to see if you’d like to use your folio reroll (assuming you have one) before I tell you the results.

The devil floats back, out of Sahess’s reach.

EDIT: Forgot about something:
Xerazrix Fly to Hover; DC 15: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Hell Freezes Over
Round 4
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess (-27)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Botting Sahess's displacement miss chance

Miss chance, Sahess = 1: 1d2 ⇒ 2 (Looks like the AoO missed)

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (10) + 40 = 50

"Hush dear," Arnaut says with barely a glance at the man on the bed. "Can't you see the Lady Sahess is speaking?" His song finishes its chorus triumphantly, but the silence lasts only a moment before he begins the second stanza of one of the Drunken God's favorite drinking songs.

Standard action to cast heroic finale on Sahess, then move action to start performance again. Sahess, you can take an extra move or standard action in your next post.

I'd prefer not to use my folio reroll just yet. Much as I may regret that momentarily. And yep sorry, bless not holy. I got confused there, that was the extra 2d6.

Botting Sahess's displacement miss chance

Miss chance, Sahess = 1: 1d2 ⇒ 2 (Looks like the AoO missed)

I swear, displacement is the one spell I consistently forget about and it always screws the enemy’s good rolls.

I'd prefer not to use my folio reroll just yet. Much as I may regret that momentarily. And yep sorry, bless not holy. I got confused there, that was the extra 2d6.

Talked to Arnaut’s player and he said he’d cast saving finale after knowing that Sahess failed that save; Arnaut, please redo your turn.

Sahess Will Reroll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Sahess is shaken for 1 round.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 4
Field Effects: Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix (-40)
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess (shaken)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

So he's a 5-foot-fly away?

Arnaut starts the second stanza (this one just happening to mention Cayden Cailean and his tipsy efforts to de-pants a denizen of Hell) of his song, then turns to the man on the bed. "You're not ready to take such a foe - perhaps you should find someplace safe?" he suggests gently. "Such as under the bed?"

Move action to restart Inspire Courage +4, then standard to cast suggestion (Will 23).

So he's a 5-foot-fly away?

15’ ceilings, 10’ creature, flying 5’ above the ground. He flew laterally 5’ with no change in altitude. So technically he’s a five-foot step (not Fly) away, you just can’t take one because of the terrain.

Rysus Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 And no, he doesn’t take a penalty for that being a “reasonable suggestion.”

Rysus shakes off Arnauts words and scowls at him.

”I’ve already got this thing in my head! Don’t try to make room!”

Hell Freezes Over
Round 4
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix (-40)
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess (shaken)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Sahess doesn't seem to mind the ice. She steps forward (move action) and strikes once more at the heinous foe! "DIE YOU CREATURE! DIE!"

Attack: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (18) + 29 = 47Shaken.
I auto-crit due to bless, and with shaken I'll end rage for max 92 damage.6d6+56

"Leave this place and never return, for should you even go back to Hell, there I will find you and I will make you suffer as I did your brethren the last time I was dragged there! Your kind has yet to pronounce the word that you will speak when you rue the name of SAHESSRALA LYRUHE!"

Minor retcon: Rysus doesn’t actually shoot Xerazrix; he just gets on the bed and pulls out his bow. I forgot that he’s effectively staggered this round.

Xerazrix AoO w/Higher Ground: 1d20 + 21 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 21 + 1 - 4 = 29
Damage: 2d6 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (6, 2) + 10 + 12 = 30
Miss Chance (miss on a 1): 1d2 ⇒ 2

Sahess manages to chop off half of Xerazrix’s tail, causing a crack in the beast’s previously-unwaveringly deadpan façade as it grunts in pain! Xerazrix, however, is still “standing.”

Hell Freezes Over
Round 4
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix (-132)
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess (shaken)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

"Zhu Li....he doesnt' seem to be stopping. Zarta's gonna be pissed. I don't have non-lethal arrows, and I'm not about to just...die."

Regular attack against the devil after a move action (all diagonal to the upper left) to enter the room.

"Regular shot: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (13) + 25 = 38
Damage: 2d6 + 18 ⇒ (6, 5) + 18 = 29"

Jordan's arrow hits the devil square in the jaw mandible forgot my anatomical correctedness for a second there, but Jordan feels like not all of his damage went through.

Hell Freezes Over
Round 4
Field Effects: Inspire Courage +4, Good Hope, Haste
===================
Xerazrix (-161 [Before DR])
Zhu Li (-56)
Sahess (shaken)
Arnaut (-15)
Jordan (-15)
Rysus Soth
==================

Zhu Li pulls out a wand and activates it, tapping herself.Automatic success!

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

While she does, she examines the ice devil carefully, picking out possible weak points.

Kirin Study: 1d20 + 26 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 26 + (5) = 47

"Zarta can be mad. Working with devils makes my skin crawl, anyway," she practically spits as she analyzes her opponent. "Traitorous blighters one and all, who'd cut off their noses to spite their own face."

Zhu Li Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 12 + (6) = 38

Rysus suddenly glares at Zhu Li as he drops his bow and rushes to the edge of the bed as he pulls out a very familiar dagger. He kicks off the bed frame and soars through the air toward the woman!

Rysus Acrobatics: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31

Back-wielding the dagger he slices at Zhu Li’s neck—the Pathfinder, however, did not buy his ruse and moves out of the way of the dagger’s original target as in, she’s not flat-footed.

Rysus vs Zhu Li: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (6, 1) + 2 = 12

But misses horribly!

Xerazrix Fly to Hover; DC 15: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Xerazrix, horribly wounded and bleeding, flies five feet 5’ “step” away from Sahess and glows with magic before completely vanishing! His token is currently in the last place y’all saw him.

Rysus stares flabbergasted at Where Xerazrix once was.

”Wait...if he’s gone then...”

Rysus slowly moves to his hand and takes off his Möbius strip ring. When it leaves his finger a wide goofy grin spreads across his face and he kneels to the ground and throws his hands to the sky in triumph.

”I’m free!!! I never have to deal with that accursed beast again! I can continue my life how I want! And I...I...”

He looks around the room at the Pathfinders, as if only noticing them for the first time.

”Uh.....Mercy?”

Out of Combat. The following three spoilers are for if you search the room.

Don’t forget to move your tokens in the same ways that your character moves.

Spellcraft vs DC 27: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11

"Hmm, perhaps," Arnaut says, eyes ears open for any hint of the devil returning. "But tell us, good Master Keel, why we should not cut you down where you stand? This is the second time you have attacked Lady Li without provocation - how could we trust your word that you would not do so again? Surely you understand our..." he rubs his fingers together as he searches for the right word, "conundrum, hmm?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 40 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 40 + 2 = 56 (if that's more of a threat, Intimidate is a +27 bonus - including good hope - for a result of 41)

Assuming someone more muscular ties up the miscreant:

"Now, let's have a look around, shall we?" he says, clapping his hands together eagerly as he heads towards the desk. "What other," he glances at the imposter, "dirty little secrets could this one be hiding? Perhaps where the real Eddington Keel is, hmm?"

Heal vs DC 20: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 0 + 2 = 8
Perception vs DC 30: 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 24 + 2 = 38

"Aha!" he exclaims triumphantly, holding aloft what looks to be a journal. "What might this tell us?"

Perception vs DC 30: 1d20 + 24 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 24 + 2 = 42

"Oh? What's that, Lassie? Timmy's fallen down the well again? A secret behind the bed? My, but this place just keeps giving, doesn't it," he says with a satisfied grin.

Placing my token next to the bed since the secret hasn't revealed itself on the map just yet.

Knowledge (arcana), Take 10: 10 + 17 + 2 = 29
Knowledge (religion), Take 10: 10 + 16 + 2 + 5 = 33

"Another portal, perhaps to the Maze," Arnaut whistles, "and a few things well-suited to scrying. And..." he frowns, pauses, pulls out a rather-familiar scrap of paper, reads it, and frowns again. "Kyalla. The naga in the Maze mentioned that name as well if I'm not going senile in my old age. She was married to Keel? So these names might have more connection than just high-ranking members of the Society."

”I’m not Keel! I’m a hired hitman! Please, I’ll tell you everything I know, just don’t kill me!”

Maps and Handouts Updated And I can’t stress this enough: READ THESE HANDOUTS!!!

EDIT: For those who have a hard time reading that first handout, refer to the spoiler below.

Sahess, huffing and puffing out of breath, walks over toward Rysus. She lets the blade trail along the ground behind her, still grasped in one hand.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Plus any bonuses?

"You're a fair leap from free. You should get to explaining, and if I don't like your explanation, expect to be confined very shortly. I'm already cross, you won't like seeing me at peeved." Claws extend from her gauntlet, magical in nature, and look like they could rend through flesh without her even flexing her considerable muscle.

”Eep! Okay, okay! I’m an assassin from Daggermark! I made a deal with Xerazrix to become the most renowned assassin in all of Avistan! In return, Xerazrix bound me to this ring and said that I would owe him a favor at a later date. Flash-forward to three days ago I was hired by some guy named Hestram to kill this Keel guy—I didn’t ask nor care why, as long as I got paid. Then Xerazrix shows up again saying that it’s time to pay up. He makes me impersonate Keel to hide the fact that he’s dead—why? I have no clue!—while Xerazrix works to steal power from a rival devil that’s gotten influence in Corentyn’s government. I begged Xerazrix not to keep me here—I don’t stick around the crime scene very long for obvious reasons—but I had no choice, the devil controls my destiny! With Xerazrix gone that means that my favor to him is technically fulfilled and the terms of the contract are likewise fulfilled—hence why I could take off this ring. That’s all I know, I swear!”

"But why would Hestram hire an assassin to kill a member of the Decemvirate?" Arnaut asks slowly. "And how did he find out all these folks are part of the Ten?"

"Finding out a member of the ten isn't hard, it's been done." Text edited to leave out spoilers. "Why Adril would go turncoat is the proper question. You don't get to his height and then just fall overnight, this would have to be an infiltration."

"You made a deal with a devil over something like that?" Zhu Li asks the man, shaking her head. "And what manner of madness possessed you to take that shortcut? You're weak willed, sloppy. Transparent as a pane of glass. A poor assassin even now, can't even kill one little librarian woman." She sheathes her blade and stands with one hand on her chin, thoughts racing a million miles an hour. "So, the Ten have been half-made, and at least two are dead. One of them isn't here, and we know roughly where two of them are... amd isn't it odd indeed that the Maze of the Open Road connects so cleanly to all four of them? Or possibly more."

The investigator rounds on the assassin with the light of inspiration in her eyes. "Ah, but we can find out! Keel's soul. Did that devil steal it away? You're no Mantis, surely you couldn't bind it, correct? If it didn't, and you didn't... a priest. We will need to find a priest we can trust... Zarta owes us some small favors, we could cash in a chip or two with the Asmodeans."

"I'M LAZY! And the devil froze him solid and shattered him to pieces."

Don't forget about the Heal check that only Arnaut has attempted.

"But we still have the pieces!"

Heal: 1d20 + 17 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 17 + (4) = 31

"See? There, under the bed. Half of the man's face. The ice has preserved it, and it should all still be in this room, we just need a dustbin, a broom, and some magic to stick him back together."

Arnaut freezes for a second, then carefully reaches down and dusts the soles of his slippers. "I... uh... might have stepped on him," he apologizes. "Or part of him, anyway."

The question though is whether we go through this painting now or after we've dealt with our stab-happy friend (such as by taking him back to Eliza for more questions).

Let me help you out there: the portal in the gazebo actually doesn't work currently.

"Alright, um... Nobody move," Zhu Li says before raising her voice to call out into the house proper. "Excuse me? Could I trouble someone for a broom and dustpan? Mr Keel's gone a bit to pieces and I've some rather sharp questions to ask of him."

"Well. Let's gather up the.....fleshcicles....and get him all healed up. Better to gather the pieces so we don't need more expensive magic, right?"

Jordan isn't hiding his disgust and displeasure at the situation.

"Think the maze of the open road just straight up leads to decemvirate members? Is that intentional? Does the maze do it? I've got questions for that damned medusa."

"Oh. Also. Before more people die. Can we please send out a large blast to the entire world that 'Adril is not to be trusted'. Magic like that exists for small areas. Maybe the Master of Scrolls can come up with some convoluted way to tell, like, everyone? That way we don't risk revealing more of the........say....hold up. How many names were on that hitlist?"