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

Game Master KingTreyIII

"Five,"Arnaut says after a quick count.

"Five out of Ten. The decemvirate know who the others are, right? Think the ten are smart enough to, well, not think about eachother? Trained against divinations and detect thoughts spells? I'd sure hope so, but with the fact that Adril found out about half of them, I'm starting to be concerned about the decemvirate's ability to actually keep secrets from those who want to find 'em."

It is common knowledge among the Society that the identities of the Ten are (generally) kept secret from even the other members of the Ten. And the helms that the Ten wear protect them against detection of their true identities if you wanna know the exact mechanical benefits, refer to page 58 of Artifacts & Legends.

”Oh?” Arnaut replies, eyebrow arched. ”And you’ve protected yourself against these same things, hmm? You’ve been running a multi-continent organization with thousands of members how how long? Less judgement, more seeking young man.”

”And as far as sending a message to everyone, that would include Adril and his allies. As far as he knows, only the Raven has connected him with one murder - and as far as the Raven is concerned, that case is closed. Given the timeline of the first two murder, it’s unlikely Adril’s not prepared to strike at all his victims as we speak - if he hasn’t done so already. Shall we hustle along to the lady’s waiting bosom and prove ourselves wrong?” He gestures toward the portrait.

"Fine. Fine. It's just...awfully suspicious. 5? Exactly half? I can't believe that's a coincidence."

He then puts on a serious face. "You know? Depending on how long its been since this guy died, Adril could be right there on the other side of the portal. I'm almost certain he is. Some preparations before we depart? After all, those worms are proof of what happens when we don't."

"Shall we hustle along to the lady’s waiting bosom...”

From beyond the grave a voice yells ”THAT’S MY WIFE YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!”

I assume you all heal up as needed. What other preparations would y'all like to take?

EDIT: "Uh...I said that I killed him three days ago..."

"What do we do with this wretch in the meantime? He is a murderer, we should by all means turn him to the lawful authorities." Sahess looks at him, and she wants to simply break him in half and be done, but that is not what a Senator would say.

"He's a hired hand. Just like us. Unless you want all of the people related to each and every person you've killed to come after you, I say we let him go. You say you're from daggermark, right? I suggest you find a new profession. One that doesn't involve killing prominent nobles. Hell, I'd be okay with you joining the Aspis Consortium. Just....leave the Assassin's Guild alone, alright?"

With that, Jordan is ready to leave, assuming we have the umm...chunk so we can resurrect the dude.

What you do with him is largely unimportant at this moment in time, so I’m just going to move things along.

The Pathfinders all step through the painting of the Taldan woman.

Upon stepping from the portal—a framed portrait much like the one you entered in Cheliax, but this one of Eddington Keel—your lungs fill with foulsmelling smoke. As your eyes grow accustomed to the thick air, you find yourself in a smoke-filled wicker hut, looking out a doorway at a cyclopean monolith in the shape of an upraised six-fingered hand several dozen yards away. The thatched vine roofs of the various huts show signs of having been burned, but recent rainfall seems to have squelched whatever flames were caused and created an acrid smoke to fill the air there’s technically stuff about vision in this smoke, but it’s irrelevant as there’s (spoilers) no combat on this map.

The structure that you all currently inhabit shows signs of struggle and ransacking—the contents of several chests having been emptied onto the floor and bed, and a mirror on a small dressing table has been shattered. Rudimentary scrawls and handprints in blood and mud cover the interior of the south wall.

Maps Updated What do you do? And don’t forget to move your token as needed in-game.

Knowledge (religion), Take 10: 10 + 16 = 26
Linguistics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

"It seems likely that Adril's been here recently," Arnaut says with a scowl as his surveys the building. "Look, these symbols resemble the unholy symbol of Angazhan - same as that green stone idol we found in his bedroom back at the Lodge. And these ones," he points, "mention 'His Bride', 'The Change', and 'The Blessing'. Unlikely to be good for us, or good for Kyalla." He gestures towards the doorway. "Ladies first?"

Auto Pass both of those. And that writing is in the "the scenario doesn't want you to understand" dialect, isn't it? I'll drop my healing rolls into discussion so I don't clutter everything here up.

"I'm getting real sick of always running behind this traitorous bastard," Zhu Li comments, sliding her rapier out of its scabbard. She stands by the doorway and holds up a hand for temporary silence, focusing on the door and the area past it to see if anything stands out.

Perception (Trapfinding +6): 1d20 + 1d6 + 20 ⇒ (4) + (5) + 20 = 29

Auto Pass both of those. And that writing is in the "the scenario doesn't want you to understand" dialect, isn't it?

Not sure what you meant by that, but that Linguistics check was actually written in.

The smoke makes seeing things difficult concealment at 20+ feet and total concealment at 40+ feet so Zhu Li doesn’t really notice much other than the MOTHER [BLEEP]ING 60’ TALL MONKEY’S PAW PROTRUDING FROM THE SAND WITH A BRACER WITH RUNES AROUND ITS BASE AND SIMIAN FACES AT EACH OF ITS SIX FINGERS FORMED FROM THE FOLDS OF ITS FINGERPRINTS!!! Ignore the fact that I said “total concealment at 40+ feet” when I described the top of the 60’ monkey’s paw

EDIT: Hint: you have to leave the hut.

"May I say that I fully expect to be made not simply a venture captain but daresay a mistress of some variety or another for this? Or perhaps a faction head, I'm sure that I could do a fair sight better than... my faction head." She shakes her head. [i]Carving patches from taxidermy, honestly.[i]

She draws out a small item, uses its energy to infuse her with magic, and then once put away in its pouch again she steps to the doorway, looking and feeling around. Runestone of Power.

Okay, gonna assume that y’all search around the camp. I’m not going to bother making spoilers for checks that someone auto-succeeds at.

Behind the hut that you all came out of is a 7-foot-diameter wicker wreath standing at an angle, mere feet from the nearby lake DC 25 Strength check to re-right the angle of the wreath. Everyone quite obviously finds woven into the wreath is a Glyph of the Open Road. Zhu Li and Arnaut are able to clearly tell you that the wreath is yet another portal similar to those within the Maze of the Open Road. Surprise!

Four huts marked by Blue Circles each contain dead humanoid bodies, on each is a charred and broken wayfinder. Zhu Li is able to tell you that most of these Pathfinders died from spear wounds, but others appear to have been ripped limb from limb by a creature of incredible strength. One of these four huts dashed blue circle contains another humanoid, this one a Mwangi woman with a spear and very rudimentary armor—a member of a local tribe it seems—who is covered in various tattoos. Zhu Li and Arnaut will tell you that this is a member of the Bekyar—a tribe of Mwangi who worship Angazhan, demon lord of apes, jungles, and tyrants. It seems these huts and the bodies therein have been picked clean of anything of value.

The last hut marked by red circle has had its entire southern wall demolished; the table in the center has been upended and now rests on its side. Various books, notes, etc. are strewn about in the mud, but one well-detailed journal seems legible enough. Zhu Li will tell you all that this journal is written in the same handwriting as the letter from Kyalla to Keel. Most of the field notes in the journal are of no significant relevance, save for the most recent entry, dated 2 days ago Handouts Updated.

As Arnaut and Zhu Li search the massive monkey’s paw they both find a hidden door along the base of the arm. Opening the door requires either a Linguistics (to press the glyphs in the right order) or Disable Device (for obvious reasons). I’ll go further into this if/when someone opens the secret door.

What do you do?

Knowledge (geography), Take 10: 10 + 12 = 22
Knowledge (religion), Take 10: 10 + 16 = 26
Linguistics: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

”It appears Adril has been here already,” Arnaut says grimly. ”But perhaps there is still hope for Kyalla - the writing inside mentioned ‘His Bride’. A dead woman produces no half-ape offspring. But first, what’s hiding in here?” He starts tapping various glyphs in rapid succession.

A gust of stale air escapes from the long- sealed chamber as the hidden door sinks into the wall and slides to the side, revealing a low stone altar against the small room’s back wall. A rose stone gorilla idol with yellow jade tusks and garnet-red eyes sits atop the altar amid a pile of small gems and ancient gold coins.

What do you do?

EDIT: Well I feel silly; I never marked the huts with circles like I said I would; I rectified that oversight of mine.

Hah! It’s the Hidden Temple!

”Well then,” Arnaut says as he coughs and waves alway the stale air, ”what have we here?” He studies the room intently, looking for signs of traps or magic.

Casting detect magic and Perceiving.
Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (17) + 24 = 41

Curses!

Arnaut does indeed find a magical trap upon the altar.

"So, we've got a secret room and half-apes. Sounds like a pretty normal outing, again. Umm, Zhu Li, you can disable this, right? 'Cuz I ain't touchin it!"

Jordan draws his bow and begins whistling to himself. "I'm pretty sure we should, well, go into the paw and take the idol. That should piss some people off, and pissing people off TYPICALLY leads to more clues."

Knowledge Geo: 1d20 + 1d6 + 13 ⇒ (14) + (4) + 13 = 31

"Lake Ocota..." Zhu Li mutters, looking out over the water as she leaves the hut.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (8) + 24 = 32

"Making ape-men of the world... that would be heretical in the extreme, to the Ravener King," she adds upon reading the scrap of paper, humming thoughtfully.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 1d6 + 20 ⇒ (20) + (2) + 20 = 42

Approaching the trap with her thieves' tools, Zhu Li goes to work disrupting the magical energies safeguarding the treasure stored within the secret panel. "And that... should... do it!"

Zhu Li manages to undo the trap and take the idol for further study.

That was a feeblemind trap. Guarding a faction goal for a faction not represented in this group. And a piddly amount of gold. Datedness.

Also, I’m going to post these again since it seems like they were forgotten about:

No way in hell I'm making that survival check.

Can't roll linguistics.

"Notice anything...weird happen? No? Shame. Well, let's keep looking around."

Survival to aid?: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9 If good hope is still running, that's 2 higher, but I doubt it.

Not forgotten, I just wanted to know what was in the box. My linguistics is +20 though.
"I despise Mwangi linguistics. Languages are not children's building blocks to be jammed together all willy-nilly."
Survival: 1d20 + 1d6 + 15 ⇒ (5) + (1) + 15 = 21

Survival to Aid: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

”It’s called linguistic evolution,” Arnaut says with a clearly-false air of superiority before grinning. ”Or evolutionary linguistics, depending on who you ask. But if nothing else, Kyalla’s note spoke of cultists in the ‘western caves’. Perhaps we could start our search in that direction?”

Zhu Li regards Arnaut with a flat stare. "Evolutionary my foot. Polyglot is a damned mess at the best of times."

”...Kyalla’s note spoke of cultists in the ‘western caves’. Perhaps we could start our search in that direction?”

And mentioning THAT grants a geography check.

Zhu Li Knowledge (geography): 1d20 + 13 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 13 + (4) = 36

And the Survival check is now irrelevant as Zhu Li can find the place that the tracks were leading.

Zhu Li is able to lead the Seekers to the cave Kyalla mentioned: an opening hidden but not very well (Perception 20, which some of you make automatically, so everyone eventually sees it) behind a wall of vines overhanging a 50’ ledge.

You have got to be kidding me...that was a DC 39! Let it go, let it go, you’re touchy because you played an investigator with +50 Perception and didn’t notice these guys because the GM hand-waved it. Calm down...

Arnaut and Zhu Li Motive two humans well-hidden were taking-20 in the foliage which provides a +10 to Stealth right outside the cave that both move into the cave. The Seekers, knowing someone has seen them, the party rushes toward the cave! For simplicity I’m going to say that you guys just moved rather than buff and risk allowing them to do the same; it’s easier than rolling Initiative when the party isn’t on the map.

This cavern behind the curtain of vines has a smooth stone floor and rough walls. A mess of vines hangs from the 40-foot-high ceiling, stretching from wall to wall. Map Updated

Scattered about the room is what appears to be a small tribe of Mwangi humans with shortspears on their backs and Bekyar tattoos covering their skin—most of whom are sitting on the floor, seeming to have been recently awoken or had their meal interrupted. Only two tribesmen—the two Arnaut and Zhu Li spotted earlier—are standing with their spears in hand, seemingly addressing the rest of the tribe. When they see the Pathfinders they attack!

Congregation of the Ape
Round 1
=================
Arnaut
Cultists of Angazhan
Jordan
???
Sahess
Zhu Li
=================

Laziness

Congregation of the Ape
Round 1
=================
Arnaut
Cultists of Angazhan
Jordan
???
Sahess
Zhu Li
=================

"You're just mad you have to keep learning it and can't call the job done," Arnaut teases as they travel to the caves. "Really, it's the most democratic of languages!"

--------------------------------------------------

As they spot the inhabitants of the cave, Arnaut grins. "Shall we?" he says as he flourishes his cape and starts whistling a heroic tune of rescuing members of noble families from oversized monsters. "Take it easy on them," he adds. "They look awfully confused by our sudden appearance. And perhaps stay near the doorway in case we need to make a swift exit pursued by bear."

Move action to start Inspire Heroics (letting Jordan handle Inspire Courage this time) and standard to cast confusion (Will 24) on the orange area.

*Sigh*

Cultists Will; Fishing for Nat 20s: 5d20 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 16, 14) = 37

*SIIIIIGH*

Yellow, Blue, Gray, Dashed White, then Orange: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 1, 2) = 10

Order of confused cultists (highest goes first) {Yellow, Blue, Gray, Dashed White, then Orange}: 5d20 ⇒ (15, 11, 10, 13, 5) = 54
Blue then Orange: 2d20 ⇒ (10, 2) = 12

Order: Gray, Yellow, Orange, Blue, then Dashed White.

Gray pulls his spear from his back and throws it at Yellow. Yellow then does the same. And that’s why the order mattered.

Gray vs Yellow FF: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Yellow vs Gray: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The cultists (sans Blue and Orange, who are muttering to themselves) all scream at the top of their lungs in a loud battle cry! +2 to Perception DC for each cultist screaming (not written in, but this is part of the controversy I was talking about before).

The cultists sitting on the ground (sans Yellow, Blue, Orange, and Gray) all stand up. Purple, Cyan, Dashed Black, and Green all move to a nearby wall and begin swiftly climbing.

DC 25 to climb the wall, vines provide a +10 (scenario says so), and ascending at half speed rather than quarter imposes a -5. They all normally have +14 so they need at least a 6 on the die, they fall if they roll a 1.

Climb (Starting with Purple and going clockwise): 4d20 ⇒ (18, 3, 20, 13) = 54

Red and Dashed White move closer to the Pathfinders, pulling out their spears as they do so.

Black and White, however, both two-hand their spears and dart towards Sahess and Zhu Li and stab at the women before retreating away Spring Attack.

Oh right, Uncanny Dodge. Take an AoO against Black, Sahess.

White vs Sahess: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (20) + 15 - 3 = 32
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Black vs Zhu Li FF: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 3 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

EDIT: Gray Confirmation: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18
Crit Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

White Confirmation: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 3 = 23
Crit Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Gonna pretend that Jordan delays until after “???” So that I can keep things efficient. It won’t affect much in the grand scheme of things.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 1/2
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics

Crap! I messed up the coding for one of the things in my GM Screen and that messed up EVERYTHING! Oh jeez...

Okay, here’s what’s gonna happen: the dice in my GM Screen were Perception checks, but all the d20 dice results were shifted down one. Rather than try to do a significant retcon, here’s what’s gonna happen: I’m only going to make one significant retcon and that’s that Cyan failed to climb rather than Purple. Other than that, listen to the die rolls that come starting at “Gray vs Yellow” (when I was listening to the die rolls that are currently there) and listen to what I SAY (rather than what I rolled) for anything before that (because I was using the d20 rolls shifted back one when writing that). Arnaut and Sahess still succeeded at the Perception check, The order of the Confused folks is still the same, Gray still attacked (and critted) Yellow, and so on. Doing that actually benefits you all more, and I always let the party reap the rewards whenever I make a mistake. Most of the messed up die rolls were just for my benefit, anyways.

EDIT: for clarity

Use these die rolls for the appropriately-labeled checks. Otherwise use those that are written in my previous post.

So Sorry about the confusion (and not the kind Arnaut used). What’s below is ACTUALLY accurate to the battle:

Congregation of the Ape
Round 1/2
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics

No uncanny dodge. Steelblood archetype, it increases my movement in armor isntead.

Sahess moves up, and seeing that these enemies have spears and are quick on their feet, she thinks like a dragon instead and just breathes a massive cone of ice at them.

Breath Weapon: 12d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 1, 1, 1, 6, 3, 3, 3, 2, 4) = 31 DC 19 reflex half.

"Surrender or DIE!" She exhales in a frosty afterthought.

Oh? Well that makes my life easier.

Red Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Black Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
White Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Red and White both take the cone to the face, whereas Black manages to duck out of the way of it. Nonetheless, the cultists do not respond, continuing to scream at the top of their lungs.

EDIT: Oh, I forgot to move Dashed White. They would've been in the cone too.

Dashed White Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Dashed White glares at Sahess with a crazed look in his eyes.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 1/2
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics

"Oh Nethys. Look how many there are! We should even the playing field a bit."

Jordan sidesteps (5 foot), begins channeling his inner ape man and screams back (move action to activate bardic performance), and casts Haste on the party.

"I'll do what I can to get you adjacent to one of 'em Zhu Li and/or Sahess. Make sure you don't go too far and I promise to move you as soon as I can. Until then, don't die."

Zhu Li studies the man whose spring attack bounced off her armor, arms coming up into a fluid guard. "Got it,"" she says, before turning to the apeman who struck at her, the guttural Abyssal/Polyglot they've been finding falling as easily from her lips as most other tongues.

Assuming I can, since Polyglot already changes almost as much as protean and I have a decent sample of the structure of the dialect. Otherwise, assume Polyglot.

Jordan, remember that Arnaut has a wand for haste if you want to save your spells for something else.

"They'll move plenty fast enough thanks to you - how about you show us what that bow can do against those climbing ones, eh?" Arnaut suggests in the pause between choruses before starting back in again. Stepping to the side, he ponders. "Know what this place needs? A little," he plunges a hand into his pouch. "PIZZAZ!" he finishes as he throws a glittering ball into the air above the guardians. It explodes in a burst of silvery sparkles, and Arnaut grins. "How 'bout that for giving 'em the ol' razzle-dazzle, eh?"

Free action to stop performance, move action to start Inspire Heroics again (hello temp hp!), and standard to cast glitterdust (Will 21) in white AoE.

Apparently these cultists don’t speak any languages as-written (which is just wrong)…Gonna treat that as a mistake in making the statistics, so since they have a 13 Int let’s say that they speak both Polyglot and Abyssal for flavor’s sake.

Also, sorry if I’m inconsistent with the genders of individual cultists—just roll with it.

Zhu Li speaks towards the cultist in very broken Polyglot-Abyssal. Whether the Mwangi understood or just didn’t like her tone is uncertain, but he glares back at Zhu Li in further anger. However, the cultists suddenly find themselves looking FABULOUS as an explosion of glitter comes upon them!

Red then Black then White; Fishing for 20s: 3d20 ⇒ (9, 6, 13) = 28

And all three of the cultists scream as they rub at their eyes!

Gray stands up, steps up, and throws a punch at Yellow!

Gray vs Yellow: 1d20 + 11 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 3 = 18
Damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Yellow then picks up the spear that Gray threw at him and stabs at the original owner of the spear!

Yellow vs Gray: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 3 - 4 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Orange, Blue, then Dashed White: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) = 9

Orange starts screaming as he stands up and steps over and punches Dashed White since Dashed White hasn’t targeted him yet, gonna say he can’t take an AoO from that.

Orange vs Dashed White: 1d20 + 11 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 3 = 13
Damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Blue likewise starts screaming as she punches herself in the face.

Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Dashed White then turns to Orange and stabs at him with her spear!

Dashed White vs Orange; Primary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 3 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Dashed White vs Orange; Secondary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 3 - 5 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Gonna go under the assumption that they can use Spring Attack while blind because I can’t find anything on the forums that I could use to make a ruling. If someone finds something definitive then please show me. Until then:

The three blind mice cultists spring forward at where they last saw that there were people auto-succeed at the Acrobatics check to move at full speed while blind.

Red springs forward and strikes against Sahess!

Red vs Sahess: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 3 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Miss Chance (miss on a 1): 1d2 ⇒ 2

Black then springs forward provokes from Sahess, stabs Zhu Li. Zhu Li tries punching the blind person but somehow completely misses studied combat is still going since you didn’t hit. Black then backs off to their original position. Let’s pretend that Black was the very first of the cultists to act for ease of play with Zhu Li’s readied action. I REALLY don’t want to make this combat more complicated than it already is.

Black vs Zhu Li: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 3 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Miss Chance (miss on a 1): 1d2 ⇒ 2

White then likewise springs forward and strikes at Jordan before backing off.

White vs Jordan: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 3 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Miss Chance (miss on a 1): 1d2 ⇒ 2

Red then Black then White; Fishing for 20s: 3d20 ⇒ (17, 7, 6) = 30

The three cultists, unfortunately, are still blind.

Climb Checks (Purple then Cyan then Dashed Black then Green) Needs a 6+: 4d20 ⇒ (1, 3, 15, 16) = 35

Rules are vague on whether an Acrobatics check to negate the first 10’ of a fall is allowed for those who fall unintentionally, so I’m just going to assume not based on the exact wording of stuff.

Cyan doesn’t move and Purple falls down to the ground!

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Purple then stands back up. While the other three try to climb again!

Cyan then Dashed Black then Green; needs a 6+: 3d20 ⇒ (15, 7, 1) = 23

Green falls.

Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

Since you guys know that my “Controversy” is Perception checks, I’m just going to roll them in public.

Re-adjusted the damage on the party. If it says “+#” then that’s the temp. HP from Inspire Heroics that’s left (since the party has consistently been taking the average of the dice for that ability). Going under the assumption that Sahess is currently raging.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 2/3
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics, Inspire Courage +3, Haste

"Zhu Li, glitterdust and confusion worked pretty well. Do ya still want a Dimension Door into the room? Or should I just bury some arrows into some chests?"

Basically, Zhu Li, if you'd like Dimension Door, Jordan will cast it and teleport us both to wherever you see fit. Otherwise, I'll full attack.

Waiting for Zhu Li's answer before determining actions.

"I think we can handle walking," Zhu Li answers, waiting for Jordan to fire before picking her next target.

"Might I suggest moving so the welcoming committee stops poking you?" Arnaut asks archly as he fishes around in his haversack. Pulling out his long ivory rod in one hand, he dramatically pauses, points the rod at the highest guardian, and reveals a peacock feather and three brightly-colored tiny fruit tarts in his other hand that spring to life and fly at his target.

Move action to retrieve Reach Rod (1/3 uses today), standard to cast hideous laughter (Will 22) on Dashed-Black.

Sahess swings at Black as the individual passes by, then proceeds to advance on white and bring the full brunt of a dragon's fury on them.

Attack: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (2) + 29 = 31 AoO
Damage: 2d6 + 22 ⇒ (5, 4) + 22 = 31

Attack 1: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (3) + 29 = 32 Power Attacking
Damage: 2d6 + 31 ⇒ (6, 5) + 31 = 42

Attack H: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (11) + 26 = 37
Damage: 2d6 + 31 ⇒ (4, 2) + 31 = 37

Attack 2: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (6) + 21 = 27
Damage: 2d6 + 31 ⇒ (6, 5) + 31 = 42

Her sword swings mightily, but somewhat less precisely. It should hopefully be enough to take down these foolish cultists.

The 20s don't seem to be biting today: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Dashed Black gets three tarts splattered on his face as the peacock feather tickles his underarm. The cultist, against his better judgment, laughs hysterically as he swipes at the feather and wiping off the fruity sweet from his face—he is far too preoccupied to realize that doing so makes him lose his grip on the vines as he tumbles to the ground.

Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3) = 11

Despite Sahess’s attack on Black, the cultist continues on to stab at Zhu Li. White, on the other hand, isn’t so lucky. With one slice of her blade, Sahess slices through the cultist’s torso, leaving naught but a bloody heap upon the ground.

By the way, Sahess, I noticed that you still have shield applied into your statistics; that spell (which you cast prior to the devil combat) would most certainly be gone by now. And I specifically said in this combat that there was no time to buff. Also, your attack and damage rolls are 1 lower, because it’s currently Jordan singing, not Arnaut. The same goes towards Jordan about his buffs.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 2/3
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics, Inspire Courage +3, Haste

"Well then, let's hurt some freaks"

"Manyshot: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 2d6 + 15 + 15 ⇒ (1, 3) + (1, 4) + 15 + 15 = 39"

"Haste shot: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (8) + 22 = 30
Damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (5, 5) + 15 = 25"

"Rapid shot: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37
Damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (4, 2) + 15 = 21"

"Iterative: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
Damage: 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (2, 5) + 15 = 22"

Purple -> Cyan -> Black

EDIT: They all have point blank shot applied, GM, adjust as necessary.

Again, Jordan, the gravity bow would have run out.

Jordan Damage Dice: 5d8 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 1, 4) = 20

With two arrows, Jordan manages to staple Purple to the adjoining wall, knocking him out. Cyan, while looking less than ideal, is still conscious after taking Jordan's other two shots The cultists auto-succeed at the Climb checks to not fall when damaged.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 3
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics, Inspire Courage +3, Haste

Botting Zhu Li:

Zhu Li moves up and punches Black!

Primary: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (15) + 23 = 38
Damage; Studied Strike: 1d3 + 9 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 9 + (3, 3, 1, 2) = 19

Black then keels over onto the ground!

Kirin Study on Red: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 24 + 2 + (5) = 33

*

Gray picks up the spear Yellow threw at him...

Yellow AoO: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 3 - 4 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

...and stabs at Yellow!

Gray vs Yellow: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (9) + 15 - 3 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Yellow stands up...

Gray AoO: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 3 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

...and likewise stabs Gray!

Yellow vs Gray: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 3 = 27
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Orange pulls out his spear then stabs at Dashed White.

Orange vs Dashed White: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 3 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Dashed White then retaliates.

Blue Confusion: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Blue punches himself in the face again.

Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Red takes a move action to see if he can hear where people are...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

But can’t hear anything over his screaming tribe, so he tries again...

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

...but still hears nothing.

Red Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Green stands up while the other cultist attempt to climb.

Cyan Climb; needs a 6+: 1d20 ⇒ 3

But doesn’t move. Cyan and Green then try to climb again.

Cyan then Green; needs a 6+: 2d20 ⇒ (12, 13) = 25

Dashed Black Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Dashed Black suddenly stops laughing and starts screaming again.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 3/4
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics, Inspire Courage +3, Haste

"Something is casting spells backstage," Arnaut comments, his voice easily heard through the off-key yelling of the guardians. "If we're done playing around here, perhaps we should investigate before the situation gets completely out of hand?" He pulls out his own bow, walks forward, and takes aim at the guardian climbing the opposite wall (cyan).

Shortbow, 2nd range increment, IC, Haste: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 + 3 + 1 = 18
Piercing damage: 1d6 - 1 + 3 ⇒ (2) - 1 + 3 = 4

Botting Jordan, Sahess, and Zhu Li:

Gray attacks Yellow.

Primary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 3 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

And knocks him out, but continues to attack the unconscious body.

Secondary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 3 - 5 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

And stabs the cultist through the heart

Orange attacks Dashed White.

Primary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 3 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Secondary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 3 - 5 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

And a Dashed White retaliates in turn.

Primary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 3 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Secondary: 1d20 + 15 - 3 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 3 - 5 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

And misses both times.

Blue: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Blue finally retains control of himself and stands up and moves towards Zhu Li, pulling out his spear as he does so.

Dashed Black stands up while Green tries to climb.

Green Climb; need a 6+: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Then Dashed Black and Green try to climb. Green seems to go slower and more meticulously than before Green auto-succeeds by not having to take a -5 to the check.

Dashed Black; needs a 6+: 1d20 ⇒ 17

Congregation of the Ape
Round 4/5
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics, Inspire Courage +3, Haste

Sahess flies through the air with the greatest of ease, potentially taking an AoO from dashed black. She slams into the bright green creature, sword slashing with an unreal amount of force.

Attack: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (17) + 28 = 45
Damage: 4d6 + 27 ⇒ (5, 1, 5, 2) + 27 = 40
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (15) + 28 = 43
Crit Damage: 2d6 + 27 ⇒ (5, 1) + 27 = 33

Sahess looks around to see if she can find where the spellcasting was coming from. If this was all an illusion, she's going to slaughter the heck out of somebody.

Sahess Fly to turn 90 degrees; DC 15: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

So…that fails. But Sahess can still easily make it to that space with a 90’ fly speed, so I’m just gonna put down an alternate movement path and just move along. And Dashed Black is unarmed, so he can’t take an AoO.

Sahess, with one singular slash, declares that physics be damned by reducing Green into a million bite-sized pieces. With one slice. Somehow.

Also, it’s very vague about it in the scenario, but I’m going to say that that passageway narrows to have a ceiling height of 25’ (it only describes the ceiling height in this room and the next one, and logic says that the connecting passages are not going to be 40’ tall [it’s unlikely to be 25’ either, but easy numbers are easy]).

Sahess looks ahead down the passage but sees nothing else of note from her current position.

Congregation of the Ape
Round 4/5
Field Effects: Inspire Heroics, Inspire Courage +3, Haste

Zhu Li pulls her rapier free of its scabbard, attempting to link the motion to a fluid strike at the cultist, targeting a vital point.

Arnaut shrugs. "Meh, Jordan can handle that fellow on the wall," he says as he fades from view. "Now then, we don't want to lose sight of the Lady Sahess, do we?"

Free to stop performance, standard to cast invisibility, move to move. Sorry, folks - no more temp hp since Heroics has audible and visual components.