GM Tyranius Tyrant's Grasp (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

Aishe shrugs as no agent appears, "The leopard was a shadowy conjuration. So someone must have conjured it, right?"

He'll search the chamber, while applying some salve on his injuries to try and lessen them.
lay on hands: 1d6 ⇒ 3 (I also have some nonlethal damage which heals at the same time.)

He replenishes the bolts in his quiver as he searches.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Frustrated as much at the lingering strands as he is the genuine wounds, Vinas sighs heavily before replying. "Stands to reason. I think that also means we haven't seen the last trick either. At least now we know, and I no longer trust anything I see with my eyes."

Vinas too closes his eyes and with a prayer undoes some of the damage LoH: 1d6 ⇒ 6 Now at 41/43, some ability damage.

"More wankery!" Vanyan remember’s Atium’s past and continues to try to pick the sticky stuff off of him, even as it starts to dissolve. He shudders with disgust. Then he rushes over to check on Aishe. "You all right, buddy? You gave us a frighten! I really thought that big kitty was going to gnaw your face right off!"

He wonders who or what might have been behind the exploding sculpture and the leopard. The others seem to assume there's a spellcaster hiding somewhere, but what if it was simply a magic trap? He once more resumes his routine of carefully inspecting their surroundings, peering at the benches and hedges, as well as the path ahead.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 Perception with Detect Magic, esp on trap, magical?, and then scanning the trees for magical auras
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14 Know (arcana) - ID a spell that has been cast recently

Atium huffs and puffs, as he recovers from his anxiety.
Shadowy conjuration my ass.
But Atium don't sound convinced of his own words.
My Lands have tales of some leopard cat that jumps in and out of shadows. Most of them don't have fur though. Anyone know what I'm talking about?
That thing ...that thing... Oh, I don't know.
But what I do know is that if there's a world breaker here. I'm running. Getting the hell out of this place. That Librarian can fix things herself.

Atium settle down to the fact that he thinks they got lucky the cat took a bite from Aishe and wanted to disappear. Maybe it felt it was outnumbered....even though they were all trapped and tangled.
things aren't adding up in Atium's mind and he's worried that Aishe's assumption might be right.
Tell me when you want me to take point again.

"More wankery!" Vanyan remember’s Atium’s past and continues to try to pick the sticky stuff off of him, even as it starts to dissolve. He shudders with disgust. Then he rushes over to check on Aishe. "You all right, buddy? You gave us a frighten! I really thought that big kitty was going to gnaw your face right off!"

"Yeah, I'm OK I think. Thanks. Abadar be praised, I was able to reverse some of the injury and of course the leopard wasn't all there." he reloads his crossbow and nods to Atium when he finishes. "You're not wrong, there are limits to what we can do. Yes, please go for it there Atium. Lead us to what's next."

As the group heals up a short bit Vanyan scans the area for signs of magical auras and comes up empty handed. While the trap seemed magical it was mostly mechanical.

A path winds from a web-shrouded pergola to the south through this garden. The path weaves around several large topiary animals --an elephant, a lion, an ape, an ostrich, and an ox, and the heads of all these topiary creatures are entirely covered with webs.

As you come around a corner, you see the nightmarish ettercap (Colulus) you encountered earlier (in the writing room) lying unmoving in the path ahead. His neck is bent at a fatal angle and his limbs are violently twisted. He appears to be rather dead...

Vanyan's eyes narrow while he peers around the corner at the nightmarish spider creature, who appears quite lifeless. "I wonder why it looks... dead," he whispers to his companions."It's either playing dead, or something much larger or more powerful has killed it. Either way, this could get ugly fast," he adds.

Unconvinced that the danger has passed, he tries once more to observe his surroundings very carefully before they move on. He moves up only after Atium or Vinas move up.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 Perception with Detect Magic

If he gets within 10’ of the deadercap, he will look and see how dead it really is.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 Heal

Atium volunteered to take point, so he does. But before that, he asks for a bit of healing. The dead spider thing is certainly not the threat.
After a light healing, he moves forward slowly.
He gets to within 5 feet of the Ettercap, unless something else happens. He is moving slowly- hoping the sharp eyes of others warns him of danger.

CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Vanyan- 1 charge please.

Vinas keeps his eyes keen, and edges over to the corpse, awaiting some form of trickery: ATK: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Aishe follows Atium until they see the ettercap. He very carefully takes one of the common bolts out of his crossbow and puts it away. He replaces it with a cold iron/silver blanched one.

He nods at Vanyan's concern as he inches forward. He keeps his eyes open.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Vanyan- 1 charge please.

::check::

Vanyan puts away the wand after healing Atium of his boo-boos.

While Vanyan doesn't find a magical aura around the seemingly dead ettercap, he does sense a magical aura around the ostrich topiary. The topiary ostrich has three tail feathers patterned like leaves.

Though that will likely have to wait. As the group slowly tiptoes towards Colulus' corpse Vanyan determines the Ettercap is still alive as he notices the slightest of movements and slowest breathes coming from it. It looks to be feigning death quite well.

Vanyan, sensing a trap, moves back 15' and summons a ball of fire to his hand.

"Alert! B'ware the ostrich! Fear the topiary of doom!" Vanyan cries to alert his friends. "Trust not the deadercap nor the leaft feathery raptor!"

Atium hears the warning. The warning he was waiting for. He backs up immediately, expecting the others to draw back too. He moves his eyes from the dreaded ostrich of leaf-i-ness to the body on the ground.
Waiting for one to rush forward and attack them. He has an adamantine warhammer ready.
First come, first served.
He says aloud as a verbal challenge to his enemies.

Aishe takes a step back and raises his crossbow at the abomination. If he stands, and doesn’t have his appendages/claws/whatever in the air clearly surrendering, he shoots.

Crossbow (cold iron, silver): 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 3 = 12 (point blank, cover) damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8 (point blank)

Colulus thrashes to life, shrieking as its neck rotates all the way around to glare at the Vanyan with its bulging compound eyes!

Aishe's bolt plinks right into the ettercap's gut.

Round 1
Aishe (22/28; 2 NL; 1 cha dam; 4 str dam)
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Colulus (-8)
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Vanyan (26/27; 1 NL; 1 Str dam)
Atium (47/50; Raging 55/58)
Vinas (41/43; 1 Dex dam)
Tessenarin (23/27; 4 NL)

Round: 1

Aishe takes another step back until he hits the bench, whereupon he reloads quickly and shoots again - still with the good bolts!
Crossbow (cold iron, silver): 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 3 = 13 (point blank, cover) damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9 (point blank)

Aishe slams the butt end of his crossbow down on the bench, quickly reloading another bolt. Aishe rocks a second bolt into the ettercap's chest.

Colulus roars as his mandibles click and clack, twitching between the webs.

Everybody must make a DC 13 Will save against fear or be shaken for as long as you can see the ettercap.

Colulus leaps at Atium, biting and clawing at the man. "I will tear through you to get to that one." The orbs glower at Aishe.

Bite vs Atium AC 18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 + Poison

Claw 1 vs Atium AC 18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Claw 2 vs Atium AC 18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

@Atium- DC 15 Fort save vs poison- If fail then 1d2 Dex damage.

Colulus bites right into Atium's shoulder as the large man is caught slightly off guard.

Round 2
Aishe (22/28; 2 NL; 1 cha dam; 4 str dam)
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Colulus (-17)
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Vanyan (26/27; 1 NL; 1 Str dam)
Atium (44/50; Raging 52/58)
Vinas (41/43; 1 Dex dam)
Tessenarin (23/27; 4 NL)

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 Will
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 Know (Planes)

Looks like I beat the min by 5, so question: is it immune/resistant to fire? Also, what is the name of this creature? It seems to be a bit scarier than your average ettercap.

Vanyan explains the things from this spoiler above.

"Silver! SILVER! We need silver as we'll never find weapons of good in a place like this!" Vanyan offers his silver longspear around if anyone wants it.

Vanyan delays to hand off the alchemical longspear.

Round: 2

As Vanyan yells silver, he’s glad he’s been using his good bolts. He didn’t know about the silver, but the ones he picked up here in the land of the dead just don’t seem quite as good somehow.

Standing uneasily by the bench, Aishe reloads, lines up another shoot, and shoots!
Crossbow (cold iron, silver): 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 3 = 8 (point blank, cover) damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7 (point blank)

*Plink*

He frowns as his bolt goes wide. ”Don’t let him tear through you Atium! Stand strong!”

Thankfully this isn't acting like a mage.
Atium made a mistake. He got just a bit too close to the enemy. He wanted to act as the focus of it's attacks, but just not as focused as this thing was.
Then he hears Aishe get threatened by this thing and plead for Atium to stand strong.
Through gritted teeth.
will save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7 DC 13.
Fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 DC 15 Poison.

HE WON'T TEAR THROUGH A TURTLE- A TURTLE HAS A HARD SHELL.... SHAKRA TURTLE!

entering rage. 9/13. +2 to Future fort saves. +2 to Will saves.
-2 to AC. Please note that Vanyan gave me Barkskin. My AC is now: AC 18
Atium is also now shaken.

He chokes up on the Adamantine Warhammer.

attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

@Vanyan- This is a named Nightmare Ettercap (Colulus) so just a little different, mainly in health. No reisistant or immune to fire

Atium's adamantine warhammer crashes into Colulus' gut where Aishe's bolt was stuck, driving it in deeper. Colulus grunts and gasps as the arrow jams into something very vital, though it seems resisted a small bit. DR. Aishe's next shot plinks into one of the tooth filled fruit trees.

Round 2
Aishe (22/28; 2 NL; 1 cha dam; 4 str dam)
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Colulus (-25)
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Vanyan (26/27; 1 NL; 1 Str dam)
Atium (44/50; Raging 52/58)
Vinas (41/43; 1 Dex dam)
Tessenarin (23/27; 4 NL)

Vinas sees no reason to fear this foe. His very confidence exudes from his person. Anyone within 10' gains a +4 on saves v. fear.

"You shall be judged by my blade!" Vinas does an end around, dodging a hopefully inert shrub. As he turns the corner to flank with his shieldmate, he calls out to Iomedae Smite

Round 1, Init 14

Dropping the alchemical silver longspear, Vanyan moves to try to get a clear shot with one of his balls of fire...but between cover and combat he doesn't have a clear shot.

He takes his flaming hand to his lightbox, shaking it and trying to evoke a bit of magic from it. It responds in time, shimmering Colulus in a very focused glittering of magic dust, little bits of ruin that escape his lightbox.

Colulus takes -2 to attacks for 2 rounds, no save and "causes the target to shed light as a candle, and it cannot benefit from concealment or any invisibility effects."

Vanyan releases a bit of magical dust from his wayfinder. it floats through the air, clinging to the ettercap. Vinas moves to help Atium as Tessenarin pikes up Vanyan's spear from the ground.

Tessenarin Will save vs Fear DC 13: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 4 = 27

Bite vs Atium AC 18: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 + Poison

Claw 1 vs Atium AC 18: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 2 = 10
Claw 2 vs Atium AC 18: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 2 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

@Atium- DC 15 Fort save vs poison- If fail then 1d2 Dex damage.

Atium continues to get ravaged as the ettercap tries to shred it's way through the meat wall.

Round 3
Aishe (22/28; 2 NL; 1 cha dam; 4 str dam)
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Colulus (-25; -2 att)
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Vanyan (26/27; 1 NL; 1 Str dam)
Atium (35/50; Raging 43/58; Barkskin)
Vinas (41/43; 1 Dex dam)
Tessenarin (23/27; 4 NL)

Round 2, Init 14

Vanyan moves again, this time getting away from cover to throw fire at Colulus. He throws his produced flame at the bad thing.

1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 4 = 13 *touch* to hit;
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 fire damage.

Vinas waits for the perfect moment. Eschewing his usual verbal bravado, he waits until Atium makes a strike so that he can follow up.

He opts for his preferred downward angled strike:
ATK: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 2 + 2 = 24 for DMG: 1d8 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 3 = 9

The ettercap dies as Vanyan's ball of fire and Vanyan's sword angle down into it's body. All in all Aishe's silvered bolts did quite the number on him.

Three of the topiary ostrich's tail feathers are patterned like leaves and radiate magic.

"That's the way to do it!" Vinas's youth shines through in his triumphant burst. A moment later, he regains an even keel. "What are those feathers? Check them out whilst we look around."

Vinas looks about the room Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26.

Once done: "How is everyone? Shall we continue? Atium won't look like an oak forever."

Vanyan approaches the deadercap slowly, his eyes not believing that the creature is down.

”Better hit it again. Make sure it doesn’t regenerate back,” Vanyan instructs as he offers his own coup de flameball to the face.

2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 coup de flameball

Only then does Vanyan turn his attention to the totally not threatening topiary with the magic feathers.

1d20 + 9 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 4 + 2 = 33 Spellcraft

”Oh, these are...” He reaches out to pluck 3 magic feathers from the topiary. ”...these are magic feathers! They can turn into a mighty oak! Not unlike *Wank*, Vinas, you’re right.”

He offers them around to any who wish them and then inspects the deadercap’s body for loot as well. He looks around the area.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 Perception

shred it's way through the meat wall.

That's exactly what Atium is!

Atium sees the thing slash and claw and then drop dead as it gets hit by his companions.
save fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

He immediately switches off from his Turtle rage.
Very good work team. That was the best shooting I've seen from Aishe. You were a key combatant there.

As the ettercap goes down under a rain of blows, Aishe smiles, "Thanks Atium. DIdn't want it to get the best of you. Can't do too many of those though, we haven't had access to any decent bolts down here."

Picking up the bolt he missed, he checks it for durability. low is bad: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Casting it aside, he considers the feathers, "Mighty oak huh? Well if we're stuck here long enough, I can use one to learn how to make bolts. Dunno where I'm going to get the cold iron and silver though. And tools. Tools would be good."

He moves up toward the next door and changes out the bolt for one of the ones he found. He frowns as he puts it in his crossbow - as if it will foul the mechanism by being so close.

He's ready for the next door.

Searching the remainder of the garden only brings up more foul fruit and spiders. Nothing further useful comes up. Ready to push into the next room the group piles in.

The door at the end of the garden opens onto a long hallway that stretches to the west to a wooden doors. Every few feet, an elaborate portrait depicts a scholarly individual. Most are reading heavy tomes, wearing academic robes, or holding quills. All have sour expressions.

You walk towards the door, but no matter how far you travel down the hall, it never seems to get any closer. The further you go, though, the portraits appear increasingly peevish and disappointed, their eyes moving to watch you...

"Grrrr." Vinas, frustrated at what he is sure is an illusion stops and focuses, Disbelief: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Vanyan goes back to get the silvered longspear that he dropped.

Vanyan stops at the back of the line when they enter the room of portraits. If their eyes are moving, he will cast Detect Magic, hoping that any auras present will aid him in discovering what is going on.

"If that big nightmare bug was the cause of the turmoil, and he is truly dead, then things like this shouldn't happening anymore, right?" Vanyan asks the others, but also realizes that that's the exact question that others might be asking of him.

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 Perception

Vanyan uses his longspear to poke and peer behind the paintings from a 10' distance, seeing if there is anything behind them.

"Well, you're the expert. Does death bring about a dropping of an illusory veil?" Vinas trusts nothing, not his eyes, not Vanyan's conclusion.

Vanyan pokes his spear next to the portraits frame and lifts it from the wall slightly. There doesn't appear to be anything behind the portraits. Releasing it the wooden frame clacks against the wall. Concentrating for any signs of magical auras Vanyan finds none once again, which can only mean this is part of the nightmarish influence.

Vinas breathes deeply, trying to see past an illusion. Opening his eyes the hallway still seems the same. Vinas' heart sinks as he comes to the realization that this is no illusion.

The judgmental eyes continue to follow you as they look down disappointed.

We should go back to that rat-thug who I want still want to remove it's head from it's shoulders. Maybe he will understand this hallway.
I can make certain to convince it to do everything it can.

Or we can bring in a couple of those chairs to establish distance? They had big pocket spaces= maybe that's a help.

"Those eyes are no illusion. They're paying attention to us. Paying attention means...." Vinas stops speaking and turns his gaze directly to a portrait. He locks his eyes on them. "Show me your heart." It's a command.... Detect Evil

"We must need to do something. What would you make people do, if you could, to walk down a hallway of ancient portraits?"

He thinks a moment, and tries bowing to each portrait respectfully as he passes. If that doesn't work, he reads all the plaques, aloud if necessary. If that doesn't work, he'll light a candle and carefully carry it down the hallway (a scholar's light?).

He always starts from the beginning with each attempt - just in case.

When none of those work, he shrugs, "I'm not sure. We might need help."

Vanyan signs inwardly. If he had a piece of copper for every time this nightmare influence was getting on his nerves... is it time to wake up yet? Just because Mr. Spider has perished in a ball of silver bolts and flame apparently doesn't mean that the trickery is over. Someone else must be keeping the deception very well alive.

"I think there's more to it than just the spider," he ventures a guess, turning to Vinas."I won't be surprised if we're about to find out soon..."

Desperate times, desperate measures. He now speaks to the portraits directly: "Hello, err, gentlefolk and scholars," be begins, trying to recall appropriate forms of address. "If it would please you, is there anything you could do to help us restore this place to its rightful order? Would you please let us know how we may proceed?", he asks, assuming that whoever's depicted here might have an interest in returning the Scriptorium to its former Mistress.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8 Diplomacy

That, or he's about to look really, really stupid for talking to inanimate objects.

Looking back you quickly realize that the door you came through is also just beyond your reach. You are trapped in this supernatural hallway. Vinas is able to confirm that this entire spatial distortion as evil and caused by the nightmarish influence.

Attempting to talk his way through Vanyan causes a rising supernatural panic.

Wisdom Damage (All): 1d3 ⇒ 3

After uttering his words, Vanyan soon realizes that something doesn't quite feel right. Then it gets worse. Ow. That’s a lot of wisdom damage.

He looks around anxiously, trying to contain the panic he feels rising inside of him. It's a clutching, overwhelming thing trapped inside his chest. Beady tiny terrors with dirty flapping wings; leathery feathery fear.

"Vinas... Tess.... *you* talk to them!", he gasps, still utterly convinced that the portraits can help. It's all they have here in this wretched hallway with them. If they have the power to harm, they have the power to help. He maybe just wasn't convincing enough...

Is there a check here that will help us puzzle this out? Not sure what we are supposed to do? Smash and burn might be next thing.

Atium holds his head together with his hands. The pain on his brain is immense.

Holy crap! That's so much ability damage! "Calm thyselves. We're here boldly and with no ill will. Let us through this hall and we shall see peace returned to you!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

”Yeah!” Vanyan yesmans, trying to back up Vinas, clapping Vinas on the back.

You got this, Brother.

1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14 Diplomacy to aid

Aishe’s head pulses with the pain, and he staggers under the weight of it. ”Alright, we’re sorry.” he murmurs by way of support...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1 vs DC 10 to aid.

... though it comes out more like a growl than an apology.

By all the Cruses given from Baba Yaga! Should those pictures do me anymore harm, I'm going to destroy them.

I am at 4 wisdom. seems like time for a random roll.
what to do: 1d100 ⇒ 90 Above 75. attack anyway.

Everyone thinks he's just saying that, and so he hefts his adamantine mace and takes a two handed swing at the first picture frame to smash that disapproving face!
attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

”*WANK* NO!” Vanyan cries, hoping to stop his larger friend from lashing out...he tries to wrap his arms around Atium’s mace, making the man swing him into the picture like a wrecking ball.

Aishe watches sadly, but calmly, as Atium tries to undo the will of the party with one unthoughtful leap.

He hopes Vanyan corrals him, but he's already raising his hands to his head to ward off the anticipated response from the portraits.