GM ShadowLord's Tyrant's Grasp - Group 2 (Inactive)

Game Master The Rising Phoenix

Sarela sighs as some sort of fey creature - probably a tooth fairy - calls out to them. She was really tired of these fey nuisances. I wish Aralah would just pick the lock so she could open the door and we could deal with these things.

Seeing Mithralline with the lance, Sarela says, "If these are tooth fairies, the cold iron longsword the prince gave us will be more effective against them."

Aralah looks really confused and replies "Wait, wait... so do you work for the Prince or the Queen?" doing her best to stay behind cover near the door.

Laurel looks barely responsive. It isn't quite clear if he's trusting his companions to handle this or if he's still not recovered from the assault on his soul earlier.

"Oh, true," Mithralline says, abashed -- but only slightly -- at her mistake.

She puts up the lance and draws the sword and her shield instead.

Though it sounds like Aralah might be talking their way out of this fight. Not that Mithralline couldn't do that too, she supposes, but why not have fun.

"THE QUEEN!" they shout. "Times up!"

Suddenly three tiny, flying tooth fairies appear on both sides of Aralah as well as above her head. Each shoves a plier into her mouth and before she can cry out, THREE teeth are yanked free from her mouth. Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) = 9 +3 CHA damage + 1 Bleed damage. Additionally, make three DC5 Acrobatic checks, failure meaning you fall prone on the bridge and need to make a DC15 Reflex or fall from the bridge and take 3d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 4) = 10 falling damage, putting 30' below in the courtyard. Have fun! :D

R1: Fey, Mith, Sarela, Laurel, Aralah, Sam

Laurel shakes his head, as if trying to get rid of a fog or a hangover. He steps over to Mith, mumbling a word and blessing her with guidance.

Sarela hexes the closest tooth fairy, then begins cackling.

Misfortune Hex on the closest tooth fairy (DC 15 Will negates), Cackle as a move action.

Though she'd prefer to give them a piece of her mind, Mithralline keeps her mouth closed tight as she rushes to support her friend, cold iron sword lashing out.

mwk cold iron longsword: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Sam rushes up to the edge of the bridge but stays off it for now as she's afraid she'll only get in the way.

Guidance on anyone besides Mith, who already has it, who walks within 5 ft of Sam.

She auto-succeeds the acrobatics checks.

Aralah cries out in pain as the vile creatures assault her. As Mith rushes forward to attack Aralah carefully move back to get away from the creatures and find some safety.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 To avoid AoO as she moves back across the brindge

As Aralah moves out, Mithralline moves up and swats one of the fey out of existence by splattering it on her longsword that cuts right through their skin without any resistance. Sarela tries to instill some bad luck on the fey, but it resists her.

Squeaking as their companion disappears, the other two move into extract some teeth from Ms. Cort. Each successfully pulls out a tooth from her mouth, waving them around on their pliers. 2 Damage + 2 CHA + 1 Bleed damage.

After striking her, both fly back 5' to get out of range of that evil sword she uses!

R2: Fey, Mith, Sarela, Laurel, Aralah, Sam

Sarela frowns and focuses her ire on the other fey, trying to lay her bad luck upon it followed by her now-common cackle.

Misfortune Hex on the other fey, and cackle as a move action.

Laurel retrieves his crossbow, firing it at the leftmost fey!

Attack (guidance from Sam): 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Sam is exhausted from what they've achieved today but does her best to keep helping.

Guidance spam on Laurel.

Mithralline spits blood as the creatures grab her teeth.

"Come on, you little cowards, come fight!" she taunts shem as she retreats to an area they don't have quite as much advantage, ready to bring the sword to bear again as soon as she can.

Would like to back up to where Aralah or Laurel are if one of them can 5-ft. step back. If not, I'll move to right in front of their position and ready an attack.

Cold iron longsword (Power Attack): 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
Crit?: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 1 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6

Now with in relative safety Aralah looses some arrows at the fey that had pulled out her teeth, her mouth still bleeding.

Attack, PBS: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10
Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Flurry: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 = 10
Damage, PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

These pesky tooth fairies have a 5' range with their fancy pliers, so backing up out of that will provoke from both of them. I hope you didn't want any teeth in your mouth?

As Mith flees, the fey try to steal more teeth from Mith's already bleeding mouth. The first one fails because of Sarela's hex, but the second one somehow manages to get those pliers in her mouth and pull free yet another pearly white. 1 regular damage, 1 charisma damage, 1 bleeding damage.

Failing to avoid Sarela's hex, both creatures now are cursed with bad luck. Aralah's shot misses wide as Mithralline backs into her and Laurel's shot sails wide as well.

Both fey giggle and fly north through the small windows and disappear from sight.

Unless you're pressing the attack, we're out of initiative for now.

Mithralline spits blood, her mouth a hideous mess, as she tries to stanch the flow.

"Little f@~&ers," she says. "Clearly we need a better plan. Let's pull back and figure out what's next."

Well, that clearly didn't work. Is there any other option of places to go?

Sarela steps up to Mithralline and Aralah and attempts to stem the blood flow.

Heal: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Heal: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

"I don't think we have anywhere else to go. We might just need Aralah to quickly pick the door so we can rush it and get across the bridge."

Aralah holds up the key the 'king' gave them "I think this will unlock the door, at least that is what the other fey said right?" She looks at the bridge a moment then back at the group "I don't know everyone rushing across while a fight is going on is the best idea though. Someone falls off that they may not survive it..."

She purses her lips and then shrugs "Not sure of a better option though..."

Laurel shrugs, staring down at the depths from the fall as if it's irrelevant if he dies up here or down there.

"Maybe we should rest first?" Mithralline says. "Make sure the rest of you are in tip-top shape?"

I hate to have a 5-minute adventuring day, but how badly hurt are we right now? My HP are OK, but I'm down three Cha, and have used my two daily abilities.

This is no 5-minute adventuring day. We've had at least three other encounters today that were similarly draining. I'm good to rest.

Sam also does her best to stop the bleeding, worried about the state of her comrades, many bleeding from their mouths. "I don't know what we should do... this all seems... crazy..." She utters the last word quietly, feeling small and confused. Then she shakes her head, rises up onto the balls of her feet, then plunks back down emphatically. "No, if we rest and work together we do this. We just need a break, that's all."

Aralah nods "Probably not a bad idea. I can still heal one of us a bit, whoever is the worst off before we rest."

Still have one CLW castings available.

I'm not that badly hurt HP-wise. Not sure if someone else needs it more.

Mithralline looks for a safe area to rest.

Sounds like we're resting. I believe you all camped for the night in the prince's room on the second floor last time? Return there or somewhere else?

Is there anywhere between here and there? I know we have the room where we fought the psychopomp. I'd prefer to stay elsewhere, but if that fails, we can try the prince's room.

Pick any room you like, you have essentially the whole fist and second floors of the palace cleared.

Let's close the door here and close the door back downstairs and then just rest here, then we just have the ladder and the door to watch.

This room has arrow slits the fairies could get through. Let's find a way to secure ourselves. Does the ladder have a trapdoor?

I thought the arrow slits were too small, if that's not the case, then let's just go back to the princes room. I mean the only threats left (that we are aware of) are the queen's guards.

I thought the arrow slits on the other tower were how the tooth fairies came out. They didn't open the door.

I got the impression they flew out the ceiling, like there wasn't a roof or something? Could be mistaken though

If the tooth fairies can't fit through the arrow slits, then camping out here is a good idea.

Because we're adding a new person right now, I'll just handwave any optional encounter in the evening and move us along.

The party decides to move back down to the Prince's office on the second floor, where are furniture that will make for a more comfortable sleeping arrangements. After securing the room, preparing an evening meal and getting comfortable, you divide into shifts and pass out for the night.

At some point early the next morning which your body tells you should be after dawn, something peculiar happens, there is a knock at the door. Catching you rather by surprise, everyone quickly shuffles about and grabs their weapons and hastily begin to don their armor. Another knock goes unanswered as sleeping party members are woken and it isn't until everyone is ready that Mithralline calls out for them to identify themselves after the four set of knocks.

In a timid, frightened, and unsure of herself voice you hear "Hello? Hello? Its me, Aira. These two... creatures brought me here. They called themselves Umble and Thoot. I, I don't know whats happening, and I am scared. Everything is different. This whole place is different. They said we died, but we are not really dead, but that everyone else is dead, and none of this makes any sense! Is there anyone in there? Anyone??"

Aralah looks surprised when a voice replies to Mith's call for identification. She doesn't know this Aira, but from what she describes her situation sounds much the same as their own. She looks to the others unsure if this is some sort of trick or if anyone knows who this is.

”Cousin Aira? Is that you?” Sarela begins moving towards the door, so eager to see someone else living.

In the back of Laurel's mind a warning calls to him. It may be a trick, be careful! But he doesn't seem able to force the words into his mouth. He watches the door with sunken eyes, waiting for the newcomer, distantly hoping they will be friendly.

Hearing a familiar voice, Aira jumps with excitement. A wave of positive emotions bursts throughout as she exclaims "Sarela!!! Is that you in there? Its me, Aira! Oh what a relief it is to hear a familiar voice. Please tell me what is going on. Is it true that we are stuck here, and all our friends and family are dead? I can understand your hesitation to open the door, I think I am just as scared as you are." She pauses for a moment in silence, waiting for a response.

"Is aunty Rose there? Surely she would recognize me. Oh I know what to do! I am not sure why, but most of my normal day to day gear came along with me"

Getting very excited to hopefully see her friends, Aira pulls out her flute, and begins to play a melody, familiar to the locals of Lastwell.

replace Lastwell above with Roslar's Coffer

"Of course we're not stuck here. I'm looking for a way out," Mithralline says with complete confidence, trying to calm the hysterical woman outside. "I just haven't quite gotten us all there yet. It's a good thing you caught up with us so quickly, though."

She looks around at the others, rising her eyebrows in question to see if they want to open the door.

"Perhaps you can tell us something about Sarela here that no one else would know? Just to confirm it's really you," she suggests.

That said, we can also probably do away with the typical PC suspiciousness since we know it's another PC. What did happen with Rose in-game?

We'll just fast-forward through the suspiciousness to keep things moving along for now.

For the ten fifteen minutes Aria answers a battery of questions and it becomes abundantly clear to them that she experienced the same thing that all of you did, but instead of waking up in a tomb she woke up inside of the horse sarcophagus and it wasn't until one of the keepers of the crypt came down to free her did she finally manage to break free by which point you all had already departed for the Palace of the Teeth.

Over the course of the next ten minutes, the party catches her up on what's happened in the palace as they walk through the prince they eliminated and the supposed Queen who he wanted them to kill that is locked away on the third floor.

Rose is still with the party, but something is wrong. She had already requested to stay behind to rest, mentioning she wasn't feeling well and needing a quick nap, blaming her old age as the culprit.

She was fast asleep when the party arrived in here and she hasn't woken this morning. Her skin is grown paler than normal and cooler to the touch. Shaking her and prodding her doesn't seem to get any response and after the healers check her over, they see no signs of foul play.

Though she is not in great shape, the party knows the best thing for her is to be done with this place and get her out of here. To that end, they retrace their steps and return to the gatehouse with the bridge that leads across to a locked door.

Back at the same place we stopped, let me know how you want to tackle this the second time.

A new face to aid them? For the briefest of moments Laurel sees a hint of brightness in the world, but it quickly evaporates when the others call for healers when Rose won't wake up. After checking her he hangs his head in shame. I can't even keep us from slipping away in our sleep. What good am I doing here? He quietly follows the others, beaten and downtrodden.

We didn't kill the prince - he's still alive.

As soon as Aira is let into the room, Sarela bolts over to her and envelops her in a big hug, wrapping her arms around her 'cousin' as tears of joy begin to shed. "I'm so glad to see you. Auntie Rose hasn't been feeling well, and everyone's dead, but you're here, so not everyone's dead, and it's just...it's just...it's been so nerve-wracking."

Sarela hasn't handled everything well, and she's feeling a little traumatized.

Back at the bridge guarded by the tooth fairies, Sarela says, "We know they're there, so let's ready ourselves to attack them as Aralah crosses the bridge quickly and unlocks the door. Hopefully we can stop them quickly, before Aralah loses anymore teeth."

Aralah just watches the reunion but not knowing the woman doesn't say anything.

Later when they are ready to try the bridge again and Sarela mentions her going across to unlock it she notes "Um... I still don't think it is a good idea for us to all try and run across in the midst of fighting into an area that we don't know what is in there. Honestly, Mith fighting them on the bridge with us picking them off from range seems like a better option. The best would be if we could draw them into this room."

She pauses and shrugs before noting "I mean we can try the whole run across the bridge thing, but I just foresee a bunch of people falling and getting hurt..."

"I don't know if we can keep them on the bridge in range of my sword," Mithralline says dubiously. "Even I can't fly, and if they stay far away, there's not much I can do."

She thinks a moment.

"But I could give them a good whack if they get close enough to come for my teeth," she decides. "I could try getting out there and seeing if they come to play."

"I think we need to negate the tooth fairies' advantage of running away by getting into an enclosed space, otherwise they'll just stay out of reach except when they go to rip teeth out of Mith's mouth. Still, perhaps the bridge is somewhat dangerous for us all to go out onto it at once. We can try having just Mith go out there, while Aralah, myself, and Aira set up to attack the tooth fairies."

Aira, filled with too many shifting emotions, happiness to see her cousin, yet sadness when the full weight of their situation hits her - she begins to cry. Her auntie Rose falling into a deep slumber is not helping.

Yet seeing the others shake off the grief and focus on the task brings Aira back into her new reality. She wipes her tears and begins to get excited at opportunity to help.

"If they can't fly, I may be able to hinder their ability to run away, and if they can, I will blast them from the sky!" she exclaims excitedly.

Wow! Flurry of activity! Awesome.

Sam lays awake for a while before falling asleep, glad they were all in the same room, safe enough, and not fighting anything at the moment. The constant life and death struggles were... confusing... there was supposed to be a lot more light in the world. You were supposed to be able to make friends with people and treat them respectfully instead of fighting... Her mind wandering in a daze, the gnome curls up and drifts off to sleep...

In the morning, she is thrilled to hear the new arrival as she knew Aira from town and thought she was quite pleasant. "Don't worry! We were confused at first but we're alrigth!" But her words turn to ash in her mouth when she sees Rose's condition... She bends over her old school teacher, muttering prayers and attempting to find any wound or cause of the illness.

Will update more with thoughts on battleplan later but doesn't seem like Sam would be ready to say that just yet IC due to Rose's problem.