GM MattMorris Fragments of Antiquity (Inactive)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

"Oh my, so it was. Let's have a look"

Linguistics: 1d20 + 13 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 13 + (3) = 35

He chuckles as he's flicking through it.

"Alas no, it's a fake. It's a strange experience, reading in a language you didn't understand yesterday, but even then I'd have been able to see the language is anachronistic and it's devoid of content. Not worth our attention. Sorry"

Well, I think it would be probably a good idea if I wear these gloves until the end of our adventure.

You never know. Perhaps it will be more traps over there. But in fact, they have visited all the section of the library.

Is it time to try to assemble the shards in the frame?

"Let us begin."

You are easily able to reassemble the mirror in its frame. Each time you place one of the pieces, the glass flows together to rejoin itself without leaving a line or any sign of breakage.

As the last piece melds into place, the surface of the mirror faintly glows.

”Let’s be careful,” Not-Trixie says as they observe the newly-assembled mirror. ”The writings we found suggested these soulslivers came out of this mirror, so it stands to reason they might be waiting on the other side for us. Perhaps a few preparatory spells are in order?”

"Aye let's take a second to ward ourselves"

From Tholgrin's earlier check, does he believe the scythe would be especially effective against these soul slivers?

"Grel, Morrolan, would either of you like to wield this scythe? It is fine work, and thrums with magic"

He casts false life, and then when they're ready to pass through, he casts shield.

False Life: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"Do we know how to activate this thing? Walk through, or command word, will we emerge in a mirror world, or some hellscape?"

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 7 + (5) = 22

He draws Beryl and prepares to pass through when everyone is ready

You know that the soulslivers have the shapeshifter subtype, so the scythe would work well against them. The mirror will transport anyone reflected in it when someone touches it.

I can use the scythe since it is a martial weapon. If no one else wants it, I will take it. If someone else wants to use it, that is fine with me.

Morrolan agrees and begins to cast some preparatory spells just before entering the mirror.

See Invisibility on self, dur 60 min
Communal Protection from Evil on group, dur 1 min each
Divine Favor on self, dur 1 min

Grel also casts some preparatory spells.

Communal Spider Climb, everyone gets 10 minutes. Bull's Strength on Morrolan, let's make sure that scythe lands :)

Styfis casts also spells before to go.

: Gravity Bow 8 min
Shield 8 min
Guidance 1 min
Haste 8 rounds for all the party !

And I use one point of mental focus for Legacy Weapon (Su) to place shapechanger bane on my bow.

"Styfis, wait," Not-Trixie says, pulling out her rod and passing it to him. "Use this on your haste, and it'll last twice as long! Just make sure I get it back when the dust settles, eh?" She pokes him with her elbow good-naturedly before casting her own spell. "Ready," she says as she adjusts her glasses.

Casting protection from evil.

Tsura casts false life

1d10 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

And draws a lesser rod of piercing

...

Casting protection from evil.

You can of course if you want to. Yours will last longer since it's not split. I did cast communal protection from evil on the whole group.

Feeling thoroughly prepared, you touch the mirror, and a heartbeat later you appear in another room.

In the center of the room, two staircases descend to a lower level set six feet below the main floor. A glass railing like the ones in the rest of the library encircles the lower level. A large mirror is inlaid into the floor on the lower level and surrounded by bookshelves set into the walls, with standing mirrors in the corners. On the upper level, fragments of broken mirrors sparkle in the aisles between the shelves, and in the corners, folding screens partly conceal more private spaces.

Somehow, your party was seperated during transit. leaning against the wall behind each of you it an amber shard of mirror, much like those you used to rebuild the mirror of translocation.

Also inhabiting the room are three Tian librarians. Or at least creatures with that appearance. They do not look friendly.

The librarian nearest to Tholgrin charges down the aisway at him and lowers its should, trying to press him back against the mirror shard behind him, but he just fails moving the hardy dwarf.
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 = 20
(Miss due to Protection from Evil!)

~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Red (MI: 1d6)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d5)
Grel
Tholgrin
Yellow (MI: 1d6)
Styfis
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Notes: (1) Now that you see the soulslivers, you can make another Knowledge (planes) check on them. They are an uncommon creature, so the DC will be a bit higher. (2) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

May I break Heightened Awareness to get +4 on the init check?

kn planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Special attacks. Immunities. Resistances. In that order if I have sufficient success for that info.

May I break Heightened Awareness to get +4 on the init check?

Yes. That will put you in front of yellow.

Special Attacks:
Death Throes (Su) When a soulsliver is killed, its body explodes into jagged glass shards that deal 2d6 points of piercing and slashing damage to creatures within a 20-foot-radius burst (Reflex DC 12 half). The save DC is Constitution-based.

Immunities:
None

These guys also have some non-standard things going on.

"non-standard" haha. ok. :)

Kmowledge Planes
1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28
In order of importance to me: Resistances, Non-Standard Things, SR

Unless I find out they are highly resistant, I cant fireball where it will get only Blue and Yellow DC 20 Reflex for 1/2

Fireball
8d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 2, 2, 1, 4, 3) = 24

If these creatures have the elemental subtype, my ring casts dominate monster on them

I then move away from my reflection

Don't think I want to be pushed into myself

They have resist acid 5 and fire 5. I'm going to assume that's not highly resistance for you. They are typically NE outsiders with the extraplanar and shapechanger subtypes. No SR.

Tsura, you can see that their connection to the tapestry has somehow empowered them.

I'm going to give you all of their special abilities:
Mirror Crash (Ex) Whenever the soulsliver’s knockback ability moves a creature adjacent to a mirror or other reflective surface (including mirror shards) the creature must succeed at a DC 18 Will saving throw or become trapped in the mirror for 2 rounds, similar to being trapped in a maze spell. A creature trapped in a mirror in this manner may attempt a new saving throw at the start of its turn each round to escape the mirror. When a creature escapes or is freed from a mirror, it appears in the nearest open square to the location it was in when it was trapped in the mirror.

Mirror Travel (Su) At will as a standard action, a soulsliver can crawl into any mirror as if it were a door or window, instantly transporting itself to another mirror within 500 feet as if using dimension door (caster level 7th). It can remain within that mirror indefinitely, or on its next turn crawl out or use this ability again. Its compression ability allows it to enter or exit Diminutive or larger mirrors. It can only exit a mirror if it is using change shape to take a specific creature’s form.

Perfect Copy (Su) When a soulsliver uses change shape, it can assume the appearance of a specific individual. However, it is always the mirror image of the person it copies, which might give away that something is wrong.

Reflex (Blue): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Reflex (Yellow): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Both of the soulslivers take some fire damage.

~+~Combat Round 1 (cont.)~+~
Red (MI: 1d6)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d5) (-7)
Grel
Tholgrin
Yellow (MI: 1d6) (-7)
Styfis
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Notes: (1) Now that you see the soulslivers, you can make another Knowledge (planes) check on them. They are an uncommon creature, so the DC will be a bit higher. (2) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Not-Trixie wrote:

Casting protection from evil.

You can of course if you want to. Yours will last longer since it's not split. I did cast communal protection from evil on the whole group.

Whoops! I must have skipped right over that. Not-Trixie will gladly save her spell - thanks for catching it!

Not-Trixie darts out from the bookshelves. Relieved to see all her friends made it here as well, she snags a bit of butter from her belt pouch and throws it at the ground between the still-singed soulslivers. "It's not much, but it should stop them from charging you!" she calls out to Styfis. "Maybe you can remove some of these images with your arrows?"

Move (with haste), then casting grease (Reflex 17) in white square.

Ok. I will play before the yellow so. Already something better.

Being a devotee of Torag, Tholgrin is a Defensive Strategist and isn't flat-footed so I think he'd get an AoO as the creature charged?

Beryl AoO: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 1 = 22
Image: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Also in case it tries it again, Tholgrin has the stability racial trait giving him a +4 bonus against bull-rush and trip attempts while he's on the ground

Late, but worth mentioning: Tsura would have positioned that fireball to avoid burning any books. Looks like that's possible given where they are.

Tsura, don't forget the Preservationist boon we got on the Reaver's roar chronicle's sheet. The books are concerned only if you want to.

Yes, sorry Tholgrin. I thought that you had something like that, but I couldn't remember. Your attack destroys an image.

Reflex (yellow): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

The blue librarian walks up to Grel and attempts to push him into the mirror, but it fails to do so.

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

~+~Combat Round 1 (cont.)~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d5) (-7)
Grel
Tholgrin
Yellow (MI: 1d6) (-7)
Styfis
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Grel stands his ground and fights back with swings of his warhammer.

warhammer 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
MI: 1d5 ⇒ 2
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

warhammer 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
MI: 1d5 ⇒ 3
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Grel, those are both misses, but close enough to pop 2 images.

~+~Combat Round 1 (cont.)~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d3) (-7)
Grel
Tholgrin
Yellow (MI: 1d6) (-7)
Styfis
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Progress :) Also, FYI I benefit from the same +4 stability racial trait as the other dwarves.

Seeing the creepy librarian charging, Tholgrin knew it was going to get inside his reach, so as soon as Beryl passes through an image and smashes into the ground, he lets go of her haft.

He takes the second as it gets closer before it slams into him to study its moves, and after it hits him with surprising force, he pulls Ros from his back and slashes toward the mess of images.

Drop beryl, swift study, draw Ros, single attack

Ros: 1d20 + 10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 3 + 1 = 15
Image: 1d5 ⇒ 3

Doh!

Tholgrin, that's a miss by enough that it doesn't pop an image.

Acrobatics (yellow): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
The yellow librarian walks across the grease, then advances on Styfis, attempting (but failing) to knock the elf back into the mirror shard.
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

~+~Combat Round 1 (cont.)~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d3) (-7)
Grel
Tholgrin
Yellow (MI: 1d6) (-7)
Styfis
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Euh I was supposed to play before the yellow.

Right, my fault! I'll back him up. Feel free to take your turn.

Thank you

The elf makes a five foot and fires a rain of arrows over the yellow one.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35
Damage 1: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 10 + (2, 2) = 20
Target 1: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
Damage 2: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 10 + (2, 3) = 19
Target 2: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Arrow 3: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Damage 3: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) + 10 + (1, 6) = 24
Target 3: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Arrow 4: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Damage 4: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 10 + (3, 4) = 20
Target 4: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Styfis's shorts are true, but the shimmering form of the librarian protects it from harm. (Destroyed 3 images)

After absorbing the archer's shots, the creature approachs and attempts to knock Styfis back, but fails. I'll use my rolls from my previous post.

~+~Combat Round 1 (cont.)~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d3) (-7)
Grel
Tholgrin
Styfis
Yellow (MI: 1d3) (-7)
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Buffs active
See Invisibility - 57 rounds
Haste - 15 rounds
Protection from Evil - 9 rounds
Divine Power - 10 rounds

Morrolan rushes forth to trouble the false librarians. It is unthinkable that you torment and imitate the protectors of written works! Begone you misbegotten filthy swine! Etc...

swift action - activate judgement of justice with judgement surge (+3 to hit), move action, standard action - cast blistering invective (can only reach yellow and blue).

intimidate: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
fire: 1d10 ⇒ 4
I will use my reroll for the intimidate.
re-intimidate: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 18 + 1 = 35

GM question. I'm getting ready to use the shapechanger bane scythe next round. Can I activate outsider bane and it do both bane damages?

I'm on my phone, so I'll move combat along in the morning, but there was an FAQ from a while ago that said multiple banes don't stack. (Had to go looking for that answer!)

Relevant rule

Weapons cannot possess the same special ability more than once.

Ah, not surprised. Just thought I'd check. I will be doing a pretty fair amount of damage anyway.

The creatures are clearly shaken, though they seem unfazed by the fire damage.
Reflex (yellow): 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 - 2 = 17
Reflex (blue): 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 - 2 = 21

The red librarian attacks Tholgrin with a scimitar that seems to be made of a long shard of glass, then attempts again to slam him into the mirror shard.
scimitar 1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 for magic/slashing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
scimitar 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13 for magic/slashing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33 for 6 damage.

The creature bruises Tholgrin as he pushes him back, and the dwarf feels himself being sucked in to the mirror! Will save!

~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d3) (-7, shaken 4/4)
Grel
Tholgrin (-6)Will Save
Styfis
Yellow (MI: 1d3) (-7, shaken 4/4)
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Not-Trixie flicks her wrist, and a slender glass wand appears in her hand. As she taps herself with it and fades from view, she looks around worriedly. Are they trying to push us back out of this room? she wonders, moving to a better vantage point. Looks like I won't be needing some of these spells anymore though!

Swift action to use spring-loaded wrist sheath, standard to cast invisibility from wand, move to move 60 ft.

Having been rather too confident in his Dwarven stability, Tholgrin uses the fraction of a second as he feels himself slipping into the mirror to steel his mind.

Immediate action to cast Thought Shield I, spending 2 phrenic points for the Mind Shield phrenic amplification to give me a +4 to will saves for 6 rounds. I don't think the thought shield actually helps me here as it gives a bonus to mind-affecting effects, but it let's me throw the mind shield up

Will save: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 4 = 17

"Nooooo..."

Tholgrin disappears.

Tsura activates her Flight hex and floats out to the center of the room.

"Should have played for position with my opening move, but I just couldn't resist a fireball."

The blue librarian slashes out at Grel, then tries to push him into the mirror. It hits once, and nearly slices deeply into the its target on the backswing, but the hasty dwarf manages to dodge.
Shaken
scimitar 1: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 2 = 27 for slashing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
scimitar 2: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 = 26 for slashing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 13 - 2 = 12

~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d3) (-7, shaken 3/4)
Grel (-10)
Tholgrin (-6)(Maze 2/2)
Styfis
Yellow (MI: 1d3) (-7, shaken 4/4)
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

Grel continues to lay into the librarian in front of him.

warhammer: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
MI: 1d3 ⇒ 1

warhammer: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
MI: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Grel and I having a slap fight over here. He pops one image. Blue has only 1 image left.

If all Grel does is lock down one of these things for the combat until everyone else is sorted, I'm cool with that :)

The archer takes a five foot and fire a new rain of arrows over the yellow one.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Damage 1: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 10 + (5, 4) = 26
Target 1: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Damage 2: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 10 + (3, 4) = 25
Target 2: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Arrow 3: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Damage 3: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 10 + (3, 6) = 31
Target 3: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Arrow 4: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Damage 4: 2d6 + 10 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 10 + (6, 6) = 30
Target 4: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Styfis's first attack punctures a mirror image, causing his second attack to strike home. His third attack pops the yellow's final image.

~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Red (MI: 1d5)
Not-Trixie
Tsura
Blue (MI: 1d3) (-7, shaken 3/4)
Grel (-10)
Tholgrin (-6)(Maze 2/2) Will save to escape early
Styfis
Yellow (-32, shaken 4/4)
Morrolan

Group Buffs: Haste, Protection from Evil, Spider Climb

Note: (1) The enemies have mirror image up. It you attack them, roll the indicated die with your attack. You'll hit on a 1, otherwise, you'll pop an image.(Trying this out to see if it speeds things up!)

I'm imagining this as Tholgrin trapped in the mirror and pressing against the surface phantom-zone style

Will Save: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 = 11