[PbP Gameday VIII] GM Ladile & the Pathfinder Society Present: The Haunting of Hinojai (Inactive)

Game Master Lady Ladile

"Does she need a little more normal healing? Not for the disease, but for the bruises and blood loss? Perhaps if she were cogent, she could tell us something about what did this to her."

Akazim considers the options, and agrees with Ingrge and Hanlin that they should continue their investigation here.

"Then we can also explain why we've left her in a different room instead of taking her home."

If the team do indeed leave her in the guard room, he will use a couple spells to ward the room. He uses them at the museum sometimes, and often on the road after finding something of significant value to prevent its theft. One spell to let him know someone's there. And another more deadly one to encourage them to leave it alone.

"Ok. Let's just put her someplace safe. Akazim, your wards will be helpful. Also, I'll give her a bit more healing." He touches her on the arm and diverts some divine healing energy into her body.

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Spontaneous casting, replaced Summon Monster I

Cirri grabs a cup of water and splashes it on the floor near the doorway. "Maybe the thing could smell her. Well, not anymore!"

A Remove Disease or spending time using Heal to Treat Disease would either cure or aid Seiko in fighting off her filth fever. But she's also suffering from a lot of Constitution damage which would make it harder to fight the disease off on her own.

Once everyone is safely back in the kitchen you try to decide on the best course of action going forward; you still have the rest of the house to investigate but it would be too dangerous both for Seiko and for yourselves to try and take her with you. And yet, returning to the village with her right away might only give whoever or whatever lurks here the time to renew itself or grow even stronger.

Ultimately you decide that Seiko would be safest left in the hidden guardroom that you found earlier, with a few protections in place courtesy of Akazim. Before you do this, however, Malusha channels a little more healing energy into the girl. Her eyes briefly flutter open and she whimpers.

<"Shadow men and teeth in the dark...the souls, oh, all the poor souls, trapped...>" Seiko whispers, delirious. <"Naomi, run...get out...">

”Come little princess, we’ll place you somewhere safe while we bring justice to whomever did this to you...”

Once she’s secure in the guardroom and Akazim has cast his protective spells, Ingrge will check the NE door back in the room where they found the hanging man and open/peer inside if it appears OK...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31

While Akazim works on laying down his protective magics over the guardroom, Hanlin flips through the tomes he retrieved from the table inside the torture chamber. It's...a rather eclectic jumble. There's a collection of love poems, a manual on torture, and a religious treatise entitled 1,900 Teachings and Verses of Absolute Law of Làu Kiritsu. A quick flip through this tome reveals it to be concerned with an infernal duke worshiped here in Tian Xia, including the rather provocative magical items that his followers are known for creating.

Once the group is ready to press on, Ingrge makes his way back into the grisly kitchen and gives the northeastern door a good look and a listen. Finding nothing and hearing nothing, he waits for the rest of you to get ready before he gently slides it open...

...to reveal a moderately-sized room that contains two empty bathtubs and a rotting bench. Faded paintings of cherry blossoms decorate the walls and two more doors lead out of this room to the east.

Ground Floor

Once Cirri places Seiko in the guard room, Akazim casts his spell of alarm on the area just outside the door. He sets it to provide him with a mental alert if something should pass through it.

"I will set a password on it so that we may pass through the area without setting it off," he tells his friends.

He thinks aloud for a moment,"'Pathfinders' is too obvious, and someone may have mentioned the name 'Amara Li' in the inn...."

Then he recalls something truly memorable from their mission briefing: Tsamara.

"If you pass through this entry, speak the name of the lovely catfolk agent we met. Do not speak it now, as these walls may have ears," he says warily.

"Rest here, Seiko-chan. Do not leave, please. We will be back to get you and take you to Naomi very soon," he tells her in Tien.

He then closes the door to the guardroom and sets his more deadly spell on the outer handle of the door before joining Ingrge.

"Quite the collection of works here, take a look Akazim, you might know more." He hands over the works and explains what they said to the others as they get the girl set.

With a nod and a determined face, Hanlin leaves the girl locked in a different room. At least this one was more comfortable. "Let's get this done as quickly as possible."

I'm really regretting burning death ward when we got here! Spells fading, boo.

As his magical defenses are starting to fade, Hanlin keeps up with the scouts of the group, being close at hand WHEN they finally find something.

Activate pearl of power I to reclaim shield of faith. Won't cast it yet though.

Ingrge will warily move through the room to check out the room and then the southernmost door...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39

Survival (Tracks): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 = 19

While Akazim works on laying down his protective magics over the guardroom, Hanlin flips through the tomes he retrieved from the table inside the torture chamber. It's...a rather eclectic jumble. There's a collection of love poems, a manual on torture, and a religious treatise entitled 1,900 Teachings and Verses of Absolute Law of Làu Kiritsu. A quick flip through this tome reveals it to be concerned with an infernal duke worshiped here in Tian Xia, including the rather provocative magical items that his followers are known for creating.

Once the group is ready to press on, Ingrge makes his way back into the grisly kitchen and gives the northeastern door a good look and a listen. Finding nothing and hearing nothing, he waits for the rest of you to get ready before he gently slides it open...

...to reveal a moderately-sized room that contains two empty bathtubs and a rotting bench. Faded paintings of cherry blossoms decorate the walls and two more doors lead out of this room to the east.

Ground Floor

"Ah, I have read similar treaties* elsewhere."

* Rated R for language and adult themes.

<"Run...you can do it...you're almost there..."> Seiko mumbles, slipping in and out of her fevered state as Akazim finishes warding the door to the guardroom and the area just outside the door.

As Hanlin and Abaal remark on the rather bizarre and macabre treatise you recovered from below, Ingrge continues to press forward. Finding nothing of interest in this old, run-down bathing room, he proceeds to check both the southeastern and northeastern doors. Both of these lead to restrooms and contain nothing more than very old and very broken household items.

Both of the restrooms notably have doors themselves that lead even further towards the east, most likely to the same room or location.

Ground Floor

(Took a slight liberty to save us a little time and accounted for Ingrge checking both doors & rooms. Oh and please to be remembering to move your map tokens; I adjusted a couple of you to catch up with the rest.)

Akazim looks up from the books that Hanlin handed him.

"Ingrge, perhaps this door would yield something more interesting," he says with a nod toward the northern door from the kitchen where Abaal stands ready.

Knowledge of what, or a Linguistics check to glean more or to find any hidden meanings in the books?

Hanlin nods at Akazim as he suggests the northern door off of the room they're in. "This reminds me of a trip I went on in the Darklands. Well, I guess not." He thinks back to all the strange things they saw.

Ingrge nods. ”Aye, one of these doors must lead somewhere...”

The ranger heads back to check the door Akazim mentions, and opens it if it checks out...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37

Hmm...you could make a Kn. Religion for funsies if you want to know more about Làu Kiritsu but otherwise there doesn't seem to be much else to these particular books.

Upon Akazim's suggestion the group falls back into the dining hall and sets their sights on the northern door. In what is now a well-established procedure Ingrge advances to the door, inspects it for traps and other trickery, and upon finding nothing alarming he carefully slides it open...

...to reveal a large, L-shapred room. The eastern portion of this room has a raised floor where a finely crafted wooden chair — almost a throne — sits. A half-dozen faded woven mats litter the floor. A small low table — another fine piece of furniture — rests tipped on its side. Scattered on the floor are the broken remains of a porcelain tea set. On the walls hang empty racks where commemorative weapons used to hang in places of honor. One door leads further to the east and another leads to the west; judging from the layout it seems likely that the western door would return you to the atrium.

The room at first seems much like the bathing room and the restrooms you've already found - devoid of anything but old and mostly broken furniture. Except for one thing. Across the western wall of the room a single word has been scratched deeply into the woodwork.

LIARS.

Ground Floor

Optional Mood Music

Cirri shudders upon seeing the word. "Gah. What is this place?" She keeps scanning for magical auras.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Though clearly unnerved by the sight of the word scratched into the wall Cirri continues to scan about for magical auras or anything else of interest.

But there's nothing there.

Ground Floor

"I guess it's time for this door, then." CIrri walks north, waiting for Ingrge's voice to give her the all clear.

Malusha follows the group as they explore the rooms. He keeps scanning rooms, actively looking for magic.

Akazim follows Cirri into the next uninhabited room. As he looks around, his eyes are drawn to the accusatory graffiti. "Who are the 'Liars'? Who lied to whom?" he wonders aloud.

A raised dais. A small throne - perhaps. Mats for supplicants. Likely an audience chamber. But this does not answer the questions.

"Onward then, friendly bugbear," he jokes as his attention returns to the door.

Ingrge nods to Cirri and checks out the next door...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31

"Maybe its got something to do with the haunt we ran into outside." Remarks Hanlin as he tries to recall if this set up looks accurate or staged.

K Nobility and Royalty: Hell, I never get to use that skill point!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

While waiting for them to open the door, Malusha quickly loads a bolt into his crossbow. "Maybe, Hanlin. I just don't like this place at all. The sooner we are done, the better."

As Hanlin ponders the significance of this room and the 'throne', he remembers something that Akazim had shared with the group yesterday. Himiju Minasako, the former owner of the house, was a local noblewoman who seemed to have close ties to the organization known as the Way of the Kirin. It seems likely that this room as used as a meeting room whenever there was business to be discussed.

While Cirri stands ready Ingrge sets about examining the northeastern door and as with all of the other doors, it doesn't appear to be trapped or locked. Once more, he's able to slide it open with ease...and you're all greeted by the light of day. This area is open to the outside but sheltered by the roof two stories above. A simple waist-high metal railing separates this patio from the cliffside to the north. A few serviceable chairs rest near a large free-standing brass telescope aimed at the heavens. Broken statues of foo dogs and other mythological animals litter the floor along the southern walls.

There appear to be two other doors leading back into the house from this patio; one to the northwest and the other to the south.

Ground Floor

Optional Mood Music

Hanlin quickly browses the porch, especially the telescope, unless of course its pointed at the sun. "See anything in particular of note? I'm starting to think we've missed something, or expect to find a second floor where all the skeletons are hidden."

Ingrge shakes his head at another mostly empty room...he has a foreboding feeling that he best stay alert as the next room may not be so...

Bow still in hand, the ranger will look over the room...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32

Survival (Tracks): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 2 = 17

...if all checks out, he'll give the NW door a once over...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 21 + 1 = 23

Hmm...you could make a Kn. Religion for funsies if you want to know more about Làu Kiritsu but otherwise there doesn't seem to be much else to these particular books.

knowledge (religion funsies): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Abaal sighs. He does not speak aloud his thoughts on the matter.

The most merciful thing in the world, I think, is the inability of the human mind to correlate all its contents. We live on a placid island of ignorance in the midst of black seas of infinity, and it was not meant that we should voyage far. The sciences, each straining in its own direction, have hitherto harmed us little; but some day the piecing together of dissociated knowledge will open up such terrifying vistas of reality, and of our frightful position therein, that we shall either go mad from the revelation or flee from the light into the peace and safety of a new dark age.

If only he could forget the truth.

So a quick question about the map. We are on the "ground floor" but there seem to be stairs in the courtyard that lead up to rooms that appear to be on a higher elevation--there is a doorway to the left of our position that seems to open on an elevated walkway (dark blue path)--except that it can't be elevated going by the more typical non-Escher rules of architecture, space, and time. So does that 'elevated' doorway actually open 'beneath the walkway' (the light blue path; basically it is positioned 10' down from where it looks like it is and one just needs to walk beneath the walkway to get to it rather than up and around) or are we in fun house constructed by minions of the Great Old Ones? Depending upon the answer Abaal moves to the opening on the side opposite the one Ingrge is standing at (knowing of course that the careful bowman would never mistakenly fire at him should they open their doors simultaneously). Besides how could he? Ingrge's on a whole other floor, right?

All of the rooms you see on the ground level, are, in fact, on the ground level of the house. The only route to go up that you've found so far are the stairs indicated by the two big red arrows, which lead up to a balcony that overlooks the atrium. Upon re-reading that post I realize I could have been more clear about there being a way to go up, so I apologize for that. If you want to return to the room(s) you and Akazim explored earlier and potentially meet up with Ingrge again, you have the right of it with your dark blue path. And you'll all still be on the ground level of the house. That said...

A bit puzzled by the lack of any overtly hostile forces - corporeal or otherwise - some of you slowly begin to filter out onto the patio. Hanlin moves over to the telescope which stands about 4 feet high and by his estimate likely weighs at least 200 pounds or more. It's also in surprisingly good repair and seems to have seen recent use.

Abaal thinks about the layout of what the group has explored thus far and comes to the conclusion that if he backtracks back to the servant's quarters that he and Akazim explored earlier then he could probably take the eastern door that was left unexplored and eventually emerge out onto the patio through the northwestern door. Deciding to do just that, he begins retracing his footsteps. As he does, he idly tries to recall if he's heard anything about one Làu Kiritsu. Turns out, he has! Also known as the Lord of Absolute Obedience, Làu Kiritsu is the infernal duke of self-sacrifice, punishment, and oppressive law. Worshiped primarily in Tian Xia, Kiritsu is a harsh master who expects unthinking obedience from those who serve him.

Ingrge begins going through the motions of searching around the patio but besides the telescope and a lot of broken statues there really doesn't seem to be much else of interest here. So he moves to inspect the northwestern door while Hanlin ponders the telescope and Abaal backtracks and the rest of the group continues to mill around in the receiving room....

*KZZZTTTT!*

Lightning Bolt: 8d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 2, 6, 1, 2, 1) = 23

Hanlin, please make a DC 19 Reflex for half damage.

From out of nowhere, a lightning bolt streaks forward and zaps the curious cleric! Well, perhaps not quite out of nowhere. The lightning seemed to originate from up in the air and somewhere to the south of Hanlin's position but that's all anyone is immediately able to determine. Even more worrisome, none of you heard anyone casting.

Either way, seems you're not alone out here after all...
______________

Round 1

Ingrge (Cirri's Ward Hex)
==============
????? (Shenanigans)
==============
Cirri + Riddywhipple
Abaal
Hanlin (Daylight)
Malusha
Akazim

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: None

Ingrge is UP!

Current Map

All of the rooms you see on the ground level, are, in fact, on the ground level of the house. The only route to go up that you've found so far are the stairs indicated by the two big red arrows, which lead up to a balcony that overlooks the atrium. Upon re-reading that post I realize I could have been more clear about there being a way to go up, so I apologize for that. If you want to return to the room(s) you and Akazim explored earlier and potentially meet up with Ingrge again, you have the right of it with your dark blue path....

Abaal'll do that. Though even if the steps up to the wooden walkway are are only three steps up (about 8" per step) from the rest of the floor it still doesn't make sense unless there is a huge (2') step down into the patio area, or a serious slope from the rooms along the western side. Personally I think it might have been the lighter path (under the walkway) that may have been the "more" correct one, but I'm fine with it either way (I have to go create an Escher dungeon now) just don't expect Abaal to buy this particular property when we are done with the walk through. ;)

"ON THE COUNT OF THREE!" Abaal shouts to down-err, over to the people in the reception room and through the doorway.

"ONE, THREE!"

*KZZZTTTT!*

On his turn: Abaal throws open the door!

"INGRGE! IS THAT YOU?!"

Reflex DC19: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Hanlin reaches for the telescope and immediately gets zorted for his trouble. Lucky for him he seemed to almost expect it and avoids it partially. "I thought you said this place didn't have any traps INGRGE!" As Hanlin looks towards the source of the discharge.

A helpful natural 20 there. 11 damage.

Ingrge, thinking there's an invisible, and perhaps flying, creature about, aims towards the direction the bolt came from, south of Hanlin's position, about 5' below the ceiling and lets loose a rain of cold iron...

To Hit: Dex+Base, Magic, Weapon Focus, PBS, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Deadeye Bowman, Point Blank Master, Manyshot
Damage: Strength, Magic, PBS, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot

Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 29
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 39
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 13
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 16

Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 26
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 58
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 11

Longbow (Iterative): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 17
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 2
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 9

Hanlin covers his ears at the sound of a Gatling gun rattling off nearby.

Last Samurai

With it now rather painfully obvious that the group isn't alone in the house after all, Ingrge whips around with his bow. His eyes track upwards towards the roof that covers the patio and...there! The tiniest of ripples in the air give away the attacker's position and the archer lets loose with a hail of arrows! The majority of them miss but one connects to his target with a satisfying *THWOCK* and there's a grunt of pain in response!

"You're quite skilled with that bow," hisses a voice from somewhere near the southern wall. "Shall we have a shooting contest?"

Now the sound of casting can be heard by everyone close by...

...as three beams of fire spring forth from the ether and fire at Ingrge!

Ray #1 vs. Ingrge (Touch): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage (Fire; Intense Spells): 4d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 4) + 5 = 20

Ray #2 vs. Ingrge (Touch): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage (Fire): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 6) = 16

Ray #3 vs. Ingrge (Touch): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage (Fire): 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 6) = 13

I believe all of those hit, even accounting for Cirri's Ward Hex - which fades after the first hit. Are your current HP totals accurate? I don't recall you taking any damage thus far.

It's about this time that Abaal flings open the door in front of him to reveal...

Round 1/Round 2

Ingrge (-49)
==============
????? (-11)
==============
Cirri + Riddywhipple
Abaal (Pending Standard Action)
Hanlin (-11; Daylight)
Malusha
Akazim

Active Conditions: None

Environmental Conditions: None

Cirri + Riddywhipple, Abaal (Standard Action), Hanlin, Malusha & Akazim are UP at the bottom of Round 1 and Ingrge is UP at the top of Round 2!

Current Map
______________

The red-dotted circle indicates the last known position of your attacker; everyone but Ingrge will need to make a DC 20 Perception to pinpoint his new location. I also goofed and forgot my guy's added damage for Intense Spells on that lightning bolt but I will be accounting for it going forward. Abaal, since you said you'd be opening the door (a move action) on your turn you still have a standard action if you wish to take it.

Sorry GM, you're right; that HP total was leftover from his previous mission. That knocks me down to 3...

Cirri notices the telltale signs of a spell cast.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

"Hmm? Watch out, someone's casting Scorching Ray!" Cirri feels her ward fade. Too late!

As the door opens, Cirri takes a deep whiff.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

"Where is... uh... Riddy, do you have an idea where the attacker is?" Cirri uses her Flight Hex to float. Something's going on up there, and she's going to find out.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Everyone, listen carefully. I know where our assailant lies! Riddywhipple uses his powers of telepathy before casting Greater Invisibility on himself.

Follow my directions. Here is where the attacker is. He grabs one of Cirri's wands.

Hanlin winces at his own scorch marks, but maybe its more in response to their scout being roasted. "Malusha, can you help him quick? I'll take care of our invisible friend."

Hanlin pops open a scroll tube on his bandoleer and draws out some rolled parchment, from which he begins reading words of power...
Scroll of invisibility purge. CL5 it should be, so 25' radius around Hanlin is uninvisibled.

Malusha races into the room when he hears unfamiliar voices and the unmistakable sounds of someone starting to cast a spell. He steps in just in time to see burning beams of scathing light blast into Ingrge. Continuing, Malusha races to the half-elf and lays hands on him. "I've got this, Hanlin. Blessed Mother of Light, I humbly ask for a touch of your divine power to flow through me to heal my friend."

cure critical: 4d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 3, 2, 5) + 8 = 26 Spontaneous cast and drop Spiritual Ally

Akazim hustles into the room at the sounds of combat and spellcasting. He moves next to Ingrge and reaches out to touch the ranger's bow.

Let's see what you are, shall we? he thinks, as Hanlin's spell reveals their foe.

Akazim is going to use his standard action to grant Bane ______ to Ingrge's bow. But he'll need to identify it first, or hear someone else say what its type is....

Knowledge What?: 1d20 ⇒ 11
If Arcana +12 = 23, Religion +11 = 22, Planes or Local +13 = 24, Dungeoneering +7 = 18

Ingrge recoils in pain from the burns caused by the devastating fire strikes. Can't take another hit like that...hope I can finish it. The ranger lets loose another barrage as he murmurs back to the caster, "Not bad yourself...my turn!"

As Ingrge is in dire straits, he'll use Perfect Strike on the first shot of the rest of his turns for this encounter. I’m assuming Hanlin’s spell makes the caster appear, but I’ll include the miss chance in case it doesn’t. Likewise, I’ll assume Akazim can ID the caster so Bane will be active; if not, just subtract the 2d6 from any damage that resulted...

To Hit: Dex+Base, Magic, Weapon Focus, PBS, Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Deadeye Bowman, Point Blank Master, Manyshot, Perfect Strike
Damage: Strength, Magic, PBS, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Bane

Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 14
Perfect Strike: 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 29
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 64
Magic/Cold Iron/Bane Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + (5, 1) = 16
Magic/Cold Iron/Bane Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + (5, 4) = 23

Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 14
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 41
Magic/Cold Iron/Bane Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + (2, 5) = 17

Longbow (Iterative): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 23
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 74
Magic/Cold Iron/Bane Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 4 + (1, 2) = 16

Perfect Strike Uses Left: 3/4

After receiving the healing from Malusha, Ingrge shows his gratitude. ”Thank you, my friend...”

Abaal moves through the room in haste and throws open the door to the patio in dramatic fashion and looks out upon the chaos. He notes Ingrge firing skyward directly over Hanlin's and the rest of the party's heads and wonders if the archer is familiar with the old Mwangi saying relating to the ancient Shory floating cities: What goes up, must come down.

Realizing what is going on, and what is very likely to happen next, he inspects the wall and door to see how sturdy they are. Then he tries to grab Malusha by the collar and drag him backward through the room as far as he can.

"TAKE COVER!"

unimproved drag v Malusha (doorway cover): 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 4 = 22

Standard to move 15', move to open door, standard to drag Malusha.

Realizing that your mysterious foe is not playing around, Cirri activates her powers of flight and rises into the air. Unable to pinpoint the attacker's location herself, she puts Riddywhipple on the case and he's able to point out to the rest of the group that whoever or whatever it is is roughly 15 ft. up in the air and only a few paces from the eastern edge of the patio. With this in mind, he then grabs one of Cirri's wands.

Armed with this knowledge Hanlin stands his ground and pulls out a scroll, reading it aloud. Suddenly, a figure is revealed just where Riddywhipple said, a short, lean robed figure with dark gray skin and sharp, angular features!

Opting to let his companions worry about the strange-looking attacker, Malusha steps up and lays a healing hand on Ingrge and brings him back from the verge of collapse. Meanwhile, Akazim has no trouble identifying this strange gray-skinned creature as a wayang and uses this knowledge to grant Ingrge's bow a little extra 'oomph' against him.

The rest of you that are close by hear the sound of rapidly-approaching footsteps and then the rattle of the door behind Ingrge as someone prepares to slide it open; luckily Ingrge did manage to hear Abaal yelling a split second after he got scorched so at least one of you know that it's your other ally coming to help.

@Abaal - I'm a bit confused as you indicated that, on your turn, you'd be opening the door into the previously-unexplored room. That would leave you with a standard remaining for this round, which you could use to move to the opposite door. You won't be able to get across the room, open the door, and then pull Malusha back into the room all during this first round.

Now renewed and with his target in plain sight Ingrge delivers another volley of arrows, with three of the four finding their mark this time! The wayang staggers, bleeding profusely now and looking terribly, terribly injured.

"Gah! Mistress bade me expect company but I'll not die for her," the mysterious wayang gasps as he begins casting another spell...

...and then hailstones of enormous size begin raining down onto much of the patio, catching everyone but Abaal, Cirri, and Riddywhipple in their wake!

Damage (Bludgeoning; Intense Spells): 3d6 + 5 ⇒ (4, 5, 4) + 5 = 18
Damage (Cold): 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

The hailstones quickly ceasing falling but heavy snow and sleet continues to fall, blanketing the area and making it much more difficult to maneuver about.

Everything within the blue grid is now Difficult Terrain.

His damage done, the flying wayang speeds away from the house towards the north, moving at a speed of about 60 ft. or so. Then he pauses long enough to glance over his shoulder, give the party a bow, and move his hands in a manner that almost seems quickened before simply vanishing from sight.

Combat Over!

Ground Floor
______________

Hah! Fastest battle ever. Barring any natural Cold Resistance, I have Ingrge down 47 HP, Hanlin down 35, and Malusha & Akazim each down 24.

"Bah! Come back here! You and your mistress have a lot of answers, buster!" Cirri shakes her fist before landing.

"So that guy wan't undead, right?" She shudders. "Just a normal Wayang." Cirri scratches her head. "Whomever the mistress is, they'll know we were here. And we're invading their base of operations."

She lands near Ingrge and reapplies her Ward. The elf feels a brief chill from an unknown wind. +3 Deflection bonus to AC and +3 Resistance bonus to saving throws.

Hanlin raises a fist in anger as the ambusher escapes. He quickly relaxes though and opens the fist to reveal a tattoo of a golden longsword. This tattoo releases a burst of golden light, washing over the room an healing its occupants... twice. Then tops himself off with a wand.

Channel Heal: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 6, 3) = 14
Channel Heal: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 4) = 17

Wand of CLW on Self: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"That didn't give us much information now did it." Says Hanlin as he removes himself slowly from the ice and snow of the room.

Ingrge shivers violently as he goes from being burned to frozen. Seeing the wayang miscreant disappear before the archer can finish him off, he exclaims, "Come back, you rat bast..." but, recalling a lady is present even though in bugbear form, he doesn't finish...

He turns to Malusha and bows. "Thank you again, my friend...without your healing, I feel certain I would not have survived this encounter. I owe you a life debt..."

Upon Hanlin's channeling, Ingrge nods to the cleric. "Thank you as well, friend Hanlin...I feel much better now..."

Ingrge will take his wand and tap himself three times to get back to full strength.

(GM, if you frown on taking the average for wands of CLW, please let me know and I'll roll instead)

The ranger will then look over the room, to include checking out the door in the southeast corner...

Perception: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (20) + 21 = 41

...if all checks out, he'll open it and peer inside...

"You're welcome, but before you go too much farther I'd like to finally get a look at that scope..." He takes a look.

K Planes if Applicable: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

My bad. Had to post in a rush so I didn't see that it was still Round 1 in some time zones. ;)

"What did I miss?" Abaal says opening the door onto the patio as a couple of stray arrows thunk down from above. He sees the party engaged in the ancient of ritual of post-battle healing.

Abaal looks about for the defeated foe amid the snow and ice.

"There was a lot of electricity, followed by arrows, followed by rays of fire, followed by less invisibility, followed by hail, followed by flying away rapidly and turning invisible again." Hanlin shrugs as he looks through the scope.

"As an aside though, whoever the Mistress is she'll certainly know we're here now."

@Abaal - No worries!

Abaal arrives in just in time to have missed the entire (short) battle with the mystery wayang but is treated to a lovely snow shower on the patio that continues for just over a full minute before finally abating.

Now armed with the knowledge that the wayang and his 'mistress' apparently knew you were coming, taking a few moments to mend your wounds seems the prudent thing to do. Thankfully this proves to be an easy task thanks to the combined might of Hanlin, Malusha, and your own personal wands of healing.

No probs on taking the average, Ingrge!

You all take a few more moments to do a quick investigation of the room that Abaal passed through, which turns out to be another small chamber. Paper, brushes, and dried ink stains cover a monk’s writing desk; all are covered in a thin layer of dust. A chest containing clothes and carefully folded bedding sits in the corner. A smear of rusty-brown dried blood runs from the doorway to halfway across the floor, where it abruptly stops. In spite of the rather grisly finding, a thorough search of this chamber fails to turn up anything else of interest.

Meanwhile, Hanlin gives the telescope another good look as he swivels it around and attempts to piece together what the wayang or anyone else might've been looking at. While he's unable to determine if there might be some sort of astrological or astronomical significance, he does note that by using the telescope it's possible to get a very good look at the nearby road and anyone who might be traveling it. The telescope also looks like it could be quite valuable, albeit very, very heavy.

Once everyone is ready to press on, Ingrge turns his attention towards the southern door that leads away from the patio. As before, the door checks out and so the archer slowly slides it open a crack to peer inside...

...and sees that tiles line the floor in this room, in the center of which stands what was once a luxurious communal bathing pool. Now, the water is filthy and dark, and an acrid odor lingers in the air...

Ground Floor

Once the snow stops and Hanlin's healing wave washes the bruises and cold away, Akazim joins the cheerful cleric at the telescope.

He withdraws a small magnifying glass from his coat pocket and gives the scope a quick assessment. "Hanlin, my friend, this is quite valuable. I'm sure you could easily get 1,500 gold for it. If you could cart it away from here, of course," he finishes sadly noting its weight. "Perhaps we could come back for it. After we deal with The Mistress."

He has a +20 Appraise to start, with an additional +2 for the magnifying glass masterwork tool.

He then follows Ingrge into the communal bathing room where he notes something odd about the pool.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

"Is that a shadow in the water? Of a chest, or something that size and shape? It's hard to say for sure," he tells the others.

But to clarify there's a shadow of a chest in the water? or on the bottom of the pool? Like one had rested there before and is now gone, or there's some wayang-induced shadow shenanigans going on?