GM Xavier Kahlvet's Strange Aeons 2e

Game Master KingTreyIII

Kolgradd will shield block seeing as he's not having much luck with his hammer against this thing

Stay away from the walls you bloody idiot

Kolgradd sheepishly moves into the firing squad, points his maul at the creature and whispers some arcane words, and a beam of ice shoots out from the weapon!

Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
Cold: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) + 3 = 12

"Bah, I'll try the axe next. I hate this thing!"

Boodiddly nods as Kolgradd joins the others in the middle of the yard, his mouth too busy to say anything as it is still whistling encouragingly.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Bludgeoning damage: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 5, 3) + 4 = 17

Casting inspire defense [A] and telekinetic projectile [AA].

I’m not necessarily saying that you guys do this, but to those of you that just glance over the GM posts: READ THIS POST FULLY!

Jevar throws a blight bomb at the “hound” and manages to hit it! Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to do very much against the strange creature’s anatomy; it doesn’t seem to react to poisons in much the same way as most other creatures Not going to record the persistent poison damage since it literally cannot do anything to it.

Kolgradd throws a ray of frost, but misses.

Boodiddly continues his song as he chucks another rock at the creature; the rock’s geometry going wonky as it hits the “hound.”

Botting Shakur: Shakur casts shield and telekinetic projectile.

Shakur vs Black: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Damage: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 2) + 4 = 10

The “hound” stares over at the amnesiacs, hesitating momentarily as it just simply stares. Its momentary hesitation ends as it rushes forward! When it moves away from the wall, however, its own geometry starts morphing—its body’s curvatures becoming more pronounced and its body’s angles rounding out. The “hound” likewise grimaces, as if in pain, but this does not halt its advance toward Boodiddly as it attacks the gnome!

Black jaws vs Boodiddly; sickened 1: 1d20 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 17 - 1 = 32
Damage (doubled from crit): 2d10 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11

Black claw vs Boodiddly; 2nd, agile, sickened 1: 1d20 + 17 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 17 - 4 - 1 = 31 Not a crit due to inspire defense
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 4) + 7 = 12

The creature then teleports back to the estate's walls, its geometry returning to how it was previously as its body’s angles sharpen.

Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
DC 15 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 4

To clarify the initiative card below: Black was sickened 1 when it made its attacks against Boodiddly, but it was NOT sickened at the end of its turn.

Guard Dogs of Iris Hill
Round 6
===============
Black (-115 from “6” attacks [before resistances]) {1d6 persistent acid}
Kolgradd (-77) {Heroism}
Shakur (-38)
Jevar (-32)
Boodiddly (-38)
===============

”Ouch!” Boodiddly yelps. ”But did you see how it, like, flattened out the angles when it left the wall? That’s what I was talking about! Everyone get behind Kolgradd - he’s got the best shot at keeping it from jumping back to the wall.” Tucking his small form behind the dwarf’s solid legs, the gnome decides to be safe rather than sorry and places another translucent disk between himself and the hound.

Stride [A] and cast inspire defense [A] and shield [A].

I don't really just glance over your posts, but I've been known to forget an instruction halfway through my own post.

GM Now that the month has turned over, can I hero-point that save and attempt to improve from crit fail?

Thank goodness the persistent acid damage keeps giving...

Jevar flicks his dagger at the beast, only looking long enough to aim before turning to head behind Shakur while fishing a healing elixir out of his belt pouch. His dagger returns to him as he is jogging further away from it.

◆ Cast (somatic) hand of the apprentice
◆ Stride 15'
◆ Interact: draw minor elixir of life.

dagger attack (hand of the apprentice), P damage: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 321d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Alright you damn devil dog, let's do this!"

Leave the axe for now. If I'm going to go down I'll do it hammer in hand

Unsteady on his feet, Kolgradd points his hammer at the thing again, trying not to look at it in its eyes, and summons another beam of cold.

Ray of Frost, status: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20
Cold: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 2) + 3 = 11

As soon as the spell is away he looks down at the floor and holds onto his hammer, hoping to catch sign of it approaching.

[[AA]] Ray of Frost [[A]] Avert Gaze

Shakur holds his hand up and sparks another shield with a quick shout before putting a glowing hand on Kolgradd's shoulder. "This thing is really starting to hurt! Any time you feel like flattening it's head, let me know! Not to say your ice isn't appreciated."

[A]Shield [AA]Heal Kolgradd

Heals!: 3d8 + 24 ⇒ (5, 1, 2) + 24 = 32

GM Now that the month has turned over, can I hero-point that save and attempt to improve from crit fail?

I’ll allow it.

Reroll: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18 Regular Failure

Boodiddly retreats and continues his song.

Jevar sends forth his dagger, which pierces into the creature! Crit specialization applies, dealing 1d6 persistent bleed; unfortunately bleed damage is a type of physical damage, so this thing’s resistance applies to it, thus I’m not going to note it.

Kolgradd sends forth a frigid ray, which misses the creature.

Shakur heals Kolgradd.

The “hound” once more bounds forward, this time at Shakur. Its geometry curving as it attacks the cleric!

Black jaws vs Shakur; sickened 1: 1d20 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 17 - 1 = 28
Damage: 2d10 + 7 ⇒ (8, 8) + 7 = 23 Gonna assume that Shakur Shield Blocks that one.

Black claw vs Shakur; 2nd, agile, sickened 1: 1d20 + 17 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 17 - 4 - 1 = 15
Damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (8, 6) + 7 = 21

It then teleports back to the building.

Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
DC 15 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 6

EDIT: Forgot about the gaze.

Guard Dogs of Iris Hill
Round 7
===============
Black (-126 from “7” attacks [before resistances]) {1d6 persistent acid}
Kolgradd (-53) {Heroism}
Shakur (-58)
Jevar (-37)
Boodiddly (-38)
===============

Starting to feel the serious pain of this creature's gaze, Jevar spends the next several moments faced away from it. He drinks the elixir in his hand.

◆ Interact: Consume minor elixir of life
◆ Interact: Stow dagger
◆ Avert gaze

minor elixir of life healing: 1d6 ⇒ 2
+1 item bonus to saving vs diseases and poisons for 10m.

”That’s why I said to get behind Kolgradd,” Boodiddly gasps between breaths as he continues whistling. ”He can hit the thing when it jumps back to the building.” Carefully the gnome pulls out his crossbow and again conjures his shield of force.

Interact to retrieve hand crossbow [A] and cast inspire courage [A] and shield [A].

"Thanks Shakur, that's made all the difference. Damn thing is too fast for my magic. I'll nip in there and come right back"

Kolgradd runs up, emboldened by not being quite as near-death, and strikes with his maul as quick and hard as he can

Maul, status: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 1 = 36
Bludgeoning, status: 2d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12, 6) + 4 + 1 = 23

Ooh I had fully intended to come back, but if that's a crit it probably makes more sense to stay, the lower AC and extra damage from prone and inspire courage give a good chance to punch through its resistance. Avenge me!

Advantageous Assault, status, MAP: 1d20 + 17 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 17 + 1 - 5 = 22
Bludgeoning, circumstance, status: 2d12 + 4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7, 1) + 4 + 4 + 1 = 17

[[A]] Strike [[A]] Strike [[A]] Advantageous Assault

Kolgradd charges forward and swings his hammer! The maul’s geometry becomes strange as it nears the “hound,” but even despite this the dwarf impacts his hammer square in the creature’s face, knocking it to the ground as it ceases moving! Kolgradd’s turn was technically first, so I won’t bother resolving the ripping gaze against the other people who have posted.

Fully healing from that combat takes an hour.

Awarding a Hero Point to Jevar for that really effective persistent acid damage.

The only items of worth are the nobles’ Yellow Sign coins and the silverware and porcelain in the dining room (worth 30 gp in total). Inventory Updated

Since that was a rather vicious combat, I am going to pause the railroad a bit to ask what you guys want to do now.

Jevar picks up one of the yellow coins and eyes it.

I wonder if this would get us some mileage with the next group of nobles. Perhaps we could blend in with these...

He then sits down to let Shakur work on his wounds.

That beast was nasty. My gut tells me they can conjure much worse... He shudders visibly at the thought.

The wizard continues resting, not in the biggest hurry to proceed through the complex. He opens his spellbook and begins to flip through it. While he does, Oreb hops into some of the pages and pecks at specific passages and glyphs excitedly. Refocus

Immediately after the fight, Kolgradd moves away from the thing and inspects the head of his maul.

"That was doing weird stuff to my hammer, did you see that? Seems OK though. Did you say you knew something about that thing Boodiddly? It looked at us and wounds opened up, but it felt so strange, like my body wasn't the right shape."

He shudders.

When Jevar mentions worse things, Kolgradd gives him a look of equal parts concern and admonishment, like he shouldn't even mention such a thing lest they bring it about.

"When we get to Melisenn, I'd like to get some answers, she must know what's happened to us. Much as I think she deserves having her brains smashed in, if we can keep her alive perhaps we can interrogate her?"

Or maybe the knowledge itself was too much for you the first time?

He spends most of his time brooding, but also looking out for the approach of any threats, keeping his maul close at hand.

"I'm running pretty low on spells. If we run into another one of those, we might very well become bloody, lifeless squares. And there's a second floor to that building...Though I doubt we can rest, we should be more careful." Shakur finishes strapping some gauze around his forearm as he stands. "May as well keep going for now, unless you guys think we should break?"

Yeah... I'm running low too. Problem is, I suspect if we go rest and return, they're potentially just going to be staffed up again. Having shown them what we can beat, it might even get worse...

And there's a second floor to that building...

Iris Hill Manor actually has three floors (well, more like two-and-a-half, since the top floor is an attic).

Alright, sounds like we’re moving on.

To the west

This long hall, clad with fine wood paneling, looks like an oversized curio cabinet, with hundreds of items and art objects on display on small tables, in vitrines, and on benches. Dozens of paintings and tapestries of various sizes hang from the walls and muffle the echoes that would normally be present in this marble-floored chamber. A double door leads outside, while two other doors go deeper into the manor. Map Updated

This room seems to have once contained much more, as evident by the irregular gaps on the walls where paintings may have once been. Still in the room, however, are the following:

Portraits in various artistic styles of the counts, their wives, and a few relatives and domestics wearing all kinds of expressions and outfits line the walls. A portrait in a freestanding picture frame on a small tea table with a single chair features a child posing near a kitten at the foot of a luminous window, seemingly terrified. On the back of the frame is written Haserton at age 5, 4681 ar.

Marble busts of scholars from the Sincomakti School of Sciences, including three effigies of academically renowned ancestors of Lowls sit on small plinths. The sculptures with the Lowls name on their bases have been smashed against the floor and damaged.

Small-town perspectives of Thrushmoor and a half-dozen large paintings of the surrounding landscape hang here. The large pictures include a historic piece, in which the first settlers of Thrushmoor are shown living in two clusters of huts on low hills, hard at work to reclaim the surrounding land from the swamps. The Star Stelae have been depicted almost as an afterthought.

Statuettes of dragons, giants, and strange beasts litter the shelves. Among these is a poorly executed, 1-foot-tall, clay figurine of an elephant-legged, multimawed, tentacled aberration. Sanity save for this is grouped in with the other oddities found in the room, found further in the post.

Set on an ebony pedestal is a human skull that has been marked with elaborate carvings of geometric shapes and lines. Small, worked garnets are set in the teeth, and a thin line of silver rings the eye sockets.

Porcelain and ceramic dishes, jugs, teapots, and vases, some of which are of excellent quality, are kept in a glass showcase. A small ceramic vial contains a silvery metallic dust. The dust is magical see further in the post.

Worthless, bizarre, and sometimes grotesque souvenirs from across Ustalav and beyond are displayed here: coffee cups made from uncapped monkey skulls; a stuffed three-eyed bat; multicolor-dyed freshwater sponges; a mummified ogre’s ear; and more.

Boodiddly takes 1 sanity damage and Kolgradd takes 2 sanity damage.

A battered shield hangs on a wall, bearing the device of Mendev. According to a plaque fixed under it, the shield belonged to Fassimar Lowls, a cadet who died just beyond the northern border of Ustalav during the Second Mendevian Crusade. The shield is magical see further in the post.

Finally, there is a realistic statue of a man dressed in a fine noble’s outfit with a look of pure terror on his face. The statue is surrounded by a magical shimmering field of sickly yellow.

With some time and corroborations among the amnesiacs, they determine that the silver dust is dust of appearance, and the shield is a minor sturdy shield. Inventory Updated

Pausing to allow PCs to react to the stuff in this room.

Jevar sits down at the tea table to pick up the painting of the young boy and really look at it.

Crafting: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Hmm, they intended for this boy to be frightened. I wonder what situation they created to cause it...

Occultism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Occultism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

He looks around at the odd assortment, frowning at the gruesome nature of some of the items.

These people really have their death fetishes. Drinking coffee out of a skull... when you could just procure a normal mug. He shudders at the thought.

His attention drawn to the picture by Jevar, Kolgradd takes a look and replies.

Perception DC 22: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

"What kind of monsters would abuse a child like that? Do you think they've been doing that to the heirs since the town was founded?"

Kolgradd is clearly rattled by the picture, and the weird collection of items.

"Any of us could have children that need us. These monsters have been corrupted for generations, and it needs to stop!"

Occultism DC 28: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

He glances over, then sweeps some of the items onto the floor in a frustrated rage, then freezes after the noise it makes. He looks around embarrassed.

"Sorry. This place gets to you. Just look at that monument to fear."

Occultism DC 25: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

He sighs, then tightens his grip on in his maul. Before proceeding he takes out his wand of longstrider and activates it.

Iris Hill Manor actually has three floors (well, more like two-and-a-half, since the top floor is an attic).

We wouldn't necessarily know that from looking just from the outside...

Perception DC 22: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Occultism DC 28: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Religion DC 25: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

"Why are we terrifying kids?" Shakur says before looking closely at a statue before backing away quickly.

Will save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

"That's not a statue! This is a dude! Suspended by some kind of magic? And then put on display?"

Shakur looks at the others. "Do we want to attempt to dispel that? I fear death may not take him in this state..."

Jevar does a double-take at Shakur's revelation.

They... trapped a living person there?! I cannot dispel it today, but I could try tomorrow.

Perception vs DC 22: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23
Occultism vs DC 28: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Occultism vs DC 25: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Will vs DC 18: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

Boodiddly only nods as Kolgradd talks about the painting, lips firmly shut to keep from screaming. In pain? In outrage? He's not certain - but from the heat he feels rising up from underneath his shirt collar, he won't be able to hold his silence much longer.

"That's not a monument to fear - it's a person!" he finally blurts. "He's been, like, suspended or frozen or something with magic. We have to get him out!"

Recall Knowledge on how this fellow might have been put in suspended animation? Or would that be something like Recognize Magic?

Jevar focuses on the "frozen" man to try to discern the specific effect.

Cast detect magic

Recall Knowledge on how this fellow might have been put in suspended animation? Or would that be something like Recognize Magic?

A bit of column A, a bit of column B, but…

Jevar focuses on the "frozen" man to try to discern the specific effect.

Cast detect magic

…detect magic wouldn’t help; it only tells you whether or not there is magic. Though, since it’s 3rd level, it would also tell you the school of magic of the highest-leveled spell in range, which in this case would be both transmutation and evocation (and yes, I am aware of the “If multiple effects are equally strong” clause in the spell).

Try as they might, most of the amnesiacs cannot think of what might have happened to this man. But Shakur recalls dodging from a strange snake from within a ledger, and recognizes it now as a snake sigil, a rare type of warding magic that puts creatures in a temporary state of suspended animation; if the snake from before had bitten him, the Pharasmin likely would have ended up like this man.

"How temporary do you think Shakur? If we could wait a few minutes he might have valuable intelligence for us.."

Kolgradd strokes his beard with his gauntleted hand, growling at the how matted it has become as the sharp metal catches in it.

"If he's not about to come round, it might be a kindness to take him out of here before we press on. Whatever is left in this place might kill us, and I'd go to Torag's forge a little happier knowing we hadn't left this one here to be tormented and killed"

"How temporary do you think Shakur? If we could wait a few minutes he might have valuable intelligence for us.."

We're talking days here. It's "temporary" when compared to the temporal stasis use of imprisonment.

Where would we put him though? Maybe we can take him on the way out, so we could get him further.

"I think he just looked at something he shouldn't have, and they decided to put him on display. Let's move on for now, though I can't just leave this be forever."

To the southeast

The walls of this large room are lined with ceiling-high bookshelves laden with bound tomes, parchment scrolls, and stacks of paper. The shelves are stuffed full and sag under the weight of their contents. A dozen amber-colored crystal lamps are fixed to the walls, and three more lamps stand on two central tables and a desk. Stairs in the western corner of the room lead up to the second floor. Map Updated

In this library, lounging around on top of the tables are three multi-armed serpents that are slightly larger than house cats. They hold an inkwell in at least two of their hands and a quill in all others as they transcribe something on a piece of parchment. Technically these things are aberrations, but I’m not going to roll sanity saves because, honestly, they look more cute than they do mind-boggling. When the amnesiacs open the door the serpents get startled, accidentally making a large streak across their transcription with their quills! They look down in horror at the ruined transcription in front of them, then glare menacingly at the amnesiacs as they shriek at them!

The Librarians
Round 1
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Red
Green
Blue
===============

Boodiddly frowns when Shakur suggests leaving the man imprisoned, but doesn't try to stop everyone else from leaving. He does make a mental note to conserve some of his more potent spells for the eventual rescue attempt.

The gnome is grateful that at least this library wasn't being actively demolished by abhorrent rat-creatures. Whistling and clapping, he remains safely behind the tall folks in the front.

Harmonize.

Kolgradd grumbles at Jevar's quite reasonable objection at not having anywhere to put the magically frozen person, and opens the door without having dealt with his fear or frustration. He is almost relieved at seeing some sort of fearsome monsters, and snarls as he moves up to take out his frustrations on them.

He's attacking green

Maul, status: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 17 + 1 = 25
Bludgeoning: 2d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 + 1 = 12

Maul, status, MAP: 1d20 + 17 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 17 + 1 - 5 = 32
Bludgeoning: 2d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10, 12) + 4 + 1 = 27

[[A]] Stride [[A]] Strike [[A]] Strike

Jevar winces after Kolgradd pops the door open and reveals... things.

Uh oh, we've disturbed the... aberrant bureaucrats?

But really... what are they?

He runs in to get a better look and casts shield.

◆ Stride: 20'
◆ Recall knowledge
◆ Cast (verbal) shield (AC +1 until next turn, shield block available, shield hardness 10)

Boodiddly Harmonizes. For the record, you most likely will have to move so the wall doesn’t block line of effect, because I’m fairly sure that Kolgradd is going to move south on his next turn.

Kolgradd advances on one of the serpents and slams his hammer twice into it, sending it crumbling to the ground!

Jevar advances forward.

Botting Shakur: Shakur moves forward and casts telekinetic projectile.

Shakur vs Red; IC: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 1 = 21
Damage; IC: 3d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) + 4 + 1 = 12

And the Pharasmin hits the serpent.

The serpents look at their fallen ally in horror! Red raises their numerous quills and swishes them through the air, the ink floating in the air in two relatively-simplistic glyphs. With one flick, the serpent pushes one of the glyphs forward and it flies at Kolgradd! It then does it once again for the other glyph! ◆ morpheme glyph Strike. ◆ morpheme glyph Strike.

Red morpheme glyph vs Kolgradd: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Force Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2) = 8

Red morpheme glyph vs Kolgradd; 2nd: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 5 = 14
Force Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5) = 7

Red then retreats, jumping off of the table and going into the corner of the room. ◆ Stride

Blue does exactly the same as Red: sending two magical glyphs at Kolgradd then retreating into the corner.

Blue morpheme glyph vs Kolgradd: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Force Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6) = 10

Blue morpheme glyph vs Kolgradd; 2nd: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 5 = 9
Force Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 1) = 10

Wow. No rolls above 10 in this post, eh?

The Librarians
Round 2
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Red (-12)
Blue
===============

Interesting. They are scalescribes, prized by wizards for... you guessed it, their ability to create scrolls. Their only relevant offensive magic is dispel magic. If only we could coerce them to direct that at our frozen "friend" from the previous room... Jevar reports to the party, as he muses about usefulness of the spell these creatures possess.

He thinks further on it, wondering what's really dangerous about them if not largely their magic.

◆ Recall knowledge (occult; sorry about that before, I assume the roll would be picked based on monster type)

He observes as they seem to retreat while attacking. I wonder if they'd even remain hostile if you hadn't smashed one. They seem to have fled to the back of the room.

◆◆ Cast (verbal, somatic) produce flame vs BLUE
Product flame spell attack BLUE, FIRE damage (inspired): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 = 153d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2, 2) + 4 + 1 = 10 ouch rolls

◆ Recall knowledge (occult; sorry about that before, I assume the roll would be picked based on monster type)

Yes and no. The skill associated with the monster type is a baseline, but there is a bit of leeway with regards to the skill being rolled. Though, the information you get is almost always through the lens of the skill you rolled (like how you got arcane-related stuff from that last check). I just made an educated guess on which skill you would choose to roll, though, based on your bonuses.

As Jevar casts his cantrip at the scalescribe, the serpent suddenly pulls out a piece of parchment and starts…taking notes?

↻ Transcribe vs DC 22: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

The serpent finishes its transcription, looking pleased with itself

The Librarians
Round 2
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Red (-12)
Blue
===============

Jevar blinks for a moment and then frowns at what he sees... Um... did I just give it a spell?!

"That would be odd," Boodiddly answers as he peers around the doorway. "Why would you do that?"

Stride [A], Recall Knowledge [A], and cast inspire courage [A].

I'm not sure yet, but if so it's because I didn't realize they may be able to "catch" them on their scrolls...

He continues to watch them intently to figure out what's going on.

"Ah crap, am I the monster?"

Kolgradd stays where he is and calls out to them.

"Wait! I'm sorry, can we talk instead of fight?"

He'll repeat the same thing in Aklo if common doesn't seem to work, and he gets ready to take cover

[[AA]] Ready an action to take cover behind the table (if possible) if attacked

Shakur Delays.

"Wait! I'm sorry, can we talk instead of fight?"

”We spent weeks on those transcriptions! And now they’re ruined!!!”

Blue reads from the scroll they just created and casts a produce flame! Kolgradd sees the flame coming for him and dives for cover behind the table.

Blue vs Kolgradd w/cover: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Fire Damage: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) + 4 = 8

Blue then conjures a glyph and sends it flying toward Shakur!

Blue morpheme glyph vs Shakur; 2nd: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 10 - 5 = 13
Force Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2) = 8

Red moves over and sends a glyph at Jevar before retreating back.

Red morpheme glyph vs Jevar: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Force Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 6) = 15

The Librarians
Round 3
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Red (-12)
Blue
===============

Jevars eyes narrow as the scalescribe sends his own spell back at the group.

That's what I thought... So either I can't keep doing that... or I have to always hit!

He steps around the table and retrieves a blight bomb to throw at them.

Here... write about this!

◆ Stride 20'
◆ Interact: retrieve Moderate Blight Bomb
◆ Strike: Moderate Blight Bomb vs. RED (BLUE takes splash)

moderate blight bomb attack RED, poison damage, splash poison damage (inspired): 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 = 322d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 = 62 = 2

2d4 persistent poison

“Um, it might be a little late for that...” Boodiddly flinches as fire sears the desk. “Also if Jevar keeps throwing stuff at them. Everyone, calm down!”

Casting inspire defense [A] and calm emotions (affecting both Red and Blue - Will 22) with a 2nd lvl spell slot [AA].

Well, this is something I need to resolve right now.

Jevar throws a blight bomb which manages to lodge itself in Red’s mouth before exploding! Crit! Splash damage doesn’t double, though.

Boodiddly then tries to calm everyone down.

Blue looks quite affected by the gnome’s magic, but not so much so with Red. And they cannot Transcribe that spell because it didn’t target either of them.

The Librarians
Round 3
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Red (-26) {-1 status to attack rolls; 2d4 persistent poison}
Blue (-2) {calmed)
===============

"Do...do I attack the other one?" Shakur adds, obviously confused as to the attacking or not. "Either way, that flask is going to take it out if we don't...."

"Uhh, my offerings to the snake gods?" Shakur says as he begins casting Telekinetic Projectile. "May you find this spell to your liking.....Are we making friends or not?"

[AA]Telekinetic Projectile
TP Red: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
Damage: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6, 1) + 4 = 14

[A]Shield.

Kolgradd will follow Shakur's lead and try to take out the one that seems less docile. He's feeling guilty though and despite the strange anatomy he tries to attack non-lethally

Maul, non-lethal: 1d20 + 17 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 17 - 2 = 21
Bludgeoning, non-lethal: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (10, 4) + 4 = 18

Maul, MAP, non-lethal: 1d20 + 17 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 5 - 2 = 14
Bludgeoning, non-lethal: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (10, 1) + 4 = 15

[A] Stride [A] Strike [A] Strike

Not super up to flavoring stuff, so I’ll just post the basic actions.

Shakur kills Red.

Kolgradd advances and knocks into Blue.

Blue Steps into Kolgradd’s space and stabs him twice with its quill.

Blue fountain pen vs Kolgradd: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Blue fountain pen vs Kolgradd; 2nd, agile: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The Librarians
Round 3
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Blue (-2)
===============

"Guess I'm stabbing it."

TP: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Damage?: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 4 = 10

"Or not? Can you PELASE stop attacking my friend?"

Intimidate blue?: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

"Ugh. "

Blue took damage from Kolgradd last round, right? And did I miss something about Jevar and Boodiddly?

Human error. What's on the initiative card below should be correct. My apologies for the confusion.

The Librarians
Round 3
===============
Kolgradd
Shakur
Jevar
Boodiddly
Blue (-20)
===============

Jevar eyes the last scalescribe, wondering if he can get a spell by it again.

Okay, time for a heater...

the wizard begins the incantation but ends with a flamboyant wind-up like he's launching a javelin.

◆◆ Cast (verbal, somatic) produce flame
Product flame spell attack BLUE, FIRE damage (inspired): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 = 153d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) + 4 + 1 = 13

...after which it heads in entirely the wrong direction. Sighing in frustration he retreats to the corner.

◆ Stride 20'

Boodiddly stares at Kolgradd. “Did you want to talk with them or not!?” he yells, face turning red.

Harmonize.