With the group taking mostly a passive tact, Brambleson seems surprised. "Shadows, flying men, brambles and babbling brooks! I shall take you all on!" The Rabbit King takes off, skirting close to Psycho and drawing the jagged edge of his blade upon him as he speeds by. With a gurgling laugh he ends up halfway up a tree, close to Daedîn but seemingly unaware of the sniper.
Round 2 - Bold can act
Brambleson <10 feet off the ground>
Leosa Daedîn Sihir Aneh River of Stars <20 feet off the ground>
Not-Trixie Lamont Psycho Dread -6 damage
”Psycho” | Male N Human Psychic 10 | HP 42/62 0/8 temp | Mage armor on AC 22, T18, FF 21 (AC 19, T 18, FF 18) | CMB +3 CMD 20 | F +9 R +11 W +18 | Init +1 | Perc +17 SM +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 6/8, 2nd 5/8, 3rd 4/7, 4th 2/6, 5th 3/4; Detect thoughts 1/1; Phrenic pool 9/9; Third eye 1/1; | Active Conditions: Echolocation, fly and mage armor;; scroll of spell immunity
Psycho cast something. Mind Thrust 3 DC21 - Will half "Do you feel that pain in your head?"
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
Seeing as it seems to want to fight, River conjures another sparring partner for it. He calls out
"Amasani ndiistsʼaʼ shi jini!"
Shoanti:
"Mother of my mother, hear my call!"
From nowhere a spectral shoanti warrior appears brandishing a Warhammer and attacks the rabbit prince.
Casting spiritual ally to conjure an ally in a flanking position with Lamont (so 10 feet up)
Daedîn will fire three cold iron arrows in succession from his concealed position at the Rabbit Prince...he’ll stop firing the instant the creature either yields or appears seriously hurt...
Assuming Brambleson doesn’t surrender before this:
Not-Trixie closes her spellbook in frustration and traces a magical glyph in the air with a sparkling finger. Above the Rabbit King, golden sparkles fill the air like strange pollen to coat him (and the side of the tree).
Casting glitterdust, using point of reservoir to boost DC to Will 22. She can aim it to hit only Brambleson and the spiritual ally, which (as far as I can find) cannot be blinded.
Daedîn quickly realizes that the fey's senses are on par with his own and he avoids the worst the three arrows could have done. The spiritual ally quickly forms but the cagey rabbit-man dodges its forceful swing by skirting across a thick limb, only to be covered in golden dust by the wizard. Before he can even utter a word, Psycho's mind thrust completely shatters the Rabbit Prince's resolve and he drops his sword - clattering to the ground below - while steadying himself on the bough.
"Well, you certainly aren't playing around. I suppose we can call this a draw, and thus, since I did not come out completely victorious, this is yours." With a careful leap, he lands somewhat awkwardly and stumbles forward toward where he thinks the group is. He unhinges the locket around his neck and produces a tiny shoe token carved from green feldspar, holding it out for anyone to take.
will save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 will save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Combat Over!
Brambleson <-3 ST, blinded> -72 damage
Leosa Daedîn Sihir Aneh River of Stars <20 feet off the ground>
Not-Trixie Lamont Psycho Dread -6 damage
That was quick... Not-Trixie thinks with a sigh of relief. She frowns at a thought that hangs like a particularly persistent faerie dragon over her head.
The Rabbit Prince... His broken sword represents that defeat may come to anyone...
Almost...
Sense Motive:1d20 + 24 ⇒ (14) + 24 = 38
...too quick...
Does Not-Trixie think Brambleson is trying to deceive them?
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
River descends gently and becomes embarrassed when the ghostly form of his grandmother pinches his cheeks, speaking in Shoanti about how thin he is looking and how he should practice more with the klar. He bows to her, and she hugs him before disappearing.
If no-one else has done so and he's not warned against it, he will step forward and claim the gem to put it in his handy haversack.
It is hard for Not-Trixie to put a finger on it. He doesn't seem to be lying, your side "won" the duel and she knows the mind thrusts can pack quite a punch. But she does get the sense she may very well see The Rabbit Prince again.
will save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 will save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 will save:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
After some extensive eye-rubbing and waiting, Brambleson finally regains his sight. While he is delayed, he pulls the arrows from his haunches and the wounds begin to miraculously restitch.
"These, I presume, are yours." He hands the bloody arrows back to Daedîn along with the feldspar token.
"If that is all, then I must be on my way. I have quite a headache now and you all seem to attract the strangest creatures." He nods to Lamont and the remnants of the spectral shoanti warrior and scoops up his broken sword to sheathe.
"Fare well, new friends!"
As he starts to hop off, house shambling in tow, the pulled rabbit card in Not-Trixie's possession completes its fade to cold grey.
----------------------------------------------
Moving on to Smith's Caldera:
It takes another three days of confusing travel through the tangled briar to reach the mountainous slopes of the caldera.
This lone, steep volcano rises from the Briar without the warning normally provided by foothills. Pipes of copper and stone run through it at bizarre angles, as though they were buttresses struggling to hold the mountain upright, while a large stairway cuts up one side, leading to a stout, blocky structure near the peak.
The sounds of distant hammering echoes from the structure, which sits a few hundred feet up the rocky slope.
I'm picturing Devil's Tower, Wyoming personally. Feel free to place yourself on the stairs leading up the mountain (or perhaps some other way to scale it).
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
River will amend his daily routine to cast overland flight on Eska Via the share spells familiar ability and having her float around his shoulders to lookout and potentially deliver touch spells on his behalf.
Upon seeing the mountain he sighs.
"I believe I could fly up that. If I spent a little time communing with the spirits I could grant one other the ability to also fly, but that would be extent of my help I'm afraid"
He casts heightened awareness on himself while the others decide how to approach the mountain
”Psycho” | Male N Human Psychic 10 | HP 42/62 0/8 temp | Mage armor on AC 22, T18, FF 21 (AC 19, T 18, FF 18) | CMB +3 CMD 20 | F +9 R +11 W +18 | Init +1 | Perc +17 SM +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 6/8, 2nd 5/8, 3rd 4/7, 4th 2/6, 5th 3/4; Detect thoughts 1/1; Phrenic pool 9/9; Third eye 1/1; | Active Conditions: Echolocation, fly and mage armor;; scroll of spell immunity
"I can make us all fly, but I will rather save my spells. You never know what we will face!"
”I can help with flight too, if that’s the approach we want to take,” Not-Trixie adds helpfully. ”Though if that’s the case, we might want to wait for Daedîn to return. A gaggle of people in the air will certainly attract attention, no matter how stealthy he is.”
Not-Trixie can switch some of her 3rd lvl spells for fly as needed.
I'll have Daedîn sneak ahead (Lamont could skirt along the stair well, as well). Everyone else will be about a hundred feet back for now to prevent notice.
Daedîn spots boot prints leading up and down the stairway, some considerably larger than others. When he reaches the top, he can see the main structure more clearly (and more importantly doesn't appear to have been spotted himself).
A giant-sized public house style building dominates the center of the caldera, with a set of fifteen foot high entrance doors facing you. The name The Thirsty Break is carved above the door frame in the common tongue. The remainder of the building disappears into the walls of the caldera.
An outdoor work area stands near the top of the stairs, complete with anvils, water troughs, worktables, and bubbling pools of magma. Three of the Caldera’s workers (muscular, stone-skinned and fire-haired humanoids) are hammering out new fittings for various steam valves.
Daedîn also realizes that, by design, several of the load bearing stones could be released from this landing, causing an avalanche affecting the stairway below.
DC 14 Knowledge Local to identify the workers, once you can see them:
These are azers, outsiders from the plane of fire, particularlly vulnerable to cold. Ask other questions if you roll high enough.
From his concealed position, Daedîn takes in the scene, identifying the working creatures. Based on his experiences thus far in this whacky realm, he doesn't expect a warm welcome here either. Thinking discretion would be the better part of valor in this case, the sniper sneaks back down to his companions and fills him in on what he discovered...
"Followed very large footprints up the stairs...came upon a very large public building, The Thirsty Break. Spied three workers, recognized them as azers from the plane of fire; very vulnerable to the cold but I know little else of them. From what we've seen of this realm thus far, I doubt they're friendly...
"Also, looks like there are several boulders rigged to cause an avalanche upon the stairway approach...we had best be most wary..."
Looks like River, Not-Trixie, Sihir and Psycho can get airborne without much trouble. Daedîn and Leosa can stealth well enough to get past the avalanche threat, so I'm going to keep things moving based on that.
The stealthy members of the group make it up the stairway once again and position themselves in safe spots to oversee the azers. The rest of the group takes to the sky and crowns the top of the mountain as one.
Startled, the azers stand still for a moment, unsure of what to do next. One finally spits out, unconvincingly. "Look what we have here, fat birds!"
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
River touches down while Eska continues to float around his shoulders.
"We are no birds, but travellers. We seek the ticktock man. Can you help us?"
Not-Trixie quickly picks through the Hallow deck again, producing a card with brass figures similar to those below. Of course - the azers! Invulnerable to a current threat, but maybe not one to their future?
"There will be no help for the smelly travelers this day!" The leader growls. The closest azers take a step back from River's forwardness in landing in front of them.
Not-Trixie's play of The Brass Dwarf causes an immediate flash of light (before fading) and the azer closest to the burning forge steps away with a worried look on his face. He mumbles something in Ignan to the other two.
Ignan:
"I think I can feel the fire, boys. These demons have the upper hand on us. Let's git."
"Look we don't want any trouble. If you have business with Mr. Tock, you can find 'im in there." The leader nods to the building as the three azers hurry off, careful to keep you in view as they do.
As they disappear into a deep crevasse, another card grows warm in the deck and fades... The Avalanche.
"These cards certainly hold a lot of power here," Not-Trixie comments as she moves the dull cards to the back of the deck. "I'm not sure which one would identify the strongest with this Tock. Though if this is a pub, perhaps the publican?" Her attempt at a joke falls a little flat.
”Psycho” | Male N Human Psychic 10 | HP 42/62 0/8 temp | Mage armor on AC 22, T18, FF 21 (AC 19, T 18, FF 18) | CMB +3 CMD 20 | F +9 R +11 W +18 | Init +1 | Perc +17 SM +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 6/8, 2nd 5/8, 3rd 4/7, 4th 2/6, 5th 3/4; Detect thoughts 1/1; Phrenic pool 9/9; Third eye 1/1; | Active Conditions: Echolocation, fly and mage armor;; scroll of spell immunity
Psycho casts magic armor from the wand and follows others
Daedîn is quickly satisfied that the structure is safe enough to enter and nearly needs some help to open the large squealing doors.
The giant-scaled public house shows signs of wear, and a layer of dust covers the lone table and bar. Another set of double doors lead out of the room to your right.
The half-dozen azers here seem too drunk to even start any trouble, as they struggle to fill the over-sized chairs and table around which they sit.
Only the cyclopsean bartender acknowledges you. "Nah, nah, nah. The Caldera is strictly “GIANTS ONLY”. Your lot's jus' gonna have to leave. An' shut the door quietly, mind you."
DC 17 Knowledge Local:
This is a cyclops, one-eyed giants with a gift of insight that allows them to peer into the near future.
Knowledge (local) vs DC 17:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
I was right! Not-Trixie beams as she palms the Publican card. But friendship and rescue? From someone who helped kill the creator of this plane? That seems a bit of a stretch...
Not-Trixie's roll will earn another question about the cyclops if she wishes.
Not-Trixie pulls her suspected card, which glows bright as expected. Sudddenly, a sheen of condensation forms on all the mugs scattered on the bar.
The cyclops blinks his one eye several times to Sihir's clever query, unsure of how to retort in kind (after so many years of unfulfilling banter with the azers). Leosa's remark brings him right back to the conversation at hand.
"That's an easy one. We allow for one to become “honorary giants” by purchasing a “one-day membership” for 1,000 pieces of gold. Since their daily pay is equivalent to that, it works out nicely for them, don't it guys?" To that a few of the azers raise their mugs sloppily.
"I can extend the same courtesy to your lot, whatcha say?" He attempts a crooked smile. "Otherwise you'll have to stay out of my bar..." The smile fades into a scowl.
Tiring quickly of the cyclops banter, Daedîn shrugs and brings his bow to bear, ready to fire if needed. ”I think not. We are here to see the tick-tock man; we will see him and we will not pay your fee. We may not be giants but you might find us more formidable than you think...and I doubt your drunken azer friends will be of any help to you, especially considering the three sober ones outside skedaddled upon our approach. You can see in the future, yes? Do you not see your death if you oppose us?”
The cyclops' face scrunches up with every one of Daedîn's words, until he can take it no more and scoops up a mug with his muscular hand. It slips slightly in his grasp from the condensation. He looks at you with malice in his eye.
The azers slide down the bench a bit to give you more room to scuffle.
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
Is it perhaps within 10 hours of the start of the day? If so everyone should have +2 sacred bonus to initiative, stealth and perception due to the Hunter's Blessing, which might let Lamont act before the Cyclops?
River looks over at Psycho and nods to him, before moving into range and performing the traditional Shoanti hexing dance.
Evil-eye to reduce saves by -4 It lasts for 10 rounds or 1 round if it passes a DC 22 will save
I also need to roll this morning's false life as the one in his statblock is from a previous day
Hunter's blessing specifies a terrain, and indoors would count as "Urban". Was that the one selected when the spell was cast?
Regarding the previous knowledge results, Not-Trixie would be interested in any special defenses the cyclops might be suspected to have. Barring that, any special abilities or attacks would be helpful to know about (though I suspect we'll find out about them soon enough!)
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
I posted the current selections for Hunter's Blessing in the discussion thread: constructs for the creature and Plane (The Hallowed Realm) for the terrain. My understanding is that it should apply in the entire plane
”Psycho” | Male N Human Psychic 10 | HP 42/62 0/8 temp | Mage armor on AC 22, T18, FF 21 (AC 19, T 18, FF 18) | CMB +3 CMD 20 | F +9 R +11 W +18 | Init +1 | Perc +17 SM +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 6/8, 2nd 5/8, 3rd 4/7, 4th 2/6, 5th 3/4; Detect thoughts 1/1; Phrenic pool 9/9; Third eye 1/1; | Active Conditions: Echolocation, fly and mage armor;; scroll of spell immunity
"Can you see all those images in your head?" asks Psycho and casts something.
Phantasmal Killer - DC21 Will disbelief, then Fortitude partial
By RAW, River is right. This place is a single plane and can be selected as a Favored Terrain. No ranger would ever do it, of course, but the spell's a different matter. Lamont can jump ahead and go.
Not-Trixie will remember that a cyclops can remain conscious and can continue fighting even if severly damaged (i.e. ferocity)
Will save for evil eye:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26 Will save for PK:1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 4 = 26
The cyclops blinks his eye to thrust off the bad thought.
Round 1 - Bold can act
River of Stars
Psycho Dread
Lamont
Red Cyclops <evil eyed vs saves>
Daedîn
Leosa
Not-Trixie
Sihir Aneh
Lamont has trouble reaching out. Ignoring him, the cyclops flings a volley of mugs at the petulant elf, but they only crash against the walls like chunky fireworks.
|AC 21*, T 17, FF 18*|HP: 22?/50|F +1*, R +4*, W +3* (+2 vs shadow/death)|Init +1*, Perc -2*|CMB +1* CMD 19|11/11 Blinding Rays, 7/8 Invisibility Field, 10/10 Veil, 1/1 Arcane Bond, 1/1 Jewel, #11
Sihir gets a wonderful, nasty idea, and before their most inhospitable host knows it, he is being jeered at and badgered from all sides for everything from his exploitative practices to his choice of aftershave - not just by the party, but by his regulars as well!
”Psycho” | Male N Human Psychic 10 | HP 42/62 0/8 temp | Mage armor on AC 22, T18, FF 21 (AC 19, T 18, FF 18) | CMB +3 CMD 20 | F +9 R +11 W +18 | Init +1 | Perc +17 SM +4 | Speed 30ft | Spells: 1st 6/8, 2nd 5/8, 3rd 4/7, 4th 2/6, 5th 3/4; Detect thoughts 1/1; Phrenic pool 9/9; Third eye 1/1; | Active Conditions: Echolocation, fly and mage armor;; scroll of spell immunity
"So it's not easy to scare you. Let's see how you can handle this?"
“River of Stars” | Male NG Medium Human Shaman 12 | HP 133/105 | AC 20 / 12 T / 18FF | CMD +9 CMD 21 | F +16, R +14, W +23 | Init +2 | Perc +35 SM +17 |Speed 20ft | Toppling Rod 3/3, Pearl of Power 1/1 Shapeshift 12/12 minutes, Flight 12/12 minutes, Stardust 3/4, Ancestor's Council 4/4 | Active Conditions: Haste
River calls on his Shoanti ancestors to provide aid to his allies and to harry his enemies, and if you listen carefully you might hear a ghostly Shoanti war cry off in the distance...
Casting Prayer, I think it should catch everyone including the cyclops.
+1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, -1 to the same things for the cyclops, no save, lasts for 10 rounds
Not-Trixie moves closer, rubbing a bit of butter between her fingers. ”Watch out for falling objects!” she calls as she traces several squiggly lines in the air that race towards the floor underneath the cyclops.
Move (getting as high as needed for line-of-sight) and casting grease (using a point of reservoir to bump the DC up to Reflex 21) on floor underneath cyclops.
