GM Kate's Extinction Curse [closed]

Game Master Kate Baker

The cages hold tight!

Fast combat! Hero points to Rova and Unset for getting the cages closed. Anything you all want to do before moving on to the next room?

Rova shakes her head, which still feels muddled -- as if she's traveled a great distance and still has a couple of days worth of work ahead of her -- despite Niksi's spell.

"She definitely knows we're here, so I guess we should press on as quickly as we can!" she whispers.

"That could have gotten ugly." Prism sighs in relief as she side steps slowly around the cages, fully expecting them to spring open.

"Don't you go a worrin', Prism," Unset says as he tries to place a reassuring appendage on the gnome's shoulder. "T'weren't nothin' that we couldn't handle."

"Besides, ole Unset has already 'gotten' as 'ugly' as one can, I s'pose," he adds. "'Ugly', ain't much a bother. Losin' frends, that be would be gettin' tricksy, it would."

Ready for the next room.

Eager to move along, you push open the next curtain.

Niksi, you can have your choice of Brother still being active, or not having cast the spell in the first place, if you would have waited to see if the cage closing worked.

Images of moons and celestial bodies adorn the walls of this small room. A small cage made of wooden bars painted a garish red stands against the north wall. The disembodied voice coos, “Shh! Wouldn’t want to wake the Moon Mole!”

Inside the cage is the most bizarre creature that you have ever seen.

Initiative!
Prism
Niksi
Rova
Kennari
Unset
Weird Creature

I will say that you all realize that this creature is much less powerful than you are.

The cage is locked with a steel padlock. Opening it requires a successful DC 25 Thievery check to Pick a Lock. Alternatively, a hero can Force Open the cage with a successful DC 24 Athletics check.

Rova tries to figure out what this thing is.

First action, Hunt Prey (moon mole); not sure what else I'm doing yet; I can Recall Knowledge as part of this action.
Lore (Groetus) (trained): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 Yes, this is the skill I'm choosing for a moon mole. :D

Sure, I'll allow it. :P

Rova recognizes a zuipnyrn! They are not from the moon but they are aliens. They have psychic abilities to charm and influence, notably a fascinating aura, but they are not very physically powerful.

"Moon Mole?" Prism asks curiously. "Are you being held against your will?" She inspects the cage and depending on the answer she will try to free the small alien. "Don't worry, we will help you out."

Thievery DC 25: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Rova's face falls as she realizes it's not actually a Groetan creature. She's not sure they should let it out, but if the voice suggests not to wake it -- they probably should.

She nods encouragingly at Prism, hoping the gnome won't get herself eaten.

Oh, it's already awake!

One more thing that Rova knows--it can't speak but it does understand Common.

Prism unlocks the cage!

Kennari, Unset, Niksi, what would you like to do?

"Moon Mole?" Prism asks curiously. "Are you being held against your will?" She inspects the cage and depending on the answer she will try to free the small alien. "Don't worry, we will help you out."

"Are ye sure opennin' the cages o'strangers, particularly in this circus is wise, Prism?" Unset asks with concern, as he moves into position to place himself between the moon mole and the others. "There's already bin more than one critter that t'weren't what it seemed, there has."

"Well...I do think we may be best served by some contrarianism here. In the last chamber, Madam Dusklight wished the cage doors open so the animals might attack us. We closed them, and the situation was resolved. In this case, she has left the crate locked. We may be best served by thwarting her wishes."

Despite his brave words, Kennari weaves a defensive ward to protect himself. Cast shield, nothing else.

@GM kate no illusory creature then!

Niksi nods as she muses on Kennari’s suggestion. ”I would also add that someone as cruel and catty as the Mistress would find joy in setting up a first situation in which we are punished for giving the benefit of the doubt, only for us to then take that as reason to leave a genuinely imprisoned person trapped. That vicious whimsy of hers wants people who oppose her to suffer.”

"Not ure if wise, but noone should be held captive." Prism scrunches up her face in disgust.

The creature waves its appendage--perhaps an eye--at you all, then hops out of its cage and darts away.

Second combat avoided! Hero Point to Prism for getting the cage open!

Underneath the cage lies a silk purse dropped by a former customer. The purse itself is worth 10 gp, and it contains a gallow’s tooth and a single diamond earring worth 180 gp.

"Wise 'r not, t'was the right thing t'do. It would seem," Unset concedes, visually ashamed by his aggressiveness. "One would think that bein' ill-treated might make one a bit more bold 'in 'elpin' others, but its not always the case, it's not."

"If anythin', it has made ole Unset be a bit too cautious, it has. Yer lesson is a good reminder, Prism, that the world might well be better if more folks like ye were willin' t'act on their compassion, rather than hesitate or, worse, strike out due t'fear."

"Yeah," Rova agrees. "You should always be helpful, like every day's your last, because it could be."

Once they've collected the dropped purse, she makes sure the others are ready. "I guess we should keep going. But be ready. It definitely seems like she knows we're coming."

You open the curtain to the next room.

Garish swirls and splatters of paint cover the walls and floor of this room, along with several overturned paint buckets. Dozens of trapezes hang from the ceiling, each suspended ten feet above the floor. A purple‑haired gnome woman stands upon one of them, watching a pair of hulking clowns fight. “Nothing is what it seems in the Celestial Menagerie,” purrs the disembodied voice, “except perhaps our beautiful Jasmaile and her boys.”

The three are startled to see you enter, as though they expected to have more time.

You all realize that the gnome is not what she seems.

Initiative
Prism
Niksi
Unset
Kennari
Rova
Pidkin
Kreel
Jasmaile

Note that the "gnome" is ten feet in the air on a trapeze.

"Come down from there." Unable to place his finger on what is so strange about the 'gnome', Kennari mutters an incantation and sends a glowing red bead toward her feet that explodes in an eruption of fire!

Fire damage: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6, 3, 4, 6) = 29 DC 26 basic Reflex, reducing status bonus vs. magic by 1.

◆Recall Knowledge, ◆◆Cast fireball.

Growing quite tired of all these thugs Prism engulfs the entire back of the room in a fireball. She giggles as the pretty sparks fling off in all directions. "Too much?" She giggles even more as Kennari does the same.

Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 3, 2, 4, 2) = 19 DC 24 Reflex

◆ Stride
◆◆ Fireball

Rova gawks for a moment at the sheer size of the clowns, then -- brought back to her senses by the fiery explosions -- sets her sights on the farther one. Sizing him up -- definitely just a big clown -- she fires a pair of arrows.

"The bigger they are, the harder they fall!" she tells him.

Hunt Prey vs. Red (with Monster Hunter); Strike x2 vs. Red
Society (untrained), I assume: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 with a Dubious Knowledge kicker on that

+1 striking shortbow (deadly d10, magical, 60 foot range, reload 0): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 + (7) = 16
Deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 5
Crit specialization: The target gets stuck to an adjacent surface by the missile. The target is immobilized and must spend an Interact action to attempt a DC 10 Athletics check to pull the missile free; it can’t move from its space until it succeeds.

Shortbow (iterative): 1d20 + 17 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 17 - 5 = 26
Piercing damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 2 = 11

Niksi summons her favorite creation into being and has him block one of the clowns, bashing his clockwork limbs against his foe.

Slam 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Slam 1 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Slam 2 (map): 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 15 - 5 = 15
Slam 2 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Niksi, for her part, begins a haunting circusy tune.

Two actions for illusory creature, one for Inspire Defense

"The bigger they are--" Unset begins as he bounds toward one of the looming brutes with his appendages at the ready.
Move, Strikex2
Melee +1 striking thundering tail (backswing, magical) v purple: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 6 + (4) + 3 = 24
"--the easier they should be t'it!"

Melee +1 striking thundering fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v purple: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 17 - 4 = 30
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 + (3) + 3 = 15

"Better."

Kennari knows that this creature isn't a gnome, but he's not sure what she actually is.

Kennari and Prism both take advantage of positioning to start off with fireballs.

Jasmaile Reflex vs Kennari: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 - 1 = 16
Pidkin Reflex vs Kennari: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Kreel Reflex vs Kennari: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Jasmaile Reflex vs Prism: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 = 35
Pidkin Reflex vs Prism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Kreel Reflex vs Prism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Kennari's fireball is especially effective!

Rova isn't sure what the big guy is, but she sure knows how to hit him! Crit!

Niksi sends Brother in to smack the same big clown!

Unset runs in and gives the other a good whack with his tail!

The not-gnome, almost dead, starts to move between trapezes.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29

She casts a spell on the nearest enemy, Unset.

The purple clown drops a bucket of purple paint on the ground. He draws a greatclub and swings it at Unset twice.

Drawing a weapon provokes from Unset!

greatclub: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
ouch!: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

greatclub: 1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 19 - 5 = 16
ouch!: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

And misses twice!

Red drops a bucket of red paint on the ground. He pulls the arrow out of his foot.

Athletic: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

He then draws a club and swings it at Brother!
greatclub: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34
ouch!: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

[ooc]I think Brother goes poof?

Initiative
Prism
Niksi
Unset, Will save, AoO on Purple
Kennari
Rova
Pidkin, -82 hp
Kreel, -76 hp
Jasmaile, -58 hp

Rova keeps her attention on Big Red, and murmurs a prayer to Groetus -- "Great Harbinger, let us live to see The End" -- before releasing an arrow. It seems to glow with a pale white nimbus as it streaks toward its target!

Three-action eldritch shot for the first time!
Great Groetus! (+1 striking shortbow eldritch shot, deadly d10, magical, 60-foot range): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 + (6) = 14
TK projective: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 2) = 14

Boy, when I don't have Thkrull with me, my action economy gets a LOT easier to figure out!

Will save: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 13 + 1 = 25

Unset swings at the clown at it goes for a weapon.

Melee +1 striking thundering tail (backswing, magical): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 + (4) + 3 = 20

Then, he commits to pummeling it.
Melee +1 striking thundering tail (backswing, magical) v purple: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 + (1) + 3 = 14
Melee +1 striking thundering fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v purple: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 17 - 4 = 31
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 + (2) + 3 = 14
Melee +1 striking thundering fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v purple: 1d20 + 17 - 8 ⇒ (6) + 17 - 8 = 15
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 + (1) + 3 = 14

Kennari sees the 'gnome' casting spells against his allies, and says "stop that." as he sends a particularly long jolt of electricity at the 'gnome' and the nearby large clown.

◆Reach Spell, ◆◆Cast electric arc on gnome and purple (or red if purple is down).

Electricity damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 1) + 4 = 13
DC 26 basic Reflex, reducing status vs. magic by 1.

Prism shields herself as she goes to help Brother out. She slides on her knees and slices at the dirty othersome clown.

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up) vs FF: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

◆ Shield
◆ Stride
◆ Strike

Rova's powerful shot finds its target!

Unset isn't bothered by whatever the gnome was casting. He fails to hit Purple when he draws his club, but then solidly smacks him twice.

Kennari casts electricity at the gnome and the Purple giant.

Jasmaile: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 2 - 1 = 30
Pidkin: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Both of them fall!

Prism fails to connect with the remaining clown.

Initiative
Prism
Niksi
Unset
Kennari
Rova
Kreel, -104 hp

Niksi up!

Niksi moves into a more central position, maintaining both her song and her illusory creature.

Slam 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Slam 1 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Slam 2 (map): 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 5 = 26
Slam 2 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Maintain illusory creature, inspire defense, stride

The remaining clown is struck by the looming figure.

The giant clown swings his club in a big arc, hitting both Prism and Brother.

greatclub wide swing: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22
ouch!: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

The club goes right over Prism's head!

Not sure of Brother's current AC/HP

He tries to whack the gnome once more, then moves to block the next door.

greatclub: 1d20 + 19 - 10 ⇒ (8) + 19 - 10 = 17
ouch!: 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Initiative
Prism
Niksi
Unset
Kennari
Rova
Kreel, -111 hp

Everybody up!

Continuing her prayer, Rova again fires a divinely powered apocalyptic arrow toward the remaining clown.

Great Groetus! (+1 striking shortbow eldritch shot, deadly d10, magical, 60-foot range): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29
Hunter's edge (precision/piercing damage): 2d6 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 5) + 2 + (7) = 15
TK projective: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 3) = 12

"Get in close to him, and surround him." Prism calls out hoping the others will help her out.

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 = 6
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.

+1 Striking Sickle (Gang-up): 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 17 - 4 = 28
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5
Knife Crit: 1d6 persistent Bleed.

◆ Shield
◆ Strike
◆ Strike

Seeing how effective it was last time, Kennari sends another jolt of electricity at the clown, then casts a defensive ward.

◆◆Cast electric arc, ◆Cast shield.

electricity damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 4) + 4 = 17
DC 26 basic Reflex.

Unset tumbles toward the remaining foe.
Acrobatics to Tumble Through: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19

Those less artfully than planned, he brings his meaty appendages to bear against the brute.
Melee +1 striking thundering fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v red: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision:: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 6 + (1) + 3 = 17
Melee +1 striking thundering fist (magical, nonlethal, agile, finesse) v red: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 17 - 4 = 28
Damage B & 1d6 So & precision: 2d6 + 6 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 + (5) + 3 = 19

Rova, Prism, and Unset easily take down the remaining clown while Kennari zaps him one last time for good measure.

Out of combat!

"Is everyone OK?" Rova asks, looking around. "This is the least fun house ever!"

Prism looks around. "I think so?" She looks all over not able to find any wounds.

Niksi dusts off her top hat. ”Mistress Dusklight does love her irony. Would be an attractive quality in a better woman.”

After the worst clowns ever couldn't land a single blow, you open the curtain to the next room.

Beyond the curtain is a large alcove. A single door stands beneath a sign reading “Welcome to the Maze of Mirrors.” The door is slightly ajar, and the dancing reflections of several tiny lights is visible within.

Prism spots some magical runes on the mirrored walls of the maze. They seem designed to trap people in the maze!

Thievery or Dispel Magic (5th level) to disable

"Hm...let me see if I can deal with this." Kennari mutters to himself for a moment, then weaves a spell that envelops the runes, trying to remove them. Casting dispel magic (4th). Because the target is one level higher, I have to succeed at the counteract check to disable it.

Counteract check: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Unset stands by, in the event that Kennari has difficulty in dealing.

Thievery: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Rova waits. She knows a good trap is critical to making sure your home stays safe. She was always amazed when her family would get back from creeping around a strange place -- people's prejudice against them meant they sometimes had to improvise to get essential supplies like gold and magic items and food -- and there were no real traps there.

They always set up traps -- but she supposes that was a sort of double-edged sword. It meant only the toughest, most experienced, most bull-headed Pharasmins made it through -- which meant those were the ones they had to stop or get away from.

Kennari hero point accepted! Lol @ Rova.

Kennari disables the runes.

Rova stops to see if there are any tracks through the mirrors, but otherwise is ready to push on. If there are tracks, I'll Hunt Prey and attempt to Recall Knowledge.

You make your way through the maze. Rova notes tracks from a catfolk and two humanoids in heavy armor. You certainly know who the catfolk is, but don't have enough information to know who the humans are.

You open the next door. Bamboo room partitions and crimson velvet curtains decorate this large receiving room. Subdued lanterns illuminate delicate paintings of cranes in flight. One of the bruisers who works for Mistress Dusklight is bound on the floor with thick ropes, his club lying just outside of his reach.

The curtain stirs and an armed man emerges into the foyer from a room to the west. The familiar face of deputy constable Darricus Stallit relaxes into a friendly grin. “Thank all the gods it’s you,” he pants, lowering his blade. “She put up quite the fight, that one. If you hadn’t distracted her minions in the gallery, I would never have been able to apprehend her.” Darricus wipes the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

“You’ve done enough. I’ll get her transported and booked—she’ll be in a cell by sunrise, along with this goon Cobbin. I’ll make sure the chief knows how much you helped. Now, go get some rest. You’ve certainly earned it.”

Rova pauses. She remembers the lessons she was imparted as a child all two well: AGAB -- all guards are bastards. You can never trust them and this just feels too easy.

Sense Motive! +16 Perception

ACAB (all cops are bastards) and AGAB (assigned gender at birth) have come together quite hilariously here!

Niksi was raised with similar instincts to Rova. Further, she remains skeptical that this is even a guard in the first place, given this entire delve into the circus has been about trying to deceive them. Only +12 perception for her alas She makes a guess as to who would possibly both know of this specific guard and be capable of disguising as him, and she decides to test that guess.

”Oh good. Did you get that swine Delamar? You remember him from when we came to town, yes? When I took a peek into Mistress Dusklight’s mind, she seemed to be planning on using him as a fall guy in the event the circus is raided. We even found some forged documents making it look like he was blackmailing her. Some nasty stuff.”

Deception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Essentially, she is guessing that this is Delamar in disguise, and she’s testing that by seeing if she can rile him up with a lie

I'll go ahead and roll the sense motive for everyone!

"Oh yeah, that Delamar is a real jerk. None of us like him very much on the force."

Niksi's lie doesn't seem to rile him up much, but Rova is quite convinced that he has been lying since he entered the room.

Prism doesn't read much into the man's words, but the rogue does observe that the ropes tying up the man on the floor are extremely loose and wouldn't bind him at all.

Prism hops forward. "These knots are all wrong, here I'll help you. He can slip right out of these."