It Came from Hollow Mountain

Game Master DEREK LANE 127

Roscoe starts the day with the same seance as the day before.

"Anyone care to join me?" he asks. "This archmage will make your blade swing more true."

séance boon: you gain a +2 bonus on all non-spell damage rolls

Hatfield participates.

Roscoe starts the day with the same seance as the day before.

"Anyone care to join me?" he asks. "This archmage will make your blade swing more true."

séance boon: you gain a +2 bonus on all non-spell damage rolls

They attacked us first! Um, I think.

Midnight at Kaddren Manor

Everybody is sleeping, mindful that tomorrow morning the Sihedron Council convenes to hear their tale.

Loren has cleaned the heroes' rooms and turned down the sheets. a small bowl of water rests on the floor of Ayita's room for Yazhi.

New map on Roll20.

@ALL: Each of you, please make a single perception check.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Nasir Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Ayita Perception with Ter nearby: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 15 + 2 = 27

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Randomized occupancy of first room, left to right: Ayita1, Doc2, Nasir3, Roscoe4: 1d4 ⇒ 3 NASIR sleeping in first room
Randomized occupancy of second room: Ayita1, Doc2, Roscoe3: 1d3 ⇒ 1 AYITA sleeping second room
Randomized occupancy of third room: Doc1, Roscoe2: 1d2 ⇒ 2 ROSCOE sleeping in third room
DOC sleeping in fourth room

I randomized the occupancy of the four rooms and moved your tokens around on the map to account for above.

A Day in the Life of Dith-Ka, Assassin of the Frozen Shadow

For these Peacock cultists, another job. So much spilling of blood, so much terror to savor. <Hehe>

The bugbear finishes poisoning his blades and readying his blowgun. Then, with a quick swig, he drinks his potion.

Mmmm. Hate this for climbing. Practice more, must.

He carefully scales the manor wall. The exterior walls and gates and guards were nothing for a shadow like him, Dith-Ka, the night terror or children, the whisper of death in the dark streets of Magnimar.

Ah. This city. Good to me, it is.

When he gets to the window, he stops briefly, checks his tools and quickly unlatches the window. He stops after opening it, waiting for any reaction. Nothing. Of course, nothing. He is a master shadow. Nobody will hear him. Nobody will see him.

He slides, noiselessly, to the first door against the exterior wall. He looks back at the guard down the hallway.

Hmmm. The round ear is actually awake. This manor, good guards has. Kill later, perhaps. Savor his terror. Sad, these ones must go quick. “Kill quick. Take invisible rapier.” Meh. No fun. Maybe Skinsaw Cultists work for next. Know how good terror is, they do.

He opens the door and slips inside, unseen and unheard. Before him is a small room, with an old man sleeping peacefully in a bed. He closes the door.

Dith-Ka slides his curved blade from its sheath, readying his strike on the helpless man.

Wonder if terror the soul feels when it awakens with no body?

He swings.

@DOC Coup de grace, Wakizashi Crit+sneak dmg: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (5) + 3 + (2, 1) = 18 plus bloodroot (Fort DC12, 1 Con damage and 1 Wis damage)

@DOC Fort Save DC 28 or DIE

RULES: Coup de Grace

As a full-round action, you can use a melee weapon to deliver a coup de grace (pronounced “coo day grahs”) to a helpless opponent. You can also use a bow or crossbow, provided you are adjacent to the target.

You automatically hit and score a critical hit. If the defender survives the damage, he must make a Fortitude save DC 10 + damage dealt) or die. A rogue also gets her extra sneak attack damage against a helpless opponent when delivering a coup de grace.

Delivering a coup de grace provokes attacks of opportunity from threatening opponents.

You can’t deliver a coup de grace against a creature that is immune to critical hits. You can deliver a coup de grace against a creature with total concealment, but doing this requires two consecutive full-round actions (one to “find” the creature once you’ve determined what square it’s in, and one to deliver the coup de grace).

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

As his soul is separate from his body, Hatfield thinks: "Aw, shucks! I'm not a healer; I'm a corpse!"

Dith-Ka watches as the man dies. Even this relatively peaceful passing is pleasing to his evil soul. Not as delicious as a look of terror is, but pleasant. It is something to keep him satiated until he can sow true terror.

In the midst of savoring the man’s murder, he makes an error, rattling the door as he grips the doorknob.

Stealth+Sleep: 1d20 + 15 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 10 = 27

He waits to see if the guard hears his mistake.

[ooc)@ALL Perception checks, please[/ooc]

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 CRIT! That has to count for something.

Coup de grace! Aaaaahhh! Doc!

Roscoe rolls over in his sleep as the power of ancient archmages heightens his senses.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 Add 2 more to this roll

spirit surge: 1d6 ⇒ 2

test

Edit: Finally able to post again. Was trying to since 4pm yesterday.
Perception was done in Discussion tab.

Ayita's perception of 27 matches the evil one's stealth...

Ayita is having a nightmare... she is back in Sir Roderick's house, something is in the closet, it's locked itself in... it has stolen Yazhi's treats and is eating them all...

Ayita's perception of 27 matches the evil one's stealth...

That 27 was for when he was entering the manor via the window. It did not meet the DC of 33 for that moment. NOW he is in Doc's room, leaving. Roll Perception again to tell me if Ayita hears the rattle of the doorknob.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Apparently Frantino is a heavy sleeper.

Ayita of the Hawk Clan wrote:

Ayita's perception of 27 matches the evil one's stealth...

That 27 was for when he was entering the manor via the window. It did not meet the DC of 33 for that moment. NOW he is in Doc's room, leaving. Roll Perception again to tell me if Ayita hears the rattle of the doorknob.

Ayita perception w Ter: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 + 2 = 35

A noise wakes Ayita up. It is Ter, tapping her beak on the bedpost, urgently. TAPTAPTAPTAP

Did my 26 hear this last round?

Did my 26 hear this last round?

No. He rolled a 27.

Thanks for the good roll for Ayita, GM Derek! I'd have rolled a 1 I bet.

Ayita sits up in bed quickly, heart pounding from her dream of missing treats, and realizes Ter is alarmed.

She uses her hunter animal focus of "Owl", getting +4 stealth, and stealthily gets out of bed, grabbing the +1 punching dagger next to her. She heads to the door. (I think Yazhi was forbidden from sleeping in here? If not, she nudges Yazhi awake.)

Ter glides to her shoulder.

Ayita stealth: 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 4 = 22

She listens...

Ayita perception: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 = 24

Dith-ka looks down at the dead human. One down, he thinks. He opens the door and steps into the common room.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Using his preternatural stealth, he walks to the next door. So stupid when they are hunted to sleep. Unaware they are," he thinks.

He doesn't notice the Ayita trio awakening. But at the same time, he is so stealthy that Ayita can't hear him.

Frantino vouched for Yazhi, so the wolfdog is with you.

Maybe this one will awaken and know fear when I kill them," Dith-ka, assassin extraordinaire, thinks.

Stealth opening door to Roscoe's room: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

@ALL except Ayita Perception DC29 (approximately, depending on distance from Roscoe's room) checks, please.

Ayita - DC19

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Finally, a decent roll!

[dice=Perception]1d20 + 15

Finally, a decent roll!

OMG! you hit it! You’re 35ft from his door, but you round down, so… add 3 to the DC29=32!

Frantino awakens. He isn’t sure why. Perhaps he heard something? Everything in his room seems just fine.

If we can't even hear anything with a Nat 20 then I'm not even going to roll. Can't even get close to the DC.

If my Nat 20 didn't do anything for me, then I'm in the same boat with Ezrandir. More reminders why I like 2E better...

Something faint but abnormal seems to have roused Frantino. He'll get up and open his door, stifling a yawn.

"Hey, Ayita, was that you? Ter seems pretty agitated! Don't remember where the bathroom is? Why are Roscoe and Doc's doors open, too?"

Something faint but abnormal seems to have roused Frantino. He'll get up and open his door, stifling a yawn.

"Hey, Ayita, was that you? Ter seems pretty agitated! Don't remember where the bathroom is? Why are Roscoe and Doc's doors open, too?"

Dith-ka grumbles silently to himself. Pointy ears be damned. Heard something he did. Time to speed this up.

The assassin looks down at the sleeping halfling. He draws his blade, readying his strike, but quickly this time.

No time to savor his death. Oh well.

The sihedron amulet about the halfling's neck begins to dance, as if in desperation. Dith-ka hesitates, looking at it jump and vibrate.

No worries, little medallion. I'll take you when this one is gone.

Something faint but abnormal seems to have roused Frantino. He'll get up and open his door, stifling a yawn.

"Hey, Ayita, was that you? Ter seems pretty agitated! Don't remember where the bathroom is? Why are Roscoe and Doc's doors open, too?"

@AYITA if you're wondering, you can clearly hear Frantino when he says this.

Ayita signals Yazhi to attack, pushing her door open so Yazhi can run out, trying to be stealthy. Ayita and Yazhi can probably see the enemy and her friend Roscoe through the open door, so Ayita tries to cover Yazhi as she tries to acrobatically leap past the enemy onto Roscoe's bed to protect the halfling.

Ayita stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Ayita assisting Yazhi?: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Yazhi acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

I've placed them where Ayita wants them to end up, if this works - Yazhi would try to stand protectively right over Roscoe if she can; I'm sure Yazhi has tried to snuggle with all the party members at some point...

Upon hearing Yazhi's snarls, Frantino is now aware that there's an intruder. He'll start yelling out as he runs back into his room to grab Fury.

"Intruder! Thief! Assassin! Everyone up!"

Come to think of it, he can't feel Doc's life link anymore. Uh oh.

Yazhi and Ayita and the enemy get attacks in the surprise round. Frantino hears the attack and shouts/moves after Ayita and Yazhi attack.

RACE TO STOP THE ASSASSIN!

In slow motion...Dith-Ka pulls his blade back and begins his downward swing --

WILL YAZHI, MOVING LIGHTNING FAST, BE ABLE TO INTERVENE IN TIME?

Ayita initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
DITH-KA initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

-- and Yazhi is a SPLIT second too late! The assassin's wakizashi connects with the sleeping halfling a just before Yazhi LEAPS through the doorway, snarling!

@ROSCOE Coup de grace, Wakizashi Crit+sneak dmg: 1d6 + 3 + 1d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (3) + 3 + (3, 5) = 18 plus bloodroot (Fort DC12, 1 Con damage and 1 Wis damage)

Yazhi's speed and strength of spirit land him atop Roscoe after the wakizashi slashes him, but before his wound begins to bleed!

@AYITA - Yazhi's incredible effort allows him in this unprecedented circumstance to Aid Another's Fort Save. Roll a Fort Save (over 10, hopefully) to give Roscoe a +2 bonus!

All of Roscoe spirits swirl about him, shouting in ethereal voices at the resident spirit, Help him, Karzoug! We cannot be banished to the Boneyard! DO SOMETHING!

@ROSCOE Fort Save DC 28 or DIE

@ROSCOE All of your spirits are rushing to aid you. Any and all spirit powers Roscoe has access to, from any of the spirits, may be brought to bear in this instance, regardless of whether they are inhabiting you currently. NOTE: spirit bonus and spirit surge are finite reservoirs and each can only be used once in this situation. In other words, two spirits can't both use spirit surge to grant you a 1d6 fort save bonus.

Yazhi aid another: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

[dice=Yazhi aid another]1d20+5

The spirits swirling about Roscoe's sleeping (dying?) form sense the powerful wolfdog spirit aiding the halfling.

What is it doing?

Stop that you mangy mutt!

Shut up, Belimarius! It's helping, isn't it?

Roscoe gets a +2 Aid Another bonus to his upcoming Fort Save

Roscoe dies an ignominious death.

fort save: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15

Roscoe dies an ignominious death.

[dice=fort save]1d20+6+2

Are there any spirit powers that enable a reroll?

Ezranadir is restless, tossing and turning in his sleep. Something seems amiss. His dreams are very dark and unsettling. Spirits seem to be talking but he doesn't know to whom or what they are saying. Upon Frantino yelling out, he awakes with foreseen dread. Time slows and reverses in his mind's eye. The assassin's Wakizashi slides out of Roscoe's chest and the assassin sneaks backwards toward the door. Ayita and Yahzi tumble out of the room. Time reverts forward again. He can see the assassin poised to strike the sleeping halfling known as Roscoe. Can Ayita and Yazhi rush in trying to intercept the blow succeed this time?

Using the Time Lost Trait to have GM reroll the Assassins Initiative.

Ezranadir is restless, tossing and turning in his sleep. Something seems amiss. His dreams are very dark and unsettling. Spirits seem to be talking but he doesn't know to whom or what they are saying. Upon Frantino yelling out, he awakes with foreseen dread. Time slows and reverses in his mind's eye. The assassin's Wakizashi slides out of Roscoe's chest and the assassin sneaks backwards toward the door. Ayita and Yahzi tumble out of the room. Time reverts forward again. He can see the assassin poised to strike the sleeping halfling known as Roscoe. Can Ayita and Yazhi rush in trying to intercept the blow succeed this time?

Using the Time Lost Trait to have GM reroll the Assassins Initiative.

Rerolled init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Using the Time Lost Trait to have GM reroll the Assassins Initiative.

Nicely done!

Does Nasir wake up? Here's my Perception check if needed.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Looks like Nasir is sleeping through this entire episode...

RACE TO STOP THE ASSASSIN REWIND!

In slow motion...Dith-Ka pulls his blade back and begins his downward swing --

WILL YAZHI, MOVING LIGHTNING FAST, BE ABLE TO INTERVENE IN TIME?

Ayita initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
DITH-KA initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

-- and Yazhi LEAPS between the assassin's wakizashi and the sleeping halfling , snarling!

Damned wolfdog. Hate killing animals, I do, grumbles the assassin to himself.

@YAZHI - an attack against the assassin?

Ezranadir is restless, tossing and turning in his sleep. Something seems amiss. His dreams are very dark and unsettling. Spirits seem to be talking but he doesn't know to whom or what they are saying. Upon Frantino yelling out, he awakes with foreseen dread. Time slows and reverses in his mind's eye. The assassin's Wakizashi slides out of Roscoe's chest and the assassin sneaks backwards toward the door. Ayita and Yahzi tumble out of the room. Time reverts forward again. He can see the assassin poised to strike the sleeping halfling known as Roscoe. Can Ayita and Yazhi rush in trying to intercept the blow succeed this time?

Using the Time Lost Trait to have GM reroll the Assassins Initiative.

Ezranadir, the only mortal aware of what he's done, feels an otherworldly deific presence suddenly observing the proceedings. Something watchful, some type of guardian, seeing the strands of Fate unwoven and then rewoven.

The presence unnerves Ezranadir, intensely.

Yazhi is supposed to be right over Roscoe, but his avatar hides hers so I've offset hers.

All that training paid off! thinks Ayita, as Yazhi does a beautiful leap and pivots over Roscoe to snap at the enemy's arm.

Yazhi outflank attack: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 4 = 30
Yazhi precise companion damage: 1d6 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + (6) + 6 = 16

After Ayita opened her door, she'd moved into the flank with the punching dagger drawn. She uses the animal focus swift action for "tiger" to get +2 dex, to raise her AC a tiny bit in her likely unarmored state.

Roscoe Elring - Champion wrote:

Roscoe dies an ignominious death.

[dice=fort save]1d20+6+2

Are there any spirit powers that enable a reroll?

No, just add a 1d6 to the roll (which I would have added but knew I failed anyway).

[u]Now[/u] Frantino shouts that there's an intruder as he steps back into his room to grab Fury. He's intentionally trying to do it loud enough to wake Nasir and Ezranadir and alert any guards who may be patrolling the grounds nearby.

[u]Now[/u] Frantino shouts that there's an intruder as he steps back into his room to grab Fury. He's intentionally trying to do it loud enough to wake Nasir and Ezranadir and alert any guards who may be patrolling the grounds nearby.

Frantino's shout awakens everybody... except Doc.

Roscoe's eyes pop open to find a wolfdog's ass in his face and a... bugbear standing over him, holding a wakizashi!