Tyrant's Grasp

Game Master Kumakawa

Vyr withdraws to the doorway, shield up and ready for more.

I don't think we are quite ready to fully retreat - I think I'd like a few more whacks at it, with A-L maybe using some ear-piercing scream and any other ideas folks have.

The boar savages Willard's electro-frog...

1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 2 = 24
2d6 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 7 + 4 = 21

if that kills the frog it will follow Vyr

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Annalise
Red -19
Vyr
Willard
Purple -20

map

Just a heads up, evil eye is mind affecting so if this thing is immune to mind affecting effects, it didn't do anything. Also, I don't know where my token is, but Annalise will also back up

Annalise will charge up a cure light wounds spell for Red
Conduit surge: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"Keep at it, Sir Red"

Mind FX seem to work on this guy. I moved you to the next slide, since you're at the top of the stairs. But feel free to change her position. I thought everyone was falling back.

Cool cool

Red, with a little health restored to him, will 5' over to the door and flurry the beast.

attack: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 1 = 9

attack: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 1 = 22 for damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9

Annalise heals Red as the monk lands a solid blow to the beast's flank.

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Annalise
Red -14
Vyr
Willard
Purple -24

>>>map<<<

Vyr switches to a two-handed grip on his blade and swings with a more powerful attack.
attack w/ bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24
dmg, ecto +1 sword: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Annalise
Red -14
Vyr
Willard
Purple -32

>>>map<<<

"Ah, back to the Plane of Air with you, poor bloke." Willard briefly morns the electric frog.

Then, he'll cast grease in the pig's space (DC 16).

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

The boar proves surprisingly dexterous and takes a poke at Vyr.

1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 2 = 24
2d6 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 7 + 4 = 17

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Annalise
Red -14
Vyr -17
Willard
Purple -32

>>>map<<<

Vyr tries the more aggressive approach again.
attack w/ bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13
dmg, ecto +1 sword: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Flurry!!!

attack w/ bless: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 19 for damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

attack w/ bless: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 27 for damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

Beaten to within an inch of its life, the boar turns and runs away. (withdraw action) Out of initiative, unless you want to pursue it.

~~+~~Initiative~~+~~

Annalise
Red -14
Vyr -17
Willard
Purple -36

>>>map<<<

Annalise will take out the wand and start seeing to her companions wounds
"Hopefully that disgusting thing will not come back"

For Red
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Well, that was one unfriendly porker. Who was that offering advice?"

Willard spies up the stairs to look for their benefactor.

Vyr looks after the retreating boar. "Should we pursue? I hate to leave a foe lurking about in this gods-forsaken house. In the meantime, I'd appreciate a little healing as well, Annalise, if you don't mind."

2 charges from wand: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9

"Perhaps we should see if there is an ally up the stairs."

A massive staircase of dark wood rises to the north, its maroon carpet pitted with age. The railings are carved to resemble ascending ghosts. The wall atop the stairs bears an enormous, looming portrait 6 feet wide and 9 feet tall. The portrait depicts a bearded older man with curling ram horns, hunched under the weight of a massive snail shell on his back. The figure bears a half grin, as though he knows a particularly delightful secret.
A chandelier of iron and glass hangs down above the stair’s lower landing from the ceiling 20 feet above, its few lit candles flickering weakly. From the lower landing, three different sliding doors lead to the west, south, and east. From the upper landing, sliding double doors lead to the east and west—one on each side of the looming portrait.

As you look for the source of the voice, the portrait's expression changes, raising its eyebrows in a look of gentle surprise blended with curiosity.

"Well, you came through that alright," it says in a rich baritone.

"Greetings. Are you the master of this castle? I am Annalise Wilblund."
Annalise will say with a curtsy

"Greetings young lady, and how nice it is to have a guest with social graces. The master of the manor, Kishokish, has been betrayed and captured. While I bear his appearance, I am little more than a host for his little parties and puzzles. Kishokish is indisposed. You see, sahkils, wicked creatures that prey upon torment and fear, have invaded Nine-Eaves. Will you help?”

Vyr whispers to Annalise: "Be sure we get stamped as part of the deal!"

Annalise nods
"It seems as though we may be able to help each other. As you may be able to tell, my companions an I are still living. We wish to return to the material world and require a stamp from your master to do so. We would be happy to help free him in return for his facilitation of our passage"

Any knowledge check to know more about sahkils?

At Annalise's suggestion, the portrait sighs. |"Although I do want to help you, and I am able to converse with you in a limited fashion, much of the knowledge you seek is locked away behind certain riddles that Kishokish has made part of my being."

"If you can answer me these riddles three, I can lead you to Kishokish, who has the power to help you."

The portrait waves his hands and an image appears on the brass plate affixed the painting's frame. (See slide 15)

"You have two tasks: First, tell me the correct order of these figures. Second, draw with your finger the shape of the next one."

Kn. Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

"Sakhils are from the ethereal plane if I recall correctly."

She will then study the figures

I think its 1, 2, 3, 4 reflected on each other, so the order would be second, fourth, fist, third and then the next would be the number 5 mirrored

Annalise will describe her suspicions to the rest of the party

Vyr slaps his palm on his forehead. "Wow, princess, you've got quite the brain in that noggin. It would have taken me forever to figure that out."

Vyr concurs with that answer

IntCheck: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7

I couldn't make heads or tails of that, but now that you've pointed it out, it's almost impossible not to see it. Glad as ever to be stuck with this crew.

“Excellent deduction! First, vital information: Like all shokis, Kishokish carries a staff that can contain a single soul within it. The leader of the sahkils caused my master's soul to be trapped within his own staff!
You must—ngh! That’s all I can say before you complete
another puzzle. There is a chalkboard hanging in the garden with
several numbers etched on it. Circle any six digits that
add up to 23.”

>>>map<<<

I agree, but I think it's second, first, fourth, third.

"Riddle? Not really my style. Give me a limerick any day, though!"

The painting pipes up,

"The characters odd of Pharasma,
Linger quite long in miasma
In all of that time
They bump and they grind
But ne'ery do they...No.
But ne'ery achieve an...No. Oh I forgot how it ends, but it used to go down a treat at our dinner parties."

How many campaigns can have bad poetry? Did we see a likely garden location when we approached the house? If so, we head there by most direct route?

It would seem about 100% of those that I gm and for that I am sorry. You haven't seen one so the most likely location is out back.

Oh, don't be sorry! It's hilarious. I've drawn a potential path outside on the map if that looks ok to folks.

"Har, har. I'm sure you'll get there, old boy, if you just keep at it!"

The more questionable poetry, the better!

"I'm sure your dinner parties were exceptional"
Annalise says
"I will follow your lead, Vyr"

Vyr senses some new power in the blade – concentrating, it envelops him in a bright white light, healing him.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Vyr leads the group back down the stairs, and heads through the western door. "Keep your eyes and ears peeled for that nasty pig. He's around here somewhere."

This large parlor has several padded chairs and an enormous
sofa with upholstery so dark that it is barely visible in the
dim room. A delicate wooden table with
a distinct inlaid pattern bears a full
decanter. Sliding doors lead out to the
west, north, and east.

Vyr notes the faint sound of a harp being played somewhere beyond the door to the north.

Should we be healing some? Or do we not have any to spare? Checking for a friend

what's the wand charge situation, Annalise?

I believe you have 5 charges left.

so maybe one more hit on Red, and then we may have to rest sooner rather than later? Willard or AL want to detect magic in here?

Vyr would look around the room a bit, wait for allies to detect magic and the proceed west, looking for exit to the garden.

Perception check for quick search of the room: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Yup, we have 5 charges. But use it or lose your life, right?
Annalise will heal Red once more and then detect magic around the room

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Thank you kindly

I think that tops him off. I had forgotten about the other charge used on him after the battle

The decanter is crystal and filled with a very enticing brandy. On the table is a popular strategy game called Imperial Conquest. The pieces are in a drawer under the inlaid game board. They are cut from black stone. (Appraise if you want to see if this stuff is worth anything.)

Nothing pings as magical.

Appraise: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Imperial Conquest? I'm more inclined toward a game of craps, myself. When I'm not trying to return to the mortal coil, that is."

"I prefer Blind Man's Luck. I'll teach you sometime if we ever get back to the real world. And we won't play for coin until you understand the game." Vyr continues heading west, in search of the garden.

"We had all the servants dress as pieces for a life sized game of Imperial Conquest on my brother's 14th birthday. Its just not the same on a tiny board"

Annalise will continue focusing on detect magic as she follows Vyr

Vyr opens the western door into the warm fug of a greenhouse. Grimy glass comprises the walls and ceiling, barely admitting the dim moonlight. Benches filled with live potted plants line the sides of the room; bags of
soil and gardening equipment are stashed underneath. Some
of the bags are open, spilling dirt across the greenhouse floor.
Strange tracks, as if left by a large earthworm, crisscross the
dirt. A sturdy iron-framed glass door leads to the outside.

Beside it hangs a chalkboard. A piece of chalk dangles from it by a piece of twine.

Riddle on slide 16. (Circle any six digits that add up to 23)

Red goes through multiple unsuccessful attempts.

Hmm, something is odd here. Adding 6 odd numbers together will always get an even number, which 23 is not. Hmm

"Quite tricky . . . but maybe they aren't single numbers, so 11+1+3+3+5=23. Willard, what do you make of those tracks in the dirt? Or should I be asking Mr. Beans?"

Also, Annalise's comment about life size game had me laugh out loud. Reminds me of the chess game in Karazhan (sp?) in WoW . . . oh those were the days.

"You gotta apply that lateral thinking! Why Mr. Beans and I were sampling some interesting specimens one sunny afternoon, and he told me that arithmetic was a 'construct of the limited human imagination.' You've never seen a swine more into set theory." Willard circles some numbers on the board. "I say it's codswallop. I've seldom had call to count more than 20, myself."

Circled my idea on the Slides.