GM MattMorris Cradle of Night (Inactive)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

Aryas thinks, "A donation? Of course! I love giving!" he says to Leopold with a smile and takes out the coins and gives them to him.

Unless there is some strange weather or other concern that might preclude his doing so, Branson will take 10 and get a 27 on his P (Sailor) check.

"You there, stand ready to weigh anchor. Hekk, could you assist on the capstan please? What? No capstan? Just a small anchor on a chain? Dammit man! Why didn't someone say so? Tathane, could you make it up to the crow's nest please? What? And no crow's nest? What sort of ship did we procure? Just a little boat? Look, I cannot perform nautical miracles with such a small craft, but we shall make do. Now, if only we had a proper galley!"

This confidence becomes you, Branson. And look at the way you're manifesting your own reality--only 5 minutes into your course!

Leo, in sotto voce, casts a minor image of a well equipped galley full of interns in red beanies, hard at work on a dinner for ten.

takes 10 on Bluff for a 45

I will say, they when aboardship, errr, aboardboat, Branson's demeanor changes considerably. He is most comfortable at sea, and as he is apparently the Captain of this little getabout, he knows he must act the part.

OMG. You didn't!

Hekk stands there gawking a the boat's transformation, but doesn't know what a capstan is. Putting it simply he says,

"Uh, I'm confused. Where did the oars go?"

Right here, Ensign Hekk, Leo adjusts the illusion to reveal the oars and gunwales. Now don't be afraid to put your back into it. The Sea Bee is a fine ship. The rest of you, if you are getting clear you'll know it by the quality of the interns' bolognese. Eat up!

will st: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Hekk touches the oars and his hands go right through them.

"Um, Brandon, your ship is falling apart, I think."

Now Hekk is even more confuses as he repeatedly tries to grab the oars. In spite of his willingness to believe, some subconscious part of him is having no part of it.

At soon as it's procured, Tathane hops into the small boat. He moves towards the front of the boat while the other get on. "I'm not all that nautical -- certainly not as much as you Brason. It's obvious that you've had some experience on the water! If it's all the same with you guys, I'll just sit up here in the front. Or wait, isn't this call the stern side of the ship? Or is it aftboard? I don't know why 'front', 'back', 'left', 'right' isn't good enough..."

As Leo's galley image resolves Tathane grins, especially at Hekk's response.

"Well, a brief tutorial then?" Branson points as he calls things out, "the pointy end is the 'bow, 'the not pointy end is the 'stern,' around here is 'amidship,' right is 'starboard,' left is 'larboard.' Towards the bow is 'fore,' towards the stern is 'aft.' That water barrel there is the 'scuttlebutt.' We won't go into things like 'abaft,' 'avast,' 'belay,' and others, for now at least. As for why we use these terms on a ship, well, the real question is 'why don't we use these terms ashore?'"

A grin splits Tathane's face and he stand up, offering a smart salute. "Yes sir, General sir! I stand here amid this ship and bow to your stern instruction." He bows then sits back down.

With everyone fully immersed in gaining nautical knowledge, the journey across the subterranean lake seems to go by very quickly. The water's surface is glass-like, the only ripples coming from the dip of the ship's oars. The air is full of the quiet songs of a working crew and the scent of bolognese.

When you reach the island, you are able to secure the boat and climb ashore. From the beach, you can see how a low cave leads into a grotto at the island’s center.

Coming to the cave entrance, you see that the walls are illuminated by a lovely bioluminescent fungus and you can hear the gentle splash of water echoing throughout the cave. All in all, it is a beautiful scene, but something deep inside you seems vaguely repelled by it. You feel a sudden urge to wipe away the fungus and break the silence with a shout. A disturbing sensation!

Map

Hekk shouts. "HECK!"

Does he feel better?

"So much for surprise."

Aryas feels the strange sensation but is drawn forward.

"Something is not right here! Let us investigate!" he says softly and moves forward.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Hekk shouts. "HECK!"

Does he feel better?

Yes, that makes him feel better.

Though it doesn't last very long, as Hekk feels blows fall down on him, seemingly from out of nowhere.

If anyone can see invisible things, you can see these guys. Otherwise, you don't know what's going on. If you can see them, give yourself a surprise round. Aryas, I'm moving you back a bit.

Round 1
slam: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 = 11
slam: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 = 10

~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Red
Hekk (-33)
LeGuin
Branson
Tathane
Leopold
Aryas
Blue

Map

Branson will cast invisibility purge. 50' radius, no SR, no saves.

Branson's magic washes through the cave, but no creatures appear.

Leguin casts see invisibility to see what he can see.

Leguin casts see invisibility to see what he can see.

You see two misty, indistinct figures looming malevolently over Hekk.

1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

"It's two invisible stalkers! Air elementals with natural invisiblity."

“Invisibility?! I think I’ve got something!“

Aryas retrieves his scroll of ‘see invisibility’ and casts it!

He then 5 ft steps forward.

Swift action crane style.

33 points of damage by my count.

"Hey, I wasn't ready! This place was supposed to be peaceful. Though I'm not complaining. Where are they?"

After being given a place to aim for he drops his weapon, goes into a rage, and tries his best tomake contact.

To hit claw, rage, flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 24
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16
concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 50

To hit claw, rage, flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 22
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14
concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 30

To hit bite, rage, flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 20
Damage bite, rage: 1d4 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 = 17
concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 44

To hit claw, rage, flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 + 2 - 5 = 19
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14
concealment: 1d100 ⇒ 100

Very funny, dice. Very funny. Hekk is straddling two squares due to the uncooperative terrain, but I think he has flanking.

Heavens to Murgatroid, invisible stalkers! LeGuin, point me toward these SPs. I have a little razzle dazzle that will reveal their thetodaemon count, which they should have in abundance.

With targeting help from his mates, Leo will cast Glitterdust.

DC17 will

i can hit both if Hekk doesn't mind getting hit. (he can use my gift of will for a bonus on the save. i'll target only Blue if he doesn't want to risk it.

Oh, yes, hit Hekk too. He will deal with his thetodaemons later.

Waiting to see if they are revealed by Leo's spell

A raining glitter falls down on Hekk and the invisible stalkers, revealing them to the group. They are positively shimmering with thetodaemons.

Will (red): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Will (blue): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Will (Hekk): 1d20 + 9 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 20 = 44

They are so fixated on their delusions that they manage to shrug off the blinding effects of the Admiral's treatment.

Just a reminder that, as elementals, they are not subject to critical hits, flanking, or precision damage.

Hekk, we'll say that you did indeed wait for Leopold to give you a target, so no need to worry about concealment. Two hits on red.

~+~Combat Round 1~+~
Red (-30)
Hekk (-33)
LeGuin
Branson
Tathane
Leopold
Aryas
Blue

Map

"Ah! There you are!" Tathane slips behind and to the side of Branson so that he can get a clear shot at one of the elementals. He fits arrows to the string and fires two times.

shortbow@blue,PBS,into melee,precise shot: 1d20 + 13 + 1 - 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 1 - 4 + 4 = 18
dmg,PBS: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4
shortbow@blue,PBS,into melee,precise shot: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 - 4 + 4 = 10

Tathane just misses the glittering elemental.

The newly-revealed creatures slam at you!
Blue v Branson: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13
Blue v Branson: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12
Red v Hekk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8
Red v Hekk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11

~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Red (-30)
Hekk (-52)
LeGuin
Branson
Tathane
Leopold
Aryas
Blue

Map

Leguin shifts to flank with Hekk and then will full attack the adjacent glittering elemental.

Attack 1: Power Attack, flank: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 = 32
dmg 1: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Attack 1: Power Attack, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16
dmg 1: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Leo takes a 5' step away from Red and targets Blue with his mumbo jumbo.

Ill Omen (next 3 rolls)
Painful/Hypnotic Stare -3 Will saves and attack rolls, +5 dmg to the next hit against him

Branson takes a 5' step to the south and casts cure serious wounds on Hekk.

CSW: 3d8 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6, 3) + 10 + 1 = 22 Add 50%, No AOO

33 HP there big guy!

Aryas 5 ft steps and continues in his crane style and fights defensively.

”Invisibility is unfair!“ he says a little concerned.

Crane style: AC while fighting defensively vs. melee attacks: AC 30, Touch 26, FF 15 // CMD 36 (38 vs grapple).
To hit / damage calculation: +1 Adamantine Ghost Touch Scimitar: +16 (1d6+7; 18-20/×2) (To hit: BAB +8, Dervish Dance Dex +6, +1 enhancement bonus, Weapon focus Scimitar +1 / Damage: +6 via Dervish Dance feat and +1 enhancement bonus

Aryas attacks the elemental with his adamantine scimitar.

Flurry attack : 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 301d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

-

Primary attack : 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 171d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

-

Iterative attack : 1d20 + 16 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 16 - 5 = 291d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Due to his rage Hekk takes 6 less damage, so 46 total points of damage instead of 52 by my count. then +33 thanks to Branson to now at -19 and feeling MUCH better.

"Where's the challenge in fair? Besides, we have Branson and I can do this as long as he can!"

Hekk rains a bunch of blows down on red.

To hit claw, rage: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 = 20
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14

To hit claw, rage: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 = 19
confirm claw, rage: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 = 19

To hit bite, rage: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 = 20
Damage bite, rage: 1d4 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 2 = 14

To hit claw, rage, iterative: 1d20 + 11 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 - 5 = 12
Damage claw, rage: 1d6 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 = 15

And the way he is swinging he seems to want the fight to go on!

Quit messing around, Hekk! though I think the 20s may hit in spite of the bad rolls.

Aryas would have dropped red. Would you want to go up and attack blue, Hekk?

"Hekk, in fact t I can do this longer than you, even if you die, I'll keep healing you my friend."

In that case, Hekk just picks up his Bardice and swings at blue with his first roll. If the blow hits then this is the damage instead. Note that the to hit rolls are the same for either type of attack so just the damage changes.

Damage bardiche, rage: 1d10 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 2 = 31, +5 damage if this is the first hit on blue due to Leo's mumbo jumbo.

Note: I'm thinking Branson moved first so Hekk would be getting a -4 for attacking through him. Probably a miss.

Tathane tries again with the bow.

shortbow@blue,PBS,into melee,precise shot: 1d20 + 13 + 1 - 4 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 1 - 4 + 4 = 31
dmg,PBS: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
shortbow@blue,PBS,into melee,precise shot: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 4 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 - 4 + 4 = 22
dmg,PBS: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5

The group shreds the red invisible stalker, and after being revealed and taking some hearty whacks, the remaining foe flees out of the cavern before it can be destroyed.

Out of Initiative.

Two paths lead deeper into the cavern.

"Dammit, it got away, that will make it problematic when it decides to attack us again."

“I can still see invisible beings for another two minutes or so! Let us hurry in!!“ he says and moves forward.

Following Aryas.

Hekk is all for that idea and rushes alongside Aryas.

Branson follows.

Leo hurries after them.

The eager party rushes across a graceful, natural stone bridge arches over a small stream within the cavern. Beyond, a stony chamber contains several elegant ridges of stone that appear too delicate to have formed naturally, yet they remain unmarked by tools or other evidence of workmanship. To the west, the chamber drops off sharply into a pool below.

Several glowworms, like those in the cavern outside, provide dim illumination throughout this chamber.

Standing in the room is a beautiful but sullen-looking creature. Tears stream from the slender woman's eyes, forming a puddle beneath her delicate feet.

"I would not come any closer, if I were you. My presence can have a maddening effect on visitors." The woman calls out as you enter the chamber. "I am Nomianna. What brings you to my grotto?"

Aryas bows with a smile.

“I am sorry to see you cry my lady! I would rather see you happy!! My name is Aryas and my companions and I are here to find some peace. You know some bad people are hunting us and we need time to regroup!“ he says with open arms.

diplomacy : 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30

"And I believe our friend Aiyana said you could tell us more of the Forsaken and the relic they've gotten ahold of."

Hekk whispers to Leo, "Do you think you could help her? Bet it's those thetodaemons or the work of psychologists or something like that. Maybe she could use a copy of your book?"

"Doubtless it is thetodaemons driving her companions away. They often sabotage the things we want most, so we may surmise that she is very lonely here. I'll have a little chat with her after we get the goods we're after."