Before you move forward, you suddenly hear a moan.
C5 Dead and Dying
This half-collapsed room is strewn with the remnants of recent slaughter. Several villagers lie on the floor here, wounded and dying, entangled in nets and impaled by broken tridents— their cries of pain echo throughout the room.
The metallic tinge of blood hangs heavy in the air of the chamber.
Human Male UC Monk 1/Pal 6 | HP 44/53 (0 nl, 0 temp)| AC 23 T 18 FF 17 | CMB +13, CMD 31 | F: +14, R: +11, W: +11 | Init: +4 | Perc: +9, SM: +4, Dipl +8 | Speed 30 | ER Fire/Cold (4) Rest (3), Immune: Disease, Fear* (*+4 to allies within 10 feet) | Spells: 1(2/2) LOH: 5/7 (3d6) Smite 2/2 Active conditions: 10 ft reach, Mage Armor
"This is all some kind of illusion or something. It's crazy dude, I really thought they were real, ya know. Don't worry about me though, I'll be ok. Nothing some light stretching won't sort out. But, uh... what do you think we do about this?"
Is any semblance of the encounter real, or does Ischell sense the entire scene is an illusion?
Robyyn shakes his head as if watching a child bumble around a fire. "File this under 'traps to catch paladins,'" he chuckles, not quite as 'to himself' as would otherwise be polite.
"But yeah, let's get going. I'm growing less and less happy about our physical evolution here." He keeps pace with Ischell.
A dank pool of seawater has seeped into this domed chamber and flooded most of the room.
In the chamber’s dark recesses, seaweed floats in the dark water in tangled mats.
DC 26 perception :
The “seaweed” is in fact two creatures. This ray-like creature opens a toothy maw and leers with glaring red eyes. Behind it whips a menacing tail of segmented bone.
kn dungeon. to identify.
You can act on the surprise round. Standard or move action please now!
"Hey, there's something in there. Ischell, don't try to save them! I don't know what they are, but they're not friendly!" Robyyn fixes his gaze on the nearest one, trying to lower it's resistance to his magic.
Actions:
Standard: evil eye (-2 saves) vs nearest foe; Will DC 18 for 1 round duration, else 9 rounds duration
Robyyn immediately hexes one of the hidden creatures but the hex is only holding for a short time.
will :1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Suddenly, two creatures fly out of the water and move 5 ft towards you!! These ray-like creatures open a toothy maw and leer with glaring red eyes. Behind them whips a menacing tail of segmented bone.
kn dungeon. to identify.
One flies high and one flies low.
Both start to moan!! An infrasonic moan!!
Anyone within a 60-foot spread automatically takes a –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls.
Those in the area for more than 6 consecutive rounds (hopefully we’ll not get there) must save (Will DC 15 negates) or enter a trance, helpless until the moaning stops.
Robyyn used Evil Eye (-2 saves) vs the creature, not Misfortune.
"Oh, c'mon Ischell; don't be so sensitive. I'm just using tried and true techniques for bonding with a peer group. You're just the butt of it this time. I'm no good at it, but that doesn't keep me from trying."
Despite the banter, Robyyn keeps his focus on the combat, trying to wile away at the creature's inherent capabilities with another hex.
Actions:
5' step Standard: target orange with Misfortune hex (Will DC 18; 1 round duration) Move: Cackle (extends duration of Misfortune by 1 round)
Misfortune: foe within 30 ft must take lower of 2d20 for all ability checks, attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks
The cloaker is severely wounded by Crowe but it is Ischell who moves forward to attack the last cloaker and slashes across the creatures head to cut it off!!!
”Crowe” | Male CN Medium (Shoanti) Human Bloodrager 7 | HP 74/74 (Rage +21/21)|DR 1/- | Rage: AC 16 / Normal: AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | CMD 24| F +8 R +5 W +5; +2 bonus vs. spells cast by self or an ally | Init +1 | Perc +10/w | Speed 40ft | Spells 1st: 0/2, 2nd: 0/2| Bloodrage 9/18 Elemental strikes 0/3 | Active Conditions: Enlarge, 4 mirror Images
“You .. you are very brave Ischell!! You held me here although I was afraid!!!“ the rager says to the Paladin.
Crowe moves forward with you to find a long corridor.
This domed room smells horrible, and a pool of polluted water floods the eastern end of the chamber.
In the back of the room a lobster-like creature with a thick armored shell awaits you. A pair of tiny eyes gleams above a mouth full of writhing tentacles.
"Is this some perverted despot's strange basement menagerie?"
Knowledge (dungeoneering):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Robyyn fixes his awful gaze on the creature and emits a slow, uneasy chuckle.
Actions:
Standard: Evil Eye (-2 saves) vs. definitely-not-a-lobster (Will DC 18 for 1 round duration, else 9 rounds) Move: Cackle (extend duration of evil eye 1 round)
If Robyyn made the knowledge check, and learned that the creature is immune to mind-affecting affects, he would instead use misfortune against the creature.
Human Male UC Monk 1/Pal 6 | HP 44/53 (0 nl, 0 temp)| AC 23 T 18 FF 17 | CMB +13, CMD 31 | F: +14, R: +11, W: +11 | Init: +4 | Perc: +9, SM: +4, Dipl +8 | Speed 30 | ER Fire/Cold (4) Rest (3), Immune: Disease, Fear* (*+4 to allies within 10 feet) | Spells: 1(2/2) LOH: 5/7 (3d6) Smite 2/2 Active conditions: 10 ft reach, Mage Armor
ouch. Next round has the potential to be bad… AoO, pushing assault:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 Adamantine, S, PA:1d6 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Pushing Assault. Reposition by 5 feet and interrupts movement. It can still move if it had movement to spare.
Unfazed by the sudden and surprise and grapple onslaught, Ischell slices with his kamas at the creature that has him grabbed.
Ischell is able to slash off more of the tentacles when the creature with red marks approaches and can hurt the other creature by cutting off one of the siccors.
"Ischell, nooo! Leave him alone!!"
Crowe 5ft steps and attacks the tentacle-lobster-creature with red marks that he can reach and utterly destroys it with a lucky first strike because Ischell already hurt it before but the second blow only hits the wall.
Robyyn shifts slightly then fixes his debilitating gaze on the creature grappling Ischell, reducing the creatures defenses to give Ischell the best chance to break free.
Actions:
5' step Standard: Evil Eye (-2 AC, which affects CMD too; Will DC 18 for 1 round duration, else 9 rounds duration) Move: cackle (extend duration of Evil Eye by 1 round)
“Hey, what’s the difference between a dirty transit station and a well-endowed lady lobster?” Reginald asks, sliding closer to the action. “You see, one’s a crusty bus station, and the other’s… The other one’s… it’s a busty…” The man can’t finish his joke as tears oily tears of laughter roll down his face.
Evil Eye to give Brown a -2 penalty to attack rolls for 9 rounds (Will 18 to reduce duration to 1 round) and Cackle.
”Crowe” | Male CN Medium (Shoanti) Human Bloodrager 7 | HP 74/74 (Rage +21/21)|DR 1/- | Rage: AC 16 / Normal: AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | CMD 24| F +8 R +5 W +5; +2 bonus vs. spells cast by self or an ally | Init +1 | Perc +10/w | Speed 40ft | Spells 1st: 0/2, 2nd: 0/2| Bloodrage 9/18 Elemental strikes 0/3 | Active Conditions: Enlarge, 4 mirror Images
"Ischell, we’ll rescue you!!!!"
Crowe 5ft steps and attacks the last tentacle-lobster-creature where only the first strike hits the hard shell.
Ischell’s first strike already cuts into the monster’s neck but it is his second Kama swing - that only hits because of Robyyn and Reginald weakening the Chuul - which cuts off the creature’s tentacle head!!!
”Crowe” | Male CN Medium (Shoanti) Human Bloodrager 7 | HP 74/74 (Rage +21/21)|DR 1/- | Rage: AC 16 / Normal: AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | CMD 24| F +8 R +5 W +5; +2 bonus vs. spells cast by self or an ally | Init +1 | Perc +10/w | Speed 40ft | Spells 1st: 0/2, 2nd: 0/2| Bloodrage 9/18 Elemental strikes 0/3 | Active Conditions: Enlarge, 4 mirror Images
Crowe grins at all of you.
”You have ugly fish faces but you guys can fight!!!“ he says grinning.
”Crowe” | Male CN Medium (Shoanti) Human Bloodrager 7 | HP 74/74 (Rage +21/21)|DR 1/- | Rage: AC 16 / Normal: AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | CMD 24| F +8 R +5 W +5; +2 bonus vs. spells cast by self or an ally | Init +1 | Perc +10/w | Speed 40ft | Spells 1st: 0/2, 2nd: 0/2| Bloodrage 9/18 Elemental strikes 0/3 | Active Conditions: Enlarge, 4 mirror Images
lol;-)
Crowe is clearly confused and looks at Ischell and Robyyn.
“Look, this man is not seeing right? Or what’s his problem?!“ he asks pointing at Reginald.
"He's bats." Robyyn states simply. "But that's the Society for you. You don't get to choose who they partner you with." He motions down the hallway in the direction Reginald pointed. "But he's never let us down in a fight, so I don't let it bother me. After you."
”Crowe” | Male CN Medium (Shoanti) Human Bloodrager 7 | HP 74/74 (Rage +21/21)|DR 1/- | Rage: AC 16 / Normal: AC 18, T 12, FF 17 | CMD 24| F +8 R +5 W +5; +2 bonus vs. spells cast by self or an ally | Init +1 | Perc +10/w | Speed 40ft | Spells 1st: 0/2, 2nd: 0/2| Bloodrage 9/18 Elemental strikes 0/3 | Active Conditions: Enlarge, 4 mirror Images
