GM ZD The Perennial Crown (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

With five successes on the board, will go ahead and moves us on.

Everybody manages to make their way across the gap. As the last agent passes, a horde of flying three eyed creatures come up out of the abyss

Massive, thorny roots over six feet in diameter have burrowed through the walls of the vaults, creating a tangle of brambles.

Nature (to realize that these roots retract when exposed to heat), Survival (to pick your way through the thorns).

Quinoline will try to pick her way through.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Unencumbered by large weapons, she easily crawls through.

GM, any response to my question to the crown?

Also, I will slot that boon

survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Fafrd makes his way through the thorns... hopefully not painfully.

Yep missed that.

Yes, as we are communicating now. Some of my magic may also present itself to you, if you were to place me upon your head

"Good enough for me... especially if it could give us an advantage. Ok, let's try this out!"

Assuming the party lets him, Fafrd puts on the crown.

Didn't Herondal put it on already?

Maybe it's stretchy and will fit over both of their heads.

Ah, I missed that, as I was expecting a response from the crown to my question first... and I did say "If the party allows" :P

Astrid gestures for her guide.

"Ok Holmgeir, det er på tide å tjene penge. Få oss forbi de tornene."

The old man steps up and surveys the brambles before directing Astrid through.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Hmm...I suspect I'm going to have to cut Holmgeir's pay.

Ok coming back online now. Character sheet not updated yet but not levelling up.

Before anyone puts on the crown, Kang requests for a short moment to look at it carefully.
Arcana, identify magic on crown: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

---

Kang rubs his chin with great curiosity, approaching the thorns together with Holmgeir.

Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Zhao examines the crown. He is only able to discern it is sentient. It seems to be hiding its true power from you. In other words, the GM has not stats for the crown lol

So Herondal or Fafrd, who has the crown? May be important for this part.

Herondal to act. Survival or Nature to get through the roots.

Let's see how the crown reacts to being on the head of a fey caster before swapping it around.

"Careful... Careful. The plants have had enough of my blood this trip, Let's not give them more for free."

survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Herondal is it. Be sure to avoid the thorns, they have a deadly toxin. With the crowns guidance, Herondal seems more competent in his task.

The agents make it through unscathed.

A contingent of canine-featured Bhopanese guards has wandered into the passage ahead, into a sanguine haze. The guards tear at each other in confusion, unable to recognize friend from foe.

Diplomacy (to gently guide the guards back into rational thought), Intimidation (to assert your dominance over the guards), Performance (to rouse the guards from confusion).

Herondal improvises a short scene about 6 young adults who are just the worst but are Friends regardless. The song is quite catchy.

perform dramatic acting: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 1 = 32

To the crown. "Do you know this area well?"

If it is just providing skill bonuses I don't mind passing it on. You need to convince Herondal somehow.

intimidation: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

As the guards approach, the normally loquacious Astrid goes silent and gets a crazed look in her eyes as she stares down the pair. As they back away she briefly lunges at them, then falls back laughing dismissively as the guards flinch.

intimidating glare, bwahahaha

Quinoline has a +0 on Diplomacy, Intimidation, and Performance. Unless we are forced to roll, Quinoline would rather take the certain fail than risk the crit fail, which is going to be like a 30+% chance.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11

Crafty tries to calm the bophanese but fails completelty!

"Well, that's odd." comments Fafrd upon noticing the guards.

"Good day, folks. I hope that we're not interrupting anything?"
diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Kang looks at the contingent of guards, who for some strange reason are tearing into each other. But so long as they are not tearing into him, he keeps a low profile.

Kang has a -1 on all those skills, so think best he keeps quiet and avoid crit failures...

Whenever the PCs encounter an obstacle, each PC must attempt one of the listed checks

So it seems that it is unavoidable. So Zhao still has to roll the check. At this point, as long as he doesn't critically fail the check, you all will pass. So no pressure

Quinoline's spoiler is open, then. She rolled a (5)+0, and rerolled an (18)+0 with a Hero Point.

Oh, oh, if you allow, I can use Courtly Grace to use Society impersonate a noble.

After observing a bit, an idea strikes him. He puffs up his chest and struts forward, adopting the mannerism of his cousin Zhao Yang, possibly the most arrogant person he has met. One thing though about Yang is that all the guards and servants listen when he speaks.

"You! Yes, you! What is the meaning of this? You are royal guards, not a bunch of street urchin wrestling in the dirt! So act like that!"

Impersonate, society: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

With that you all succeed this last part.

While traversing the collapsing tunnels, you find an membele with orchid etchings and multiple pieces of art and artifacts. Even if you choose not to take it, finding it represents 3 treasure bundles

A gagging stench permeates this once-grand vault, the decorated walls and ornate tiled floor standing in stark contrast to the southwestern wall, which has been utterly obliterated by a massive entanglement of roots. The source of the vile odor is immediately apparent; an exposed sewer line on the far side of the collapsed wall that’s visibly choked with debris and filth. King Webhekiz and a contingent of his armed guards stand among the ruins, covered in blood and minor scratches, their weapons drawn.

“Beware!” Audho’s thoughts radiate forth from the Perennial Crown with a sense of urgency. “I sense Qxal’s twisted presence, their spite and malice like a briar patch that chokes the thought from the minds of my fellow Bhopanese.” Webhekiz bellows an inhuman roar and charges forth with deadly abandon, as if to confirm the warrior-hero’s warning.

One of the palace guards maneuvers around and brings his Halberd down on the unsuspecting Astrid, laying open her shoulder.

A second moves closer to Astrid swings. Catching her in the thigh. His follow up swing misses.

Bold May Act
Round 1
Green
Red
Crafty
Quinoline
Blue
Webhekiz
Herondal
Astrid-24 damage
Fafrd
Zhao

”Let’s try and keep them alive if we can. His Majesty King Webhekiz, Fourth of His Name, Chosen Sovereign of Bhopan by the Grace of the Four Seasons Is obviously not in his right mind.”

I will try my best! But yes, that's good advice Fafrd.

Crafty sends his friend to distract one of the guard. 1 action: command animal
Flame, attack!

Then calls his magic to slow them down.
May Mother Nature's elements grease this place!

2 actions Cast Grease (DC20)

Flame moves and bites.

Flame bite: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28
Damages, P: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Precision Damage if flat-footed by being prone: 1d4 ⇒ 3

red falls prone in the grease. The guard swings half heartedly as the small cat approaches.

Flame goes right for the jugular, the blood starting to mix with the grease. Crit success for the battle kitten

Bold May Act
Round 1
Green
Red: 20 damage; prone
Crafty
Quinoline
Blue
Webhekiz
Herondal
Astrid-24 damage
Fafrd
Zhao

Quinoline will draw out a bottled lightning and an acid flask, lobbing one after the other in quick succession at Green.

Moderate Bottled Lightning: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Electricity: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9 plus flat-footed
4 splash electricity on a miss

Moderate Acid Flask, MAP: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 13 - 5 = 19
Acid: 4 = 4 plus 2d6 persistent acid
4 splash acid on a miss

She will then raise her shield.

Quinoline tosses two bombs at the green guard. Both splash down around his ankles.

Blue moves up and brings his halberd down on flame. The blade cuts through the flesh on the cat's back. The follow up strike misses.

His Majesty King Webhekiz, Fourth of His Name, Chosen Sovereign of Bhopan by the Grace of the Four Seasons moves forward, points his scepter at Fafrd. A green arrow materializes and flies towards its target. It goes wide.

Bold May Act
Round 1
Green
Red: 20 damage; prone
Crafty
Flame: 32 damage; (i think with the level bump flame has 35 total HP)
Quinoline
Blue
Webhekiz
Herondal
Astrid-24 damage
Fafrd
Zhao

"I agree Fafrd."

Lingering Composition DC 22: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 1 = 22 ◇

Herondal acts out a quick bit involving a king made of ice and a vampire girl whom he no longer remembers. It is sad but inspiring. ◆

+1 Status bonus to Attack and Damage rolls for 3 rounds.

He then casts Fear on His Majesty King Webhekiz, Fourth of His Name, Chosen Sovereign of Bhopan by the Grace of the Four Seasons and his guards.

◆◆

DC 22 Will.
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is frightened 1.
Failure The target is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The target is frightened 3 and fleeing for 1 round.

”Let’s try and keep them alive if we can. His Majesty King Webhekiz, Fourth of His Name, Chosen Sovereign of Bhopan by the Grace of the Four Seasons Is obviously not in his right mind.”

Astrid grimaces.

"Ha! Easy for you to say. You're not getting sliced to ribbons. Tell you what. If our casters can break this enchantment before I break His Majesty's fat head then he can walk away."

I'm having trouble getting the map to play nice with my tablet. I'll post my turn in a few hours once I get home.

Quinoline nods in agreement.

"Once we are sure we're going to survive, we can worry about the king surviving."

Dread ampoules deal mental damage but don't have the Nonlethal trait. Mental damage is not automatically nonlethal, right? So dread ampoules do lethal mental damage?

Damage, in general, is lethal unless it has the non-lethal trait.

"Very well, you make a good point." agrees Fafrd, as he marks Webhekiz as his hunted prey, moves up, and strikes with rapier and main gauche.

+1 Striking Rapier, IC: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 1 = 16 Striking piercing, IC: 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6, 2) + 2 + 1 = 11
+1 Striking main gauche, IC, flurry: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 1 - 2 = 21 Striking piercing, IC: 2d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 + 1 = 8

Fafrd has it right except for below.

You can make a nonlethal attack in an effort to knock someone out instead of killing them (see Knocked Out and Dying). Weapons with the nonlethal trait (including fists) do this automatically. You take a –2 circumstance penalty to the attack roll when you make a nonlethal attack using a weapon that doesn’t have the nonlethal trait. You also take this penalty when making a lethal attack using a nonlethal weapon.

@Fafrd
The green token is one of the guards. Webjikiz is the full color token northwest of the blue token and west of the grease spell.

Astrid raises her shield and with a mammoth warcry, circles around Flame towards the guards and the King.

I don't really know the best way to indicate my move so I'll give cardinal/ordinal directions. S-SW-NW. This will provoke from both blue and green but I should have lesser cover from green.

Drawing and attacking with her shortsword in one quick action she stabs down at the prone guard.

Shortsword-quick draw-inspire courage: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 16 + 1 = 31
piercing-shortsword-inspire courage: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 + 1 = 17

Raise Shield, Stride, Quick Draw

Obviously stride provokes and if it matters it looks like quick draw also provokes since I have to interact to draw my weapon.

Oops. Now that I think about it. I won't have lesser cover from green since I go before Fafrd and part of the goal of making that move was to draw the AOOs anyway so forget what I said about lesser cover. Everything else still applies however.

@Fafrd

The green token is one of the guards. Webjikiz is the full color token northwest of the blue token and west of the grease spell.

Then I will just take out a guard... only way for me to get close enough is to risk the grease

"Agreed! I'm more worried about us!"

That said, Kang quite courageously moves forward, waving his staff, sending a wave of red hot flames washing over two of the guards and the king.

burning hands, level 2: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 2) = 13 Basic ref DC20. I figure with an average of 14 damage, it shouldn't be lethal, but should soften them up.

stride, burning hands from staff

Astrid gestures at the prone guard.

"Ha! Perfect Zhao. You fried him up pretty good and the grease should keep him from sticking. Fancy a meal, Flame?"

Herondal clouds the minds of the Bhophanese. Shaking them to the core.

Green takes a swipe at Fafrd as he approaches, catching him in the chest. Fafrd curses and presses on. He misses with his rapier and connects with his maine gauche.

Blue tries to impede Astrid's approach. She is hit once more, adding to her wounds. Astrid moves forward and drives her short sword into the prone opponent, and twist the blade. Severing his spinal cord. That was a crit and he dead

Zhao moves forward and coats the entire area in flames. Catching the king and one of his guards.

The green palace guard attacks Fafrd viciously, but only landing one blow.

+1 Status bonus to Attack and Damage rolls. Ends on round 4
Bold May Act
Round 2
Green: 16 damage
Crafty
Flame: 32 damage; (i think with the level bump flame has 35 total HP)
Quinoline
Blue: 13 damage
Webhekiz: 6 damage
Herondal
Astrid: 37 damage damage
Fafrd: 24 damage
Zhao

Astrid will use her reaction to shield block. That should knock her damage down from 13 to 5 making her down by 29 instead of 37.

+1 Status bonus to Attack and Damage rolls. Ends on round 4
Bold May Act
Round 2
Green: 16 damage
Crafty
Flame: 32 damage; (i think with the level bump flame has 35 total HP)
Quinoline
Blue: 13 damage
Webhekiz: 6 damage
Herondal
Astrid: 29 damage damage
Fafrd: 24 damage
Zhao

Quinoline will toss a bomb at Green.

Moderate Bottled Lightning, IC: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 1 = 19
Electricity, IC: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 + 1 = 12 plus FF
4 splash electricity on a miss

She is in too much of a hurry to land it. She runs around Herondal and uses Battle Medicine on Fafrd.

Assurance: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 5) + 10 = 21

Yes, the level bump will give Flame +10HP

Crafty calls for Mother Nature to heal his companion.

Heal Animal: 2d8 + 16 ⇒ (4, 3) + 16 = 23

Then commands Flame to continue his attacks.

Flame, attack!

Flame steps toward the guard next to him and bites!

Bite, IC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 15
Damages, IC: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

What is that IC on your rolls for Quin and Crafty?

What is that IC on your rolls for Quin and Crafty?

Shorthand for inspire courage. In other news. Slammed at work tonight. Will try to get a post up later.