GM TOP #10-14: Debt to the Quah (Standard, Foxes) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Hiiragi, staying cautious, steps forward; feels her wounds slowly shrink, but too slowly to be immediately helpful. Still, better some than none, and it’s not taking anyone’s time!

”I’d work on flanking it but that seems like a good way to get stuck!” says Hiiragi as she takes another swing.

Flail: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Bludgeoning+IC: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Hiiragi steps in and wallops the golem. The clear cracking sound of one of the spinal joints shattering is heard.

Don't forget all your buffs y'all. A couple HP here or there might be the difference.

Round 2 (IC up, MoG = Moment of Greatness)
Yellow Wolf Blob (-42 HP & GONE)
Red Wolf Blob (-26 HP)
Golem (-21 HP)
Itami (MoG)
Ikari (-3 HP, Bull's Strength, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, MoG)
Hiiragi (-12 HP, Fast Healing 1 5 rds, Magic Weapon 7 rds)
Onna (MoG)
Toshiko (-18 HP, Grappled & Caged, MoG)

Bold are up!

Learned Information: Grapple in cage handled normally. The cage can be destroyed by damage or a very high Str check. If NOT grappling anything, the cage can be lifted by anyone adjacent with a move action, allowing the one inside to move out from under it. Otherwise, Bludgeoning damages it normally and Piercing is reduced by DR/5. Cage Hitpoints are at least 12 and no more than 24. The golem seems to have the same defenses and is immune to spells that allow SR.

The bard points a stick at the far side of the room. Suddenly, rounding the corner, Kenta enters. He is accompanied by three helmed amazonian archers. The group moves in a fluid practiced formation.

Kenta draws a flaming two-handed sword from his back. He mearly glowers at the golem before pointing the tip of the blade in challenge. Slowly, he stalks forward down the stairs. As he wordlessly closes the distance, the golden flame drips on to his arms, slowly causing his armor to glow in brilliant glory. Behind him, the archers draw blunted arrows, knock them and pull their bowstrings taught. Each of them aiming at the large golem, ready to bring death upon it.

"A PALADIN!?!?! With a retinue of amazon warriors? They have come to save us all. Hooray!!"

Wand of Silent Image. No SR, but is allowed a DC 15 Will save if interacted with.

I figure an attack or cage on my faux Kenta (see what I did there?) would be better than on one of us.

One, that's awesome. Two, yeah you nailed exactly how Kenta would have arrived. Amazon warriors are quite fond of him after all, well played! Waiting to see what Toshiko does in her current predicament so I can post enemy reactions to the newest wrinkle.

Toshiko sucks in her stomach and tries to slip through teh bars of teh cage.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Toshiko struggles against the nasty grip of the bones, thinks she has an angle to weasel free but just ends up grabbed even more!

Onna deceptively summons allies to her aid. A super awesome amazing ally that is really cool and even has a tragic backstory!

The blob-wolf keeps chewing at the caged fox, nom-nom.

Bite 1 vs. Toshiko: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 for BPS: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Bite 2 vs. Toshiko: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 for BPS: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

One chomp rips some more flesh from her bones, she's looking a bit raggedy.

The big guy turns to the new arrivals and as if following some command, bends down and launches a bone cage around one of the amazons (This provokes from Ikari and Hiiragi).

Will DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

It doesn't seem that concerned when the cage falls around emptiness though, turning and looming high over the Daikitsune cleric, ready to smash her to oblivion (next round?).

The cage keeps trying to chew up it's delicious morsel.

Cage Grapple + Already Grappled: 1d20 + 15 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 5 = 31 for Bite: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

But Toshiko is tougher than most and stays up!

Round 3 (IC up, MoG = Moment of Greatness)
Yellow Wolf Blob (-42 HP & GONE)
Red Wolf Blob (-26 HP)
Golem (-21 HP)
Itami (MoG)
Ikari (-3 HP, Bull's Strength, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, MoG, AoO Pending)
Hiiragi (-12 HP, Fast Healing 1 5 rds, Magic Weapon 7 rds, AoO Pending)
Onna (MoG)
Toshiko (-30 HP, Grappled & Caged, MoG)

Bold are up!

Learned Information: Grapple in cage handled normally. The cage can be destroyed by damage or a very high Str check. If NOT grappling anything, the cage can be lifted by anyone adjacent with a move action, allowing the one inside to move out from under it. Otherwise, it has DR 5/Bludgeoning. Cage Hitpoints are at least 12 and no more than 24. The golem seems to have the same defenses and is immune to spells that allow SR.

toshiko again tries to escape.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

But the cage is just too hard to escape.

As the big fella focuses his energy on Toshiko, Hiiragi swings quickly up toward its armpit!

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Bludgeoning: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

”Daikitsu take you!”

Again!: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Crit?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Don’t suppose anyone wants to have conveniently moved into flanking prior? :D
Bludgeoning: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
If That Crits: Bludgeoning: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

AoO, stil embiggened: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 10damage: 2d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 14

Having no luck against the golem, Ikari switches tack. As he shrinks he steps away, then grows again and lunges at the red wolf-blob.

spear vs blob: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 9damage: 2d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 8

What did I do to offend you, O Daikitsu!?

”Gakusei, the pointy ends go toward the enemy!” chides Hiiragi with an easy smile (now that she’s not raging).

Toshiko struggles frantically again, knowing she is running out of time and judging by the blood pooling at her feet, consciousness.

Hiiragi strikes HARD, rattling the bone monster twice. It remains up threatening all their lives, but is really starting to look a bit broken.

Ikari goes to take advantage of its weakness and slips on the spreading slick of Toshi-blood. Barely able to keep his balance, his follow-up strike at the blob is with the wrong end of the weapon. The briefest question pops into his mind as to what he has done wrong to deserve being abandoned by his deity.

Can the Band of Foxes escape this predicament? Can the two hiding in the other room rally and save their allies? Will the food in Hiiragi's pack spoil before they get to eat it?!?

Round 3 (IC up, MoG = Moment of Greatness)
Yellow Wolf Blob (-42 HP & GONE)
Red Wolf Blob (-26 HP)
Golem (-37 HP)
Toshiko (-30 HP, Grappled & Caged, MoG)
Ikari (-3 HP, Bull's Strength, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, MoG)
Hiiragi (-11 HP, Fast Healing 1 4 rds, Magic Weapon 6 rds)
Itami (MoG)
Onna (MoG)

Bold are up!

Learned Information: Grapple in cage handled normally. The cage can be destroyed by damage or a very high Str check. If NOT grappling anything, the cage can be lifted by anyone adjacent with a move action, allowing the one inside to move out from under it. Otherwise, it has DR 5/Bludgeoning. Cage Hitpoints are at least 12 and no more than 24. The golem seems to have the same defenses and is immune to spells that allow SR.

Dammit! We are sooo close. Pulling another familiar wand, Onna activates a charge and taps Hiiragi in the back. Some of the wounds close over. In a voice just meant for the priestess, "Another desperate battle against overwhelming odds? It seems to be our stock and trade. Now, finish it off so we can save the others."

CLW vs Hiiragi: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Inspire: Round 7 of 12. Five rounds remain.

”Edge nearer Toshiko, when you can; she will need your attention nearly as much as I crave it,” says the miko. It’s hard to hold fondness in one’s eyes while fighting, but Hiiragi manages.

Itami winces a little as he hears what can only be the sound of rending flesh. That can only be one of ours... Putting everything he has into his blasts, he fires again at the bone golem.
________
Magic Missile vs Blue: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9
If we decide to make a move to escape, Itami can invis himself at any time, so just get moving and he will follow!

EDIT: D'oh, totally forgot! Thank you Hiiragi :) Instead, he will pull out a scroll of Obscuring Mist and yield the rest of his turn. He can pop the spell to help our escape, since that's the sense I've had of where our planning in discussion is going.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but: Itami, MM doesn’t work on Mister Bony here.

Itami sends out some more orbs and gets to watch in horror as they simply plink against the beast and fall to the ground before fizzling out.

Yay, you learned another thing about this OP enemy. It is immune to any spell or spell-like ability that allows spell resistance! This battle getting fun yet? :{

Onna moves up and heals Hiiragi a bit, hoping to get into range to make a mad dash for the door. Itami does the same, pulling a scroll to help their chances if that is the option chosen.

The blob tries to finish off their ally, snapping at her through the cage.

Bite vs. Toshiko: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 for BPS: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Bite vs. Toshiko Crit?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 for BPS: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Well that is quite fortunate. Jeeze these rolls are freaking cutting it close.

With her unconscious and bleeding out, it fluidly moves over to Ikari (No AoO).

The big dude, obviously most threatened by Hiiragi's hard hits, bites and swings two heavy arms at her.

Bite vs. Hiiragi: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 for BPS: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Slam vs. Hiiragi 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 for B: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 5) + 1 = 7
Slam vs. Hiiragi 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 for B: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 1 = 7

She is rocked hard, but not down... thanks to some very recent healing!

The cage drops the lifeless Toshiko with a *thunk*.

Round 4 (IC up, MoG = Moment of Greatness)
Yellow Wolf Blob (-42 HP & GONE)
Red Wolf Blob (-26 HP)
Golem (-37 HP)
Toshiko (-38 HP & Unconscious, Caged, MoG, Stabilization Roll Needed)
Ikari (-3 HP, Bull's Strength, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, MoG)
Hiiragi (-20 HP, Fast Healing 1 4 rds, Magic Weapon 6 rds)
Itami (MoG)
Onna (MoG)

Bold are up!

Learned Information: Grapple in cage handled normally. The cage can be destroyed by damage or a very high Str check. If NOT grappling anything, the cage can be lifted by anyone adjacent with a move action, allowing the one inside to move out from under it. Otherwise, it has DR 5/Bludgeoning. Cage Hitpoints are at least 12 and no more than 24. The golem seems to have the same defenses and is immune to spells that allow SR.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 {To avoid AoO's, or run right into them}

CLW vs Tosh: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Onna activates another charge off her wand. "Sorry Sweets, other patients to attend to. Turn this thing in to fertilizer or something else harvest related." After a quick peck on the cheek, Onna dashes off toward Toshiko. She reaches through the bony cage and pours life energy into the fallen swashbuckler. "This will probably leave you with a headache, but given the number of hangovers you've had I think you'll be fine."

Inspire: Round 8 of 12. Four rounds remain.

Ikari shrinks down and stabs at the wolf-blob again.

O Daikitsu, guide my hand and my fang! Whatever sin I have committed, I swear to atone for!

spear: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 25damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7

O Daikitsu, grant me the strength to protect my family!

bite, secondary: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 - 5 = 20damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

He steps in close and snaps his jaws at the creature.

Hey, praying works! Minimum damage, but it works ;)

Hiiragi raised an eyebrow. ”We can talk about my fertilizer later,” she says, bemused.

At this point she’s basically just wiggling her wrist a little bit to keep her flail head spinning.

Flail + IC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Bludgeoning: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Basically she’s operating a weedwhacker at this point, with bits of bone spraying off to the side.

Low damage buds!!

Toshi's eyes flutter open and she squirms on teh floor looking for a gap in the cage.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

For crying out loud. Statistically one roll out of 3 should be above 10.

Can I burn a shiurt re-roll please?

Hiiragi takes another strike, just barely connecting with the bone golem. It shudders a bit.

Ikari spears at the wolf-blob, but it melts into the floor before his eyes. Feeling his hair raise from something behind him, the burly fox snaps his jaws quickly that direction, but comes up empty. All he sees is the fading image of a sad Kenta, mercilessly released from his distraction duty. No sign of the blob.

Ears twitching, Ikari and the others all hear the clattering collapse of the bone golem and cage as they rattle to the floor. Onna rushes to the pile covering Toshiko, throwing bones to the side and frantically stabbing the still body with her wand. Groggily waking from her short slumber, Toshiko can only tell that everything hurts.

Hiiragi and Itami look on in surprise as the creation that was causing everyone so much trouble seemed to be the lynchpin for the entire combat. When it fell so did everything else.

COMBAT OVER!

No re-roll necessary Toshiko. All, go ahead and RP a bit if you'd like. There are a couple things that need repaired and cleaned in this room too. After that I'll get a nice mission summary up as everything is now complete. AKA, don't waste resources on healing.

I knew we could do it—all it took was a long series of good rolls from us and mediocre ones from them!

Hiiragi grins; her teeth are chipped and she’s fairly bloody, with some dark bruises shining through her makeup. ”Everyone alive? Let’s go sit for a minute somewhere and I’ll ask Daikitsu to heal us.”

She’ll do some Channeling and cannibalize her Hide from Undead into a CLW to bring most everyone back up to “decent.”

The bard offers a huge sigh of relief as she realizes her friends are all safe, if not the little worse for wear. As the others recover, Onna goes about removing the bones from the tomb and magically cleaning the area.

As Hiiragi batters the golem to pieces and the wolf-thing melts away, Ikari sinks to his knees. He sighs, closes his eyes and bows his head.

Your servant thanks you, Lady of Foxes. I know now my error. Hubris. I thought to lead my family, but I am not a worthy leader. I tried to run. I always run.

Ikari blinks away tears.

Sensei stayed and fought: she was wise enough to know what the family needed and when. Toshiko drew the golem's attention: she was braver. Onna and Itami were more cunning, and Onna's diversion gave us the opening we needed.

I am not ready to lead. I see that now, O Daikitsu. I am but a student, and a student with much learning ahead of him.

Ikari touches his forehead to the ground as he prays. When he rises, he embraces his family. He approaches Hiiragi last, and does do with head bowed. "Sensei. I am a foolish student and a coward. Your courage and wisdom hold this family together. I will try harder to follow your lessons."

Gee whiz! Tough on yourself much? I love it though.

Hiiragi pants as she works on bringing everyone back to full function; a few bruises here, a fracture there. Pain that was pushed aside finding its way suddenly to the front, quickly filling the void that combat left behind. All was soothed with Daikitsu’s blessing until small bumps and scrapes remained on those who were the hardest hit—and those would heal by themselves.

It takes her a moment to notice that Ikari is praying, and when he rises but keeps his eyes downcast, she is the one to pull him into an embrace.

”The path of Daikitsu has many lessons, gakusei. Is it better to walk or to run? Neither answer always applies, and sometimes, either will do—or one must lay down to rest, and this both answers are folly.”

”If we could have fled, we should have—but we could not. They were upon us too swiftly. In cases like this, it is important to recall the words of the elderly ninetails whose white coat had turned to gray with age:”

She pulls away, but holds his shoulders.

”A cornered fox is more dangerous than a jackal. And we were five cornered foxes, at that.”

”So you have studied hard. With many lessons under your belt, your teacher is no longer myself, but experience.”

”So stand tall, Ikari. You have failed no one and fought to create space for your fellows. Had you not, doubtless this would have gone worse, and Toshiko and myself may have perished.”

There is a slight twinkle in her eye, then: ”I think that may have left a poor impression on the Quah, had it come to pass. Now, let us aid our sister in repairing the doorway; she looks like she could use an extra paw or four.”

She gives him a reassuring clasp on one shoulder as she releases the other one... and then pushes him in that direction as she follows.

Toshi lays on the floor for a few moments. She then lifts herself to her feet, pulls the magic stone from her pack and offers it up to anymore who wants it before flopping back to the ground.

With a light hearted tune on her lips, the bard goes from task to task. She slowly realizes the lack of action by the rest of the team and stops mid cleaning. She takes a long look at her adopted family. "Hey...we won. Why are you all acting like this is a funeral? Okay, we ARE in a tomb, so it makes a little sense. But still, we survived. It may have been touch and go there for a bit, but we wily foxes have triumphed once again!"

She walks over and picks up the mending stone before offering her hand to help Toshiko up. "C'mon. No one is going to carry you to the nearest tavern." Onna magically cleans the blood and grime away from the flying blade. "There you go." She looks the swashbuckler in the eyes. "Some of the chances you took today? That was some of the bravest I have ever witnessed. You put yourself at risk so the rest of us could have a chance. You have some serious stones on you, my sister. I pity anyone who dares to ever doubt you."

She then sets her sights on the old sorcerer. "I imagine you have seen enough dark days. Are the event of this day so pale in comparison? We bested a monster, befriended an ancient spirit and I even danced with a ghost wolf. But here is the real victory; we made something whole again. By the stars! How many times has our task resulted in bloodshed or death by our own hands, even in self-defense? And this day, we have come to a sacred place and worked together to restore it to its prior glory! Surely this day has been a blessing for us." Her voice changes, becoming slightly more serious. She taps his chest. "Perhaps it is days like today that leads to restoring a little bit of your soul. It's a journey, not a race. In any case, I hope when you reflect on what we accomplished that you sleep ...more peacefully this night. I honestly believe that some of the 'physical' mending we did in here has also provided some 'spiritual' mending in here."

Spinning on Ikari, Onna's energy returns. She thrusts her arm out like a spear. "And you! Way to take charge back there. When the chips were down, you acted like a true veteran. You kept a cool head and got the troops off the field. That was real leadership. Was it as perfect as the epic poems or oft sung battle hymns? Maybe not. But those aren't real, they're just songs and stories, with no weight. Today, what you did, how you composed yourself, that made an actual difference."

She ends up next to Hiiragi. Placing her hands behind the priestess' head, she gently leans forward until their foreheads touch. "You kept your promise. Not just to me, but to us all. You swore you would stand in the face of danger and hold the line to protect our lives. I could not be prouder of you." She gives the battle-maiden a quick kiss on the nose then whispers, "I'll show you how appreciative I am later."

Onna turns again and addresses all of them once more. "I mean, even Kenta had a hand in today's win, and he's not even here! This has been a great day. Let's finish up, seal it up, and get back to civilization! Because we deserve to celebrate." With that, she starts humming again, picking right up where she left off. However, now there is a little more rhythm to her moves as she dances while she cleans.

We made it. Barely, but the result is true and we're all here. "Someone needs to stand in front," Itami chides Ikari. "Who better than you?" He turns to help tidy things up, limping a little.

Experience is a cruel taskmaster, I hope we are up for the task... None of our skulk fell today, but not entirely of our own doing. We must be stronger for what lies ahead, that none of them must suffer like I did at their age.