Zsofia |
Zsofia waves at the prince, but manages to keep quiet for as long as it takes them to get to the stairs.
"Did you see the look on that mope? You'd think we had just killed his mother, instead of just not killing her!"
GM CrusaderWolf |
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
With Garret running a verbal interference for the party, deflecting any questions from the faeries with inane banter and changing the subject to ask instead about directions to the stairs. Moving as hurriedly as you can, the party returns to the gatehouse where you originally entered the castle. There, in the chambers to the east and west your find a pair of spiraling stone staircases in leading upwards.
You follow the stairs upwards, to a long narrow hallway that opens into the initial courtyard where you can look inwards towards the main keep or outwards towards the mists of the Dead Roads. Other than a long weapons rack bolted to the southern wall, the hallway is empty.
You wouldn't have notice the wires if you hadn't drifted right through them, but they're sure there: several thin wires spaced across the hallway--tight enough together to catch one of the tiny faeries so there's no way one of your largest companions could get through!
After following the wires along you see that they are rigged to the weapons rack, where hidden springs would launch a fusillade of rusty daggers and halfspears at anyone in the hallway!
Disable Device needed to safely pass through the hallway!
Zsofia |
Ketra Driscoll |
"What's going on Zsofia? Why'd you stop?" Ketra draws her machetes, fully expecting that the reception the group gets on this side of the building will probably be just as dangerous as the other side.
What kind of weapons on the weapon rack? And is there a reason we can't take the eastern staircase all the way up?
GM CrusaderWolf |
I thought I remembered you saying that Zsofia was staying mostly incorporeal for scouting/safety purposes since she's relatively hard to heal up. That was...back in the Rostler's Coffer Echo? I think?
If that's not correct no worries, she still made the Perception DC so just change the flavor text to "she spots it right before anyone triggers the trap" :p
Zsofia |
As usual, Sanduro has Zsofia turn incorporeal while scouting. As she glides down the upstairs hallway, she registers a faint scratching sensation at several points up and down her body, like a fingernail dragging across her skin. Looking down, she realizes that she has passed through a number of thin wires stretched across the hallway. The taught wires are anchored to be close together, so that a tooth fairy could not pass without being caught.
“Waitwaitwaitwait!” Zsofia sticks out her arm to block anyone else from approaching.
She follows one of the filaments from one side of the hall to the other, then grins at the party. ”Anybody want to get a good, close look at what's on this weapons rack? Touch one of these wires and I think a couple of these bad boys will leave an impression on you. Probably a few scars, too! Or does someone want to try disarming this deathtrap without setting it off?”
Garret Fallows |
"I could trigger the wires from a distance, but I have no skill in disarming traps," volunteers Garret.
Ketra Driscoll |
"Makes sense Garret. I'm not handy with those kinds of things either. And I'd rather none of us risk taking a few dozen stabs if we don't need to." Ketra considers the wires that Zsofia pointed out, and then draws a dagger of her own after stowing a machete. "Or..."
She stands back and gets ready to throw a dagger through the wires.
(I think mage hand would be better from a distance, if that's what you've got Garret)
Garret Fallows |
Nodding at Ketra, Garret casts a spell and asks, "Release the dagger, if you would, Ketra." The dagger floats up gently, and Garret adds, "Let's back off, just in case."
After stepping back a dozen paces, Garret manipulates the dagger with mage hand and starts cutting through the wires, one at a time.
GM CrusaderWolf |
As Garret begins sawing at one of the wires, it takes only a few cuts for the wire to snap. With a series of pops the other wires snap; there's the brief rattle of a hidden counterweight falling before the weapons rack jerks forward, catapulting a dozen rusty weapons through the air--and through Zsofia!--to clatter noisily against the wall.
Garret Fallows |
Garret jumps at the sudden noise as the trap is sprung. Recovering a bit, he floats the dagger back to Ketra’s waiting hand, relieved no one was hurt by the rusty weapons.
”Good work, Zsofia, that could have been bad for us fleshy types,” states Garret thankfully.
Wallace Lundgren |
"Good thing we weren't counting on surprise," Wallace says dryly, before a little smirk cracks through. "Agreed, thank you. We're aiming for a conversation, correct? To learn the truth of the events in this castle?" he asks the group. It'd do more harm than good if we weren't all on the same page.
Silvia Macatus |
Silvia simply nods to Wallace, her mind taken back to her own foray into disarming traps, back in Roslar's tomb.
Ketra Driscoll |
Ketra places her own dagger back in its spring sheath and take a brief look at the weapons that flew off the rack, just in case there's something interesting among all the rusty implements. She agrees with Garret "Glad you spotted it Zsofia."
"And yep Wallace, we're looking to chat if we can. Not sure if the Prince was telling the truth about the Queen being mad, but..." She crosses her arms "with how he treated us I almost don't care. I'd chat with a mad Queen if it meant that jerk didn't get his way. If we're lucky, she'll just be as normal as you can hope a faerie of her kind to be, and we'll have her stamp in no time."
She looks down the hall "I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm more than ready to get going."
Continuing on assuming no one spots any more traps
GM CrusaderWolf |
Most of the weapons Ketra pokes through are hardly worth the name, rusted and bent though still serviceably sharp in most cases. However, she does find a diamond in the rough--a long-handled cavalry hammer of dark metal, well balanced despite the weight. With a sudden moment of elated clarity, she realizes it's make of adamantine!
Masterwork adamantine warhammer :)
The hallway is otherwise clear of obvious threats of points of interest after a quick sweep; only the spiraling staircase behind your leading up to the third floor.
Sanduro Dzotsi |
"Agreed," Sanduro says from the rear once he recovers from the surprise of the triggered trap. He adjusts his grip on the arrow he holds on the string of his bow. "We're here to talk, and to listen. But I'm keeping my bow out just in case she has more in common with her son than an unhealthy fixation on teef -- I mean, teeth. Maybe we'll get lucky and find that he takes after his father's side of the family."
Silvia Macatus |
"We're certainly due a lucky turn," Silvia remarks, moving to continue up the stairs.
Ketra Driscoll |
"Nice find! I wonder how this piece even got here." Ketra hefts the adamantine hammer up and looks it over for a moment "But way too heavy for me. Wallace, what do you think?" She offer the weapon to the knight, whether to carry or wield.
With the score secured, she joins Silvia in continuing up the stairs.
Wallace Lundgren |
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Wallace takes hold of the weapon and swings it around. "That... will do quite nicely," he confesses. "Pray I won't need it soon."
________
Don't suppose the next door is locked? ;) Wallace has a new lockpick to try out!
GM CrusaderWolf |
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Satisfied that they have discovered what they can, the party resumes ther ascent to the third floor. Much like the room below, this long room atop the gatehouse has several narrow arrow slits to the north and south. Each is 2 feet high and only a few inches wide. The room is bare except for the spiral staircase behind you, descending from the alcove at the room’s eastern end. A low door stands in the center of the north wall, with a small, square window at the typical eye level for a human. The window is inset with a small metal grill, which has been stuffed with humanoid teeth.
A door for Wallace!
Silvia Macatus |
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Suspicious, Silvia examines the door for booby traps (from a safe distance, of course).
Ketra Driscoll |
(Looks like something weird happened on the map, like the vision barriers are not lined up with the background image and all our tokens.)
Ketra also spends some time examining the door for hazards, though she follows by raising her voice and calling out "Hello? Anyone there? Behind all the teeth?" Thinking back to how the area looked like from below, she mentions more quietly to the party "Considering how far we are from the main building, she might not be able to hear us."
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
GM CrusaderWolf |
Thanks for catching that, Ketra, let me fiddle with it. The GM displays are cut off by the vision lines so it's sometimes hard to catch.
Okay, I had to adjust the map size but I think it's fixed!
Wallace Lundgren |
Wallace moves up to the door and waits to see if anyone hears anything from the other side.
If nobody hears anything, he stows his shield and takes to battering the door. "I know this will work against our intentions, but we've no other option. I suggest we remain beyond the threshold, even after the door collapses."
________
Percetion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Adamantine Warhammer: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
GM CrusaderWolf |
Pounce Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24 Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Pouce Claw 1: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28 Dmg: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Pounce Claw 2: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14
Grab: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 4 = 17
Wallace Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Silvia: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Ketra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Wallace: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Garret: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Sanduro: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Esobok: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Wallace's hammer-blow rattles the door, shaking loose several teeth and knocking splinters of wood free, though it doesn't break outright. The knight winds back for another swing when a low, guttural growl cuts through the room--coming from the other end of the hall and closing fast! Wallace is half-turning when he is slammed into by the suddenly-visible form of a bizarre and alarming creature; it has the body of a heavily muscled mastiff, but its head is that of a black-eyed crocodile and it boasts a mane dark purple feathers.
This creature is an esobok, the so-called "mad hounds of the Boneyard." They patrol as feral hunters, hungry for undead flesh. Though as outsiders esoboks don’t have to eat and draw no sustenance from this behavior, the spark of undeath is a feast for their every sense, and they pursue and ravenously consume undead creatures given the chance. Despite their bestial behavior they are more intelligent than mere animals (though not by much) and are often employed as guards or even shock troops by those able to command their services.
They are Neutral Outsiders. All the usual questions are available :)
The creature slams into Wallace, on claws raking even as its jaw clamps down tightly on the knight's shoulder (8dmg total) As it lands it flexes the corded muscles in its neck and pulls, sending a shock through Wallace as it seems to tug not only on his body but on his very soul! The knight plants his feet and steels his will, however, and the feeling passes.
-ROUND ONE-
Wallace (-8hp, Grappled)
Esobok
Silvia
Ketra
Sanduro/Zsofia
Garret
Garret Fallows |
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Defenses (elemental resist & DR), Special Attacks
Ketra Driscoll |
Not 100% clear from the map, but is there room to squeeze past the creature on the south side? Or would I need to succeed at an acrobatics to move through its square?
Wallace Lundgren |
Good Lord XD
"What fresh hell is this?!" Wallace shouts as he tries to wrestle the creature off of him.
________
Break Grapple!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 Soooomething tells me that didn't quite cut it...
Ketra Driscoll |
Good lord is right! Will we ever catch a break here :O
GM CrusaderWolf |
@Ketra yes the hallway should be 10ft wide but it didn't quite pan out on the map's grids.
Esobok are tough foes--moderately resistant to physical damage (DR2/?) and outright immune to many of the things that plague mortals, including diseases, poisons, and death-magic. They are also resistant to ice and lightning (Resist 10). Worse still--as recreational eaters of undead they have cast-iron stomachs and cannot be nauseated or sickened.
On the offensive side esobok is no slouch either. Like all psychopomps their Spirit Touch lets them battle incorporeal creatures without difficulty, and once they're jaws clamp onto you it's often difficult to get them to let go (Grab) made even worse by their furious pouncing charges. Their most feared ability, however, is their Wrech Spirit power: If an esobok begins its turn grappling a living or undead creature, it can attempt to wrench that creature’s animating spirit free as a standard action. If the target fails at a DC Will save, its spirit is stripped from its body and they are Paralyzed. A creature dazed or paralyzed by this effect can attempt a new saving throw to free its soul from the esobok’s jaws. An esobok can’t use its bite attack while it holds a disembodied spirit, but it can release the spirit as a free action, at which point the daze or paralysis effect ends.
Wallace struggles with the esobok gripping his shoulder, but the bestial psychopomp stubbornly clings on! With a contemptuous growl, the esobok releases Wallace and steps away, glaring at you all with crocodilian eyes before vanishing from sight again...
-ROUND ONE-
Wallace (-8hp, Grappled)
Esobok (invisible)
Silvia
Ketra
Sanduro/Zsofia
Garret
-ROUND TWO-
Wallace (-8hp, Grappled)
Esobok
Silvia
Ketra
Sanduro/Zsofia
Garret
Silvia Macatus |
"Great," Silvia mutters, "somebody mashed up the skeletons of a dog and a crocodile." Her eyes scan the hallway for any kind of movement and she prepares herself for another attack from the creature.
Pistol or Cestus, with DA or PA: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 1 = 20
Pistol damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6) + 2 = 12
Cestus damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Garret Fallows |
"It's an Esobok. Don't bother with cold or lightning attacks", calls out Garret, preparing his own spell once the creature makes itself visible again.
Cast defensively if it becomes visible adjacent to him: Concentration: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 4 = 12
Ear Piercing Scream Damage w/Reclaimer Trait: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 and Dazed 1 round, DC 16 Fortitude save for 1/2 damage and negate Dazed
Ketra Driscoll |
Ketra steps up to block the hallway with Wallace, her machetes out and her feet placed carefully to be ready to spring into action when the creature reappears. (Readying an attack if it appears within reach) Her eyes scan about for any sign of its approach "Back in Roslar's, I thought even zombies were more than a little strange the few times I had to fight one. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'd rather have the zombies back."
Sanduro Dzotsi |
"Why are there no plants when you need them anywhere on the Dead Roads? Just something small with leaves in a pot, is that so much to hope for?"
Zsofia, get ready to fight again!
Sanduro takes a full round action to change Zsofia's manifestation from incorporeal to ectoplasmic.
Zsofia |
The phantom sneers as she solidifies. "That's my secret, boyo. I'm always ready!"
Zsofia steps up to join Ketra and Wallace, standing back to back with them, and readies a roundhouse kick as soon as she has an idea where her target might be.
Readied attack
Slam!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Wallace Lundgren |
"Agreed, at least Zombies can always be seen!" Wallace adds. Shoulder to shoulder with Ketra, he gives her a nod and readies his hammer for a strike to the front. Can't even begin to describe what it's jaws did, but no Zombie I've ever seen could do that either!
________
Adamantine Warhammer vs Readied to strike when foe is in reach: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 221d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
+3 AC, DC 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
+3 AC, DC 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
GM CrusaderWolf |
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GM scribbles a note: Invisible Zombies?
Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 4 = 29
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
"My lord, what are your ord--" Garmid begins addressing Wallace, but the rest of the sentence is drowned out by another rumbling growl from the esobok as it suddenly resumes its assault! Shimmering into view, the bestial psychopomp is immediately battered by a flurry of assaults--while Ketra's machete is turned aside by its thick hide and Garret's psychic scream has only limited effect, the twin wounds from Silvia's pistol and Wallace's hammer leave it reeling an bloodied.
Undaunted, the esobok tears leather and flesh as it rakes Wallace with its claws (10dmg total) before wheeling upon Ketra and clamping its jaws around the dancer's thigh (6dmg). With another wrench it attempts to yank Ketra's spirit free of her body, but the duskwalker grits her teeth and manages to resist.
I wish my own characters rolled as well as this esobok does.
[b]-ROUND TWO-
Wallace (-18hp)
Esobok (-23hp)
[b]Silvia
Ketra (-6hp, Grappled)
Sanduro/Zsofia
Garret
-ROUND THREE-
Wallace (-18hp)-/b]
Esobok
Silvia
Ketra
Sanduro/Zsofia
Garret
Ketra Driscoll |
Reverse Grapple: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 I'm going to write this post with the assumption that it doesn't have 26+ CMD, and therefore she's managed to reverse the grapple.
Acrobatics to tumble around it: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Ketra drops her machetes as she struggles with the Esobok. Levering herself against the wall, she twirls her body through the air, her momentum spinning the esobok in turn. She lands back into a practiced stance. While its busy regaining its footing and before it can tighten its jaws again she pries its muzzle open, quickly gets behind it, and grabs the beast from behind!
"How about that, you weird lizard dog?"
Garret Fallows |
With as hard as that Esobok was hitting, Garret tries to stun it again, hoping to slow down its murderous spree!
Ear Piercing Scream DC 16 Fortitude half and no Daze: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Sanduro Dzotsi |
Initiative is Silvia (round 2) through Wallace (round 3), right?
Sanduro steps forward and lets an arrow fly at the creature. "Back to the Boneyard where you belong!"
Longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d8 ⇒ 2
Zsofia |
Zsofia holds back until Silvia takes a shot at the bestial psychopomp (if that's what she does on her turn), then hollers a wordless battle cry and charges at the creature.
Slam! Charge! Pow!: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 221d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Zsofia's AC has a penalty of -2 until the start of her next turn.
Wallace Lundgren |
Sanduro, I believe so. Looks like a typo, hyphen instead of an opening bracket.
Wallace is reeling himself as more of his blood is forcefully exposed to the Boneyard. I am the first into battle, and the last to leave it!
Standing firm on his feet through sheer willpower, the knight steadies his shield and brings his hammer back. With the strength of a man on the edge, he delivers another crack to the Esobok's face.
________
Adamantine Warhammer vs Esobok (Grappled?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
DC 10, +3 AC?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
DC 10, +3 AC?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
GM, idk if it would have made a difference, but did the hit on Ketra take her bodyguard improved AC into account?
GM CrusaderWolf |
@Wallace the bite against Ketra was a natural 20, so unfortunately it still got her :(
Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
In a dazzling display of agility, Ketra flips off the wall and manages to free her arm before wrapping the other around the esobok's crocodilian jaw, holding it firmly shut. As it twists around to try and shake her off, Garret's psychic shriek sends it staggering, a thin line of blood trailing from its nostrils as its eyes go unfocused.
In its moment of dazed distraction Zsofia bulls in with a wild cry and delivers a kick that knocks it back into the wall. As it shudders and tries to regain its footing Wallace steps up and breaks its back with his new warhammer. The esobok collapses to the ground with a heavy thump, never to rise again.
Combat Over! Very cool maneuver, Ketra :) And even with its DR Garret/Zsofia/Wallace dealt 20dmg to it :o
Silvia Macatus |
Silvia can't help but add throw in a bit of flair as she reholsters her pistol, grinning as if she was just the one who'd pulled off a daring acrobatic maneuver. "Not bad, Driscoll, not bad at all!"
Ketra Driscoll |
Ketra drops the beastie, a confident grin spreading on her face. "It was, wasn't it?" She steps over to pick her machetes back up and adds "We managed it together though. If you all hadn't killed it there and then, it probably would have torn me to shreds. As is, I hope there's some magic left in that healing wand, Sanduro."
While the group is healing up, she briefly examines the west end of the passage, trying to find any sign of where the esobok must have been lying in wait.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Otherwise I think it's time to bust this door down and see the queen :)
Sanduro Dzotsi |
20 charges left!
First, one CLW for each of Wallace and Ketra to see how close we get:
Wallace: CLW, CL1 wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Ketra: CLW, CL1 wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
That's a start:
Wallace: CLW, CL1 wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Wallace: CLW, CL1 wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Wallace should be at full. Ketra, how far down are you now?
While he heals Wallace and Ketra, Zsofia hunts for the arrow Sanduro fired wildly at the esobok.
Broken or not? Unbroken at 51+: 1d100 ⇒ 2
Wallace Lundgren |
"Impeccable teamwork, imagine what could be if we ever get time to run drills!" Wallace says proudly. While the healing happens, he pushes the corpse into one of the hallway's alcoves. No need to leave such a trip hazard in the way! Never know when you need to perform a tactical retreat.
"Thank you, Sanduro. There's never enough healing magic!"
________
Ready to continue whacking away at the next door!
Ketra Driscoll |
Ketra nods her thanks to Sanduro, mostly healed after a touch from the wand.
Down only 2 points, which is close enough.
Sanduro Dzotsi |
Sanduro sighs when Zsofia shows him the broken arrow and counts what remains in his quiver. He sighs again.
"Only twelve left, and even if we make it out of here, we have two more of these places to get through before we get back home." He glances wistfully at the collapsed weapons rack. "I don't suppose anyone spotted a quiver full of arrows in that mess?"
GM: I've gone through my posts to be as accurate as I can be, and I'm pretty sure Sanduro has only fired 8 arrows. If you disagree, please let me know, but for now that's what I have marked down.