Zarke grunts as he gets stabbed and then fires off another electric arc, while T'gon'l squeezes into the room.
Hah! Yuturr says, voice dripping with bravado. We have it cornered!
He uses his Skirmish Strike ability, then stabs some more at the babau.
Yuturr follows up by conjuring up a disk of force.
Fuchsia struggles to tumble in, but still stabs the babau. She gets sprayed by acidic blood for her troubles.
Zarke zaps both again.
The cultist critically fails, while the demon only fails. The cultist falls!
Yuturr strikes the demon twice!
Initiative!
Asta, -15
Fuchsia, -18 hp
Zarke, -10 hp
Yuturr
Babau, -111 hp
Jack
Action 1: Stride
Action 2-3: Ray of Frost
Jack lets the watery orb dissipate with a splash, then moves in to get a better view of the demon. Angrily he releases yet another ray of frost, hoping to put it down.
Nutmeg walks to the entry, curious.
Asta remembers that the babau has some innate spells, like dimension door and constant see invisibility.
Asta moves in to stab the demon!
Jack moves in with a ray of frost, but unfortunately, in his effort not to hit his allies, the ray just misses.
The demon casts a spell and appears on the other side of the room. It then bites Jack!
piercing plus evil
Make a DC 24 Reflex save!
Crit Success
Success
Failure
Critical Failure
Initiative!
Asta, -15
Fuchsia, -18 hp
Zarke, -10 hp
Yuturr
Babau, -126 hp
Jack, -12 hp
Fuchsia strides, tumbles, and stabs!
full damage on miss (precise finisher).
Fuchsia kills the demon, taking one last spray of blood in the process!
There's not much in this room besides the slabs of meat, but you do find a flaying knife stuck into one.
Zarke sits to begin working on his allies wounds.
Wow. Cool knife, but it's a bit … edgy. And not in a way I like. These demons try so hard. It's all a bit extra, isn't t?
Kids these days, Yuturr says, eyeing the knife. Distastefully he swats away several flies as he investigates the carving table.
Zarke works on everyone's wounds as Yuturr searches the place. The room holds only meat, but the demon and cultists have some things.
Each cultists has hide armor, a wooden shield, a silver religious symbol of Angazhan, and 3 spears. The demon has a +1 longspear.
Let's keep on going the way we're going.
Jack nods in agreement with Fuchsia, ready to continue on the way he indicated.
Nutmeg, for her part, puts a consoling hand on Jack. She knows he didn't land a single spell in that fight, and that a bad performance can sometimes weigh on him.
The west side of the room contains a low table with a scattering of gems on it and doors leading west and north. The east side of the room contains a large bed, although the mattress has been pulled onto the floor and the bedframe turned upright and covered with a sheet to create a large impromptu canopy over the mattress.
A long-haired Mwangi woman with large green eyes sits cross-legged on the mattress, studying a few ancient, rune-carved silver platters. She looks up with surprise.
"Who are you??"
Fuchsia tips her silk hat but doesn't sheathe her weapon. Her whiskers twitch.
They call me Madouc. All that killing we been doing probably bothered your studies… that Blah Blah demon sure died loud. Blah Blah demons always do though, right? Squirting acid everywhere like screaming red lemons… Anyways, seems like that kind of thing doesn't bother you much… does it. She glances at the canopy. Not like the sun does. What do we call you?
"My name is Adame. I'm a scholar from Kibwe. Nyamat captured me and is forcing me to interpret this work. Perhaps you could help me with it? It would earn me my freedom that much faster."
DC 28
Critical Success
She just tried to cast charm on you.
Success
She just cast a spell, but it doesn't seem like she was trying to harm you. Probably zone of truth to see if you're telling the truth.
Failure
She seems pretty nice. You don't think she's a threat.
Crit Failure
You are filled with sympathy for this poor imprisoned scholar. You think you should try to help her with this research so she can be free.
Fuchsia's whiskers stop twitching; her purple eyes gleam. She sheathes her rapier and peers at the plates. By the way, Ademe, my friends call me Fuchsia. Not Madouc.
Did you know I'm part angel? I have it in my blood to help free you.
Anyways, like I said, I know lots about Blah Blah demons on account of having just killed one. And talking lizards with terrible fashion sense too. And Swamp Puppies and Ghost Orbs and Bax-Lisks. I bet my unique skillset can uncover some clues on that old dinner plate. I'm sure Asta will help too, he's really smart. And Zarke knows all about nature and Jack about songs. I'm sure we can help! And if not, we can just carve our way outta here. I bet Yutuur knows a good pawn shop who'll buy silverware — no questions asked. Lemme take a looksie… She steps over to peer at the plate.
Zarke twitches a bit as his eyes narrow "Wait, who's Nyamat and what's keeping you here? Why finish the work when we can just rescue you now?"
"Yes, your story doesn't quite add up, I'm afraid."
Ademe responds. "Nyamat? Why, he is the leader here. It's true we could walk out the front door, but he is sure to bring me back, unless I can translate these plates for him. Then, I will truly be free. Fuchsia, dear, can you make any sense of this?"
"Fuchsia, ignore that! This woman is not what she claims."
She waves a hand dismissively. Ademe would never lie, Asta! She's amazing, and we're gonna get her out of here!
Fuchsia continues to ramble on about monster lore that she misheard or misremembered. Surely her vast trove of knowledge will impress Ademe and solve the mystery of the dinner plates.
"Doesn't seem that complicated to me. Help her out and she gets free. If that's the condition of her bondage, all we gotta do is meet it. I've heard of magic that enforces that. That's probably it, right Ademe?"
Yuturr, confident in his ability to see through people's ruses, nods in agreement with Fuchsia. Absolutely we're going to help her out here. It's what heroes do!
He, too, moves up to the plates to have a look, knowing nothing about Religion but eager to lend a hand rescuing Ademe.
She watches as Yuturr takes a look, but when he doesn't know much more than Fuchsia, she turns her attention to Jack. "Exactly, learned leshy! Perhaps you can make sense of these inscriptions? You seem experienced in the ways of magic."
If you don't come over to look on your own, please make a Will save in spoilers.
DC 28
Critical Success
She just tried to cast charm on you.
Success
She just cast a spell, but it doesn't seem like she was trying to harm you. Probably zone of truth to see if you're telling the truth.
Failure
She seems pretty nice. You don't think she's a threat.
Crit Failure
You are filled with sympathy for this poor imprisoned scholar. You think you should try to help her with this research so she can be free.
Damn right, Yutuur. Heroes. And I bet Jack's got this in the bag.
"Jack, stop it. This woman is not what she seems."
"No? Then what, exactly, does she seem?" Jack asks, unconvinced. He's clearly torn by the schism of opinions.
Zarke nods at Asta's assertion. "This story doesn't add up, why can't you see it?" looking to Fuchsia.
Might as well use a hero point
I tried
"Guys, I really think you're overreacting. Let's just help her out already."
He heads over and takes a look, knowing a thing or two about religion.
Fuchsia notices Zarke's look and rolls her eyes. Bah. Must be too good to investigate dinner plates.
She swishes her tail at Jack's demonstration of skill. Don't forget I helped too! I said you could do it, Jack, and you did it! She beams at Ademe. I helped, right, Ademe? Didn't I help?
Jack is able to translate a set of ancient hymns to Pharasma, apparently written by psychopomps. He can also see interlaced writing that includes a scroll of fear (3rd) on one platter and a scroll of darkness (4th).
He explains all this to Ademe, and she grows cross. "What! That's all? That can't be. Pharasman hymns in my ruins? That makes no sense. Are you sure you translated it right? Wait! You must be lying to me! SHOW ME WHAT'S IN YOUR MIND!"
She reaches a hand toward Jack, and we will roll for initiative! Fuchsia and Jack, we'll call that a hostile action that negates the charm spell.
Initiative
Jack
Ademe
Fuchsia
Asta
Yuturr
Zarke
Jack reacts quickly!
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Action 1-3: Summon Plant or Fungus (3rd)
Summon: Spray Pollen
Realizing that he had been charmed, Jack's first instinct is to turn the tide with a charm of his own. But... she's powerful. He needs help.
Invoking the magical pact that he's made with the fey world, he asks for help. "I had been beguiled, but no more. Send me my own champion."
His request granted, Jack brings forth a creature next to Ademe. He is surprised when it's not a leshy, but a yellow musk creeper!
Immediately the plant sets to attacking Ademe, spraying her with its pollen!
The yellow musk creeper blasts yellow pollen in either a 30-foot line or a 15-foot cone. Each creature in the emanation must attempt a DC 20 Will save. Once a creature succeeds at any save against Spray Pollen, it becomes temporarily immune for 24 hours.
Success The creature is unaffected.
Failure The creature is fascinated. For as long as it is fascinated, it must spend each of its actions to move closer to the yellow musk creeper as expediently as possible, while avoiding obvious dangers. If the creature is adjacent to the yellow musk creeper, it stays still and doesn't act.
Critical Failure As failure, but the condition doesn't end automatically. The creature can attempt a new save at the end of each of its turns. On a success, the fascinated condition and other effects end.
Ademe is surprised at the sight of the yellow musk creeper!
Ademe shifts, and her legs turn into a snake-like tail!
"Tell me what the plates say, witch!"
Initiative
Jack
Ademe
Fuchsia
Asta
Yuturr
Zarke
Asta is mostly successful at suppressing the smirk from his face as the woman's transformation proves him right. He studies her, trying to identify a weak point to attack.
Spotting a chance, he darts down next to the creature, taking advantage of the yellow musk creeper to distract her.
Zarke draws his hammer as T'Gon'l carries him into melee where he goes smashy smash with his big hammer.
"No. I will do no such thing."
Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Action 2-3: Invisibility
Jack concentrates, maintaining his connection with the creeper. It doesn't disappoint, tendrils lashing out at Ademe.
Tired of being the subject of her ire, Jack whistles a few notes before disappearing from sight.
I thought we were friends!
Fuchsia tries a diplomatic bon mot but it comes more like whining.
Then she draws her rapier and puts it in a guard position.
Yuturr, finally more aware of what they actually face, is none to happy about being deceived. I thought we were friends too! he says with a snarl, drawing his trusty rapier and stepping opposite the newly arrived plant Jack summoned. Time to repay that lie...
Jack shrugs off the mental intrusion from Ademe, and she scowls as she realizes that Jack is smarter than her.
As soon as she transforms, Asta recognizes a lamia matriarch! They are spellcasters, but also deadly with their scimitars. They are well defended against magic-users, with a bonus on saves against magic, immunity to being controlled, and resistance to mental damage.
Asta then stabs the lamia!
Zarke moves into battle, but she dodges out of the way of his hammer.
Jack makes the creeper attack her, which distracts her while he disappears.
Fuchsia and Yuturr are shocked that their new friend would betray them! Fuchsia prepares defensively, while Yuturr stabs her.
Asta hurt her the most, so she waves a hand at the shoony, then draws a scimitar.
Your mind is wracked with pain!
You take mental damage and 1d4 persistent mental damage.
DC 28 Will save
Critical Success: The target is unaffected.
Success: The target takes full initial damage but no persistent damage, and the spell ends immediately.
Failure: The target takes full initial and persistent damage, and the target is sickened 1. If the target recovers from being sickened, the persistent damage ends and the spell ends.
Critical Failure: As failure, but the target is sickened 2.
Initiative
Jack
Ademe, -22 hp
Fuchsia
Asta
Yuturr
Zarke
It's ok that Jack is smarter than you, Ademe. Everyone has their own special abilities that make them unique!
Fuchsia feels MUCH better.
half on miss.
She then parries again.
Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Action 2: Shield
Action 3: Stride
Jack concentrates further, allowing the creeper to continue attacking Ademe.
Himself more interested in getting out of the way, Jack invokes a spell to shield himself and strides back.
Asta grunts as the lamia waves her hand, but seems to shake it off before searching once again for a weak point. "Stay out of my head, lady."
Again, he strikes with his sword cane, following it up with a less confident second blow.
With Fuschia hesitating Zarke dismounts and scrambles over to the remaining flanking position where he smashes.
Meanwhile T'gon'l takes a bite out of crime.
She won't be in your head once we slay her, Yuturr reasons, as he continues to employ his rapier.
Yuturr then whips up a disc of force for protection.
She laughs off Zarke's attack of opportunity.
Fuchsia reasserts her ability to make a verbal barb, and then stabs the lamia!
Jack makes the creeper keep creeping, and it hits her once! He backs off defensively.
Asta shrugs off the worst of the mental pain, and remembers that lamia matriarchs have a touch that can stupefy. He studies the situation, and uses a flank to barely hit.
Zarke and T'gon'l try to attack, but don't have much luck.
Yuturr's first attack barely misses, but his second finds the mark.
She goes into a whirlwind of movement, striking everyone adjacent to her, starting with Zarke.
Only Asta escapes the blade.
Initiative
Jack
Ademe, -75 hp
Fuchsia, -34 hp
Asta, -3 hp
Yuturr, -22 hp
Zarke, -21 hp (T'gon'l -40 hp)
Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Action 2-3: Ray of Frost
Jack concentrates, maintaining his connection with the creeper even though it looks ragged. The plant, uncaring of its predicament, continues to assault the lamia.
Breaking his invisibility, Jack launches a ray of pure cold at their foe!