GM Mauve's Quest 2: Unforgiving Fire (Inactive)

Game Master MauveAvengr

Voron swings open the double-doors. "Do you really think I was going to just let you walk out of here with the heirlooms of my ancestors/. That I don't know why you arrived at my temple in the first place? The Monastery of Ignorance and its Pathfinder lackeys will never take anything that rightfully belongs to my family ever again. They've already stolen too much!"

Meleeka comes out of the shadows near the door to the south. Her disciples similarly nearly appear out of thin air. They look angry that the Pathfinders decided to steal her ancestor's heirlooms! She spent the last half an hour or so preparing her attack!

Only Sumner is quick enough to react before Meleeka and her disciplines close in.

[spoiler=GM Screen]
Voron: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Sumner: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Talm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Avonatha: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Vixnax: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

M: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

===============

Round 1

Sumner

Meleeka
Yute
Uskrani

Talm
Voron
Vixnax
Avonathaanthalasa

Sumner is up!

Voron nods and sighs. Oooof course.

The wizard tightens his grip on his staff. Just flavor, no going out of turn.

We want no trouble, so please, let us pass. the elf states.

Botting Sumner just to move things along. If you see this Sumner and can't log on, delete your cookies - that'll help!

Sumner starts singing then directs a mental attack on Meleeka.

◆ Inspire Courage

All allies gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.

◆◆ Daze vs. Meleeka

"You Pathfinders stole what was my ancestors. None of you have any respect, looting and pillaging. I only took what was rightfully mine. You all are unworthy cretins who dare steal the secrets of my family. Prepare to face my wrath.". Meleeka stands still for a moment before shaking off a bit of a daze. She tosses a small metallic object at Sumner. The shuriken hits the bard directly in the side (3 points of damage. Then she twists her feet and holds out her fingers as rigid as deadly talons while moving with quick, flickering gestures that resemble dancing flames.

Yute moves up to Vixnax. "Coward. Stealing what doesn't belong to you.". He reaches into a bag by his side and throws fine sand in the kobold's face. But the sand just showers the nearby wall.

Similarly, Uskrani moves up to Sumner. "Aha, begone fools." This time, sand gets in the bard's eyes. And it burns! (2 fire damage).

Two more disciples enter the room, one coming down the stairs and one opening up the door to the west.

===============

Round 1

Sumner (-5 HP)

Meleeka (-4 HP)
Yute
Uskrani

Talm
Voron
Vixnax
Avonathaanthalasa

Orange disciple
Purple disciple

Talm, Voron, Vixnax, and Avonathaanthalasa are up!

"Come get some! Your stance is no match to the rising dragon of the crystal lake!" Vixnax puts one-who-waits on the floor and puts his arms out as he crouches with a leg backwards, resembling a dragon. He lashes out two kicks in quick succession to the disciple that threw sand to him.

◆Interact ◆Dragon Stance ◆Flurry of blows

Dragon tail strike 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Damage 1: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Dragon tail strike 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13+1 if first strike misses
Damage 2: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Feeling the passage is a bit crowded, Voron uses arcane force to chuck a rock at one of the monks before backing away.

◆◆ Cast (somatic, verbal) telekinetic projectile vs. RED
◆ Stride 10'
Telekinetic projectile spell attack RED, B damage: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 171d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

We did not want violence, but you have forced our hand, the elf states. She begins to chant in the strange and spidery language of magic Ast drosare orar odrw as 3 eldritch bolts in the shapes of charging unicorns emerge from her out stretched hand and strike red

3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) + 3 = 12

Casting 2nd lvl magic missile with 3 actions.

How do you guys get the little action symbols?

How do you guys get the little action symbols?

I just copy/paste them from other people.

Did all of you remember Sumner's Inspire Courage? Add +1 to all attack rolls/damage rolls/saves vs fear.

Vixnax swiftly changes his stance - monk vs. monk. Which discipline will prevail? He quickly kicks Yute in the knee cap, hurting the man! But Yute still stands.

Voron tries to locate some loose rubble in the room. There's plenty of it! Meleeka must not do a great job of cleaning. He chants a spell and lobs one of the pieces of rubble at Uskrani. It knocks her in the head.

Then Avonathalanthalasa speaks an archaic language. A unicorn forms from her hands and flies towards Uskrani. The unicorn obliterates the woman, nothing is left but blood and bone. The woman who you competed with not too long ago, dead.

Yute, though clinging to life himself, shouts, "You will pay for this! Not only do you steal which does not belong to you, you kill indiscriminately!"

===============

Round 1

Sumner (-5 HP)

Meleeka (-4 HP)
Yute
Uskrani

Talm
Voron
Vixnax
Avonathaanthalasa

Orange disciple
Purple disciple

Talm is up!

Nope, totally forgot an left the inspire-courage off of Voron's spell attack.

I don't think it impacts magic missile does it?

Inspire Courage doesn't say just weapon rolls - just damage rolls. Magic Missile is a damage roll, so you would get +1 I believe. You still obliterated Uskrani.

Still waiting on Talm. Will give them till the end of the day before botting them.

that is dirty!

Forgot it was the weekend. Will give Talm till the end of the weekend to post before botting him!

Sorry all, work's been brutal. Just to be clear, the person with the red outline is/was Uskrani? Can I move through their space if they're unconscious?

No worries! And yes, red outline was Uskrani. She is dead, her body obliterated by Avonathalanthalasa. You can move through that space no problem. Deleted her pawn.

Talm darts forward and around Yute (◆Stride, risking an Attack of Opportunity) and launches a quick jab at the outlaw, followed by a wide hook at his ribs (◆Strike twice, with +1 to attack and damage from Inspire Courage).

First Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 = 27, Potential Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6, Potential Critical: 1d6 ⇒ 2, Potential Sneak Attack from Flanking: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Second Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 = 20, Potential Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11, Potential Critical: 1d6 ⇒ 1, Potential Sneak Attack from Flanking: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Talm, you killed him with your first attack which means you can use your third action for something else.

Talm whirls from the fallen Yute and snarls viciously to Meleeka and the remaining monks, "Your students are failures, just like you, and you will fall just like them!" (Reaction, You're Next against Meleeka, and ◆Demoralize as his final action against purple monk)

You're Next vs Meleeka: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Demoralize vs Purple Monk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

We are brutal :)

Talm quickly moves up to Yute and punches the disciple square in the chest. The rogue feels the disciple's ribs crushing as he kills him. With one last breath, he whispers, "You're the evil ones....."

Meleeka looks directly at Talm. "Why! Why did you have to do that.". She spits at his direction, but everyone can tell her knees are shaking. She's clearly terrified. "You all can rot in Hell. You stealing, murderous thugs! No better than cockroaches, you are. None of you are worthy of life.". Anger is flowing through her veins.

The purple monk holds his crossbow, but is shaking. Obviously terrified of Talm. He pulls back his string but the bolt just goes over everyone. "You're gonna pay for killing my friends.". He runs up to Talm, pulling out his scimitar.

The orange disciple joins in with her scimitar. "Just give us the statue and we'll let you leave. Otherwise, prepare to pay for your sins.". She must be scared too as her swings just can't seem to hit Talm.

===============

Round 2

Sumner (-5 HP)

Meleeka (-4 HP) (frightened 2)
Yute
Uskrani

Talm
Voron
Vixnax
Avonathaanthalasa

Orange disciple
Purple disciple

Sumner is up!

"You have no right to lecture us."

As Sumner chants a quiet hymn, one of the daggers on his belt rises up and flies toward the nearest disciple.

* Inspire Courage
** Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 vs. Orange Disciple - Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Sumner chants a quiet hymn. Everyone around him feels the magic flow through his music. The disciple wearing orange robes doesn't notice a dagger fly in her direction. The knife enters her eye and departs the other side of her skull.

Meleeka seems terrified but lets out a primal scream. "Stop killing these innocent people! We only took back what was rightfully ours. You Pathfinders are worse than Rovagug! Kill, kill, kill. Loot, loot, loot. No respect for history. Give us back what is rightfully mine and I'll let you leave.". She spits in your direction

She runs forth, towards Talm. Her anger flows through her body. Reaching out towards Talm with one fist in the shape of the talon, she just punches air, seemingly distracted and frightened. But it's a feint. Her other arm reaches towards him, grabbing hold of him tight. 4 fire damage.

===============

Round 2

Active Condition: Inspire Courage - +1 to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves vs fear.

Sumner (-5 HP)

Meleeka (-4 HP) (frightened 1)
Yute
Uskrani

Talm (-4 HP)
Voron
Vixnax
Avonathaanthalasa

Orange disciple
Purple disciple

Talm, Voron, Vixnax, and Avonathaanthalasa are up!

Avonatha continues to loose herself in the power and exctasy of her magic as he continue to chant Ast sre ore dow

as she 2 action casts daze DC 19 will save and a 4 hp of damage.

You cloud the target's mind and daze it with a mental jolt. The jolt deals mental damage equal to your spellcasting ability modifier; the target must attempt a basic Will save. If the target critically fails the save, it is also stunned 1.

With her last action she will cast shield.

Meleeka is wracked with pain, but is able to shake off the effects of the daze. Did not critically fail save.

===============

Round 2

Active Condition: Inspire Courage - +1 to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves vs fear.

Sumner (-5 HP)

Meleeka (-8 HP) (frightened 1)
Yute
Uskrani

Talm (-4 HP)
Voron
Vixnax
Avonathaanthalasa

Orange disciple
Purple disciple

Talm (-4 HP), Voron, and Vixnax are up!

Clarification, when you say she grabbed Talm, do you mean Grab like the monster ability? Do I need to worry about what limb she's holding onto, or attempting to make an Escape attempt?

It was just flavor, but she might do it next time! Grab costs an action but she had used three: stride, strike, strike.

Vixnax sees Meleeka distracted and runs all the way to the opposite of Talm. "You're the one that broke into our cellar. You're the one who has recruited bandits into your monastery! Desist now and no one else has to suffer!"

Vixnax jumps and swirls through the air, making two kicks in quick succession.

Dragon tail strike 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
strike 1 damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Dragon tail strike 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 (+1 if first attack missed)
strike 2 damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Finally, Vixnax raises his shield.

◆Stride ◆Flurry of blows ◆Raise shield

Thank you DM for the clarification, and thank you Vixnax for the flank!

"Your students fall because of your failures," Talm growls, driving a gauntleted fist at her face, "your weakness--" another at her belly, "and your pride!"

"You could have taken a better way. You could have taught a better way. But you didn't." His third strike is a disdainful backhand at Meleeka's face.

◆Strike, ◆Strike, and ◆Strike

Gauntlet, First: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28, Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6, Potential Crit: 1d4 ⇒ 2, Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Gauntlet, Second: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22, Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7, Potential Crit: 1d4 ⇒ 1, Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Gauntlet, Third: 1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 + 1 = 7, Potential Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9, Potential Crit: 1d4 ⇒ 2, Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Edit: I knew it was a long shot, but I'm bummed that backhand didn't land. It would've been a great punctuation to that speech. C'est la vie.

"The Pathfinders looted and pillaged our temples. They stole our artifacts first. We only took back what was rightfully ours." Tears form in her eyes as she speaks. She feels strongly that the Pathfinders are the ones who are wrong/evil. But Talm proves her right - that Pathfinders don't care about her or her ancestors. He easily smashes her face in. No mercy at all.

Talm murders Meleeka. The last remaining disciple starts shaking and is prepared to book it.

Voron is up!

[dice=Gauntlet, First]1d20+7+1, [dice=Damage]1d4+4+1, [dice=Potential Crit]1d4, [dice=Sneak Attack]1d6

Sneak attacks do double damage on crits in 2e, just a reminder. Also, it might be easier to just double the damage on a potential crit :P

Hello random rogue! What is the potential crit from? Either way, Talm killed Meleeka with two lucky hits.

*facepalm* I was feeling so proud of not getting my editions mixed up, and my brain just automatically started using 5e crit damage rules. I'm in three pbp's right now, have been through multiple combats, and you're the first person to call out how I'm formatting that. Thank you!

Edit: And it wasn't even the *right* 5e crit damage rules, because I would've doubled the sneak attack dice on a 5e crit. Double fail.

Ha, well you're not wrong. Here are rules for doubling damage. It does state that GMs can let you roll twice instead of doubling. If this was an IRL game or a home game, I would definitely let you roll twice (cuz who doesn't like rolling dice!

Okay, so who's left then...

Voron frowns at the failing monks.

I... almost feel sorry for them. Almost.

His stern expression returns as he steps forward and incants a color burst of magic at the last standing monk.

◆ Stride, 10'
◆◆ Cast (somatic, verbal) Color Spray, 15' cone covering blue

This may provide an opportunity to let one live, tie them up and ask a few questions, etc, etc (but let's see)

The lone disciple turns around to run, but is blasted by a display of powerful colors. She stops in place. "Just kill me already like you killed all my friends.". She starts sobbing and prepares for the worst.

Failure. She is stunned 1, blinded for 1 round, and dazzled for 1 minute

The threat is ended. We should tie her up and take her to the authorities for her part in stealing from the Pathfinder Society/ the elf says.

"This didn't have to end this way Meleeka..."

If they're actually dead and there's nothing we can do, then Vixnax will try and dispose of the bodies respectfully.

They are very much dead. Most NPCs die when they reach 0 hp.
Some important NPCs may not die right away, but you guys were brutal and used no mercy. Yay for murderhobo-ism!

Honestly had no intention of being that violent, but when you described a death by magic missile as horrifically as you did I figured I'd just roll with the tone you were setting. Also, I couldn't remember how to do non-lethal attacks in 2e. But I'm alright with it, it works for Talm's ongoing story.

Is Purple's request to kill her actually a surrender, or do we still need to incapacitate her?

She's surrendering.

With their opponents either fallen or weeping for death, the ferocity drains out of Talm, and within moments he looks sickened, staring down at the blood on his gauntlets.

"I . . . I need to clean these," he says quietly. He walks around the outlaw on the floor to sit in the corner by the room's exits, removing his gauntlets and pulling his waterskin and a cloth from his pack. He begins washing the gauntlets meticulously, murmuring softly to himself.

Talm doesn't want anything more to do with the surviving student, but will bar their way if they try to leave.

What do you guys do with the disciple that surrendered? We are officially out of combat (unless you guys decide that you want to attack her).

Ignoring Talm's emotional descent, Voron retrieves rope out of his backpack and begins the process of tying up her hands, and her feet somewhat loosely so they can walk (but not run).

He then hands the other end of the rope to Vixnax and nods.

There. Onward!

The unnamed disciple doesn't resist as Voron ties up her hands and ankles. Tears stream down her face, but she doesn't talk unless she is spoken too.

What are you going to do with her? Question her? Leave her here? Take her with you? Headed back to the ship Obsidian Owl and return to Niswan?

The insinuation of handing the rope to Vixnax is that we're taking her with us. It would seem we have everything we came for and so returning seems in order.

The Pathfinders take the disciple back with them to the Obsidian Owl. Captain Zazzander Scarscale asks, "Who is this? Did you find what you came for? Niswan, here we come!". The journey back to Niswan takes about 5 hours and you are free to ask the woman any questions you have.

"All this violence, all this bloodshed." Vixnax looks at One-who-waits, looks at the scrolls.
"Are these techniques so bad they had to be destroyed? Or was the monks' approach to teaching them wrong?"

The kobold looks at the disciple. "You were part of the Mudclaws, correct? Why did you join Meleeka?"

"Me? No. I just joined the monastery a week ago with my brother...". She whimpers. "Who you just murdered in cold blood...".

"I think the other two were part of the Mudclaws. They talked about their past, but we didn't know them too well."

The woman looks at Vixnax. "There's not much to do in Vedeesha. Meleeka approached us and we thought it would be a good outlet. Neither of us wanted to turn to a life of crime like so many Vedeeshans.". She weeps some more.

"Meleeka didn't talk much about the history, except saying the techniques were forbidden by her former masters. I can see why. The technique focuses on channeling your anger and striking as a phoenix. I can teach you what I know.." she wipes her tears from her face.

"And none of us were going to kill you. The One-Who-Waits was rightfully Meleeka's so she says. We just didn't want you to steal it from the rightful owner Meleeka.". She looks Vixnax right in the eyes now. "It was you who turned to violence and bloodshed and murder. Not us. We were just protecting the temple."