Shade Atteran |
"Tuco, I don't believe that we can go straight. But why don't we check out that door?"
GM Doug Henderson |
Why not split up?
From his time on the farm, Tuco might be familiar with a caul as the amniotic membrane around newborn foals or calves.
The immediate door on the right appears to be a closet, with many shelves stacked with old linens and cleaning supplies, confirming Phaed's hunch.
The door on the left opens into what appears to be the servant’s lounge.
At the center, three chairs surround a long wooden table. To the north looms a brick fireplace, a spray of dusty ashes and charcoal scattered across the floor in front of it. In the room’s southern portion, two tall leather-backed chairs face a smaller table.
There are two creatures sitting here, motionless except for blinking and periodic twitching as though experiencing a lull in conversation.
They don’t look like servants.
There are two doors on the far side of the room.
The map is updated. The creatures seem to be in a sort of stupor and don’t immediately notice you, but they might once you enter the room.
Pavo Sarini |
Occultism (E): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
"Wait!" he hisses quietly. "Those are yet another sort of eldritch horror from the Dark Tapestry. I cannit say why they are in such a stupor, but they are normally murderous. They grab their victims and choke out their life essence."
Phaedria |
occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Phaed concurs. Unlike leshies I do know aberrations.
Shade Atteran |
"Pavo, while that is an aggressive stance, in this case, I concur. If we are going to investigate all, and it is likely they are going to attack us at some time, we might ought to preempt their attack. But, are we sure we cannot talk to them?" asks Shade, knowing full well the things can probably hear him.
Pavo Sarini |
"I could try," Pavo says. "I have studied the languages spoken beyond the Dark Tapestry, but we might lose our advantage if they're not completely enthralled by whatever phenomenon has them entranced right now. It's Phaed's house, so however she would like to deal with squatters, but they're a good bit more dangerous than letting a raccoon stay in your attic."
Phaedria |
Phaed nods to Pavo. Reasonable. Well, I shall try.
She presents herself in the doorway, standing tall and menacing. When speaks in Aklo something under the mask pushes it aside, so the chokers can see what they deal with. That being a fellow aberration. Her voice sounds completely different — as if the words are coming out of a second throat, with alien physiology.
She pitches her aklo-voice and stands like an evil mastermind for the chokers. Of course, it's all an act. Or is it?
Versatile Perform, make impression: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Diplo, make req if things have not gone horribly wrong yet: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
GM Doug Henderson |
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Phaed calls out to the chokers and they stand and look at her, as though coming out of a dream.
They speak in Aklo.
"A new master?" says one, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"This is the master's house," says the other.
But before they can come to a conclusion, a door to the east slams open and another choker, wrapped in scarves and shawls, storms out.
"No new master!" she screams. "Intruders, you fools!"
The chokers spring into action to defend the manor!
Chokers: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Matriarch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Phaedria, Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Pavo, Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Tuco, Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Shade, Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Abella, Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Choker Orange
Choker Pink
Phaed
Pavo
Shade
Matriarch
Tuco
Abella
The orange choker climbs onto the table and strikes Phaed with one of it's long arms! It latches on and starts to choke her to death!
Arm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 plus:
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Constrict: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 DC 19 Fort Save
The pink choker moves into the corner and looks ready to lash out at someone should they enter room.
Bold may act!
Phaedria |
Of course I am the owne—
Delaying for Shade, in case I get healed etc.
Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Crit fail for 18 more damage
She glares at the choker holding her, miming choking it back.
Intimidation (E; Vers. Perform): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25 Frightened 1 if will is +15 or less; Frightened 2 if will is +5 or less.
She then contorts her body, twisting her head upside-down as she tries to escape.
Acrobatics (T) to escape: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Escapes a +9 Athletics before frightened (so, this escapes a +10 athltics if the choker is fright. 1; +11 if it is frighttened 2)
Acrobatics (T) to escape: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 5 = 7
Run away or raise shield if healed a decent amount. Hopefully next round she can perform
Current HP: 11/37
Shade Atteran |
”What I was afraid of. ”
The Desnan healer quickly slaps some gauze and liniments on Phaedria.
battle medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
DIce seem to dislike Phaedria?
Just as it seems that Shade has misjudged Phaedria’s anatomical layout, he corrects himself and applies a patch soaked in willow bark tincture,
Reroll battle medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
healing: 2d8 + 0 ⇒ (8, 4) + 0 = 12
Then, he strikes at the orange abomination with a moonbeam.
spell attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 fire, silver: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8
”In the name of Mother Moon, let her go!”
GM Doug Henderson |
Shade patches Phaed up with a tincture, and then fires a moonbeam at the orange choker.
The choker reacts by attempting to yank Phaed into the path of the attack! But isn't quite able to move her.
Yank: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 VS Phaed's Fort DC
Phaed then intimidates the orange choker with a powerful glare, but despite her struggles, she is unable to break free.
Choker Orange -8 hp, frightened , dazzled
Choker Pink
Phaed
Pavo
Shade
Matriarch
Tuco
Abella
Pavo is up!
Pavo Sarini |
"Thrune's corrupt reach!" Pavo curses as the chokers come out of their stupor and swiftly reverse the advantage. He dashes into the room, trying to avoid the attention and reach of the other chokers.
(as long as not Dying)
He makes two thrusts at the choker: first with his dagger and then with his sword a moment later.
dagger (T), finesse, agile: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
piercing, thief: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
+1 shortsword (T), finesse, agile: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 = 21 this one vs. flat-footed
magic, piercing, thief: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
+ sneak attack (precision): 1d6 ⇒ 1
Stride
Twin Feint
GM Doug Henderson |
Pavo steps through the door to attack orange, and purple reaches out with a long, gangly arm to strike him, grabbing on with its sticky fingers!
Arm: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 - 1 = 24 plus:
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Even with some cover from Phaedra, I believe that roll will hit Pavo. He is immobilized by the grab, which I believe ends his move. He can still attack orange from where he is though.
Pavo feints with his two weapons, and his shortsword hits!
The Matriarch, in her scarf, climbs onto the table and also looks ready to grab someone who comes through the door.
"You are intruders!" She shouts in Aklo. "The master will have your heads!"
Choker Orange -14 hp, frightened , dazzled
Choker Pink
Phaed
Pavo
Shade
Matriarch
Tuco
Abella
Bold are up!
Tuco_ |
Tuco drops into his stance and fires repeatedly at orange from here.
arrowed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3
more arrowed: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 5 = 18
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 2
most arrowed: 1d20 + 10 - 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 10 = 20
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6
deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 4
GM Doug Henderson |
Tuco sends his arrows flying at the orange choker. The first one misses, the second barely does any damage, but the third sinks into a critical spot, killing the choker! Its heavy hand falls to the ground as it loses its grip on Phaedria's throat.
Choker Pink
Phaed
Pavo
Shade
Matriarch
Tuco
Abella
Abella is up!
Abella Tribastarion |
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Abella glares with her perpetually bagged eyes at the creatures through the doorway, or at least the little crack of them she can see. ”You want our heads?” She begins the necromantic replication and expansion of materials into an appropriate construct, as she prefers to think of her undead. The great thing about not brushing your hair, being covered in blood, and having no skincare routine to remove dead skin is that you have most of the materials on hand to start making something a little more complicated than a bone construct. And how can she waste such a good line setting her up? The materials quickly form into a floating head, and…nothing else. ”You can have one of my heads. I always can make more.”
Three actions to cast Animate Dead to summon a Severed Head
GM Doug Henderson |
Abella animates a severed head, and it tries to bite the pink choker, but unfortunately doesn't connect.
The pink choker maintains its grip on Pavo and constricts!
Constrict 1: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 DC 19 Basic Fort Save
With it's other hand, it lashes out at the severed head!
Arm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 plus:
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
"A head for master!"
Choker Pink
Phaed
Pavo
Shade
Matriarch
Tuco
Abella
Bold may act!
Pavo Sarini |
Fortitude: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Pavo struggles to breathe with the choker's powerful, alien fingers wrapped around his neck. He begins to pull and twist, trying to break free of the abomination's grasp.
Escape: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Escape: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 5 = 21
Escape: 1d20 + 9 - 10 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 10 = 5
If that middle one succeeds, he will use his remaining action to move into the position directly UP from the matriarch (i.e. to flank with the floating head).
Phaedria |
Phaedria reprises her role as the Dowager Countess in the satirical Clown Town Abbey.
You… you could have served us SOUP!
Performance (E) (Clowning), lingering Composion DC 18: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 Crit 4 rounds lingering
She raises her shield and moves into the room, ready to give her friends more room to maneuver. So I think the matriarch may have a ready but SOMEONE needs to go in too.
Shade Atteran |
”Foul creature!”calls out Shade, as he casts divine lance at the matriarch!
Spell attack: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13 bah!
He then casts guidance on Pavo.
GM Doug Henderson |
Phaedra walks through the door, and the matriarch whips out an arm to grab her!
Phaedra manages to block some of the damage with her shield.
Arm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29 plus:
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Shade throws a divine lance but misses, and then gives some guidance to Pavo.
The matriarch maintains her grip and then constricts Phaed twice!
Constrict: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 DC 19 Fort Save
Constrict: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 DC 19 Fort Save
"Kill the intruders!"
Choker Pink
Phaed
Pavo
Shade
Matriarch
Tuco
Abella
Bold are up!
Abella Tribastarion |
Abella conjures a shield to protect herself and then moves on into the room herself, assuming her floating head and the various grapples going on will give her enough cover.
Her floating severed head snaps at the matriarch, disregarding that it is gabbed. Once it bites in, it attempts to rip at the greater choker’s skin.
Not accounting for flank on the matriarch for these two attacks
Severed Head Jaws: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Piercing Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Gnash: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Piercing and Slashing Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1d4 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (1) = 6
If the Gnash hits, she also takes 1 persistent bleed
Actions: Shield, stride, sustain spell
Phaedria |
She blocks 5 of that.
fort: 1d20 ⇒ 1 UGH
Bones pop in her neck as she crit fails AGAIN. 18 from the crit fail + 4 net after block = 22 HP.
fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
She then falls unconscious. Assuming you want to attack someone else with the third action and no Map. If not…
Current status: Dying 1
Tuco_ |
Tuco circles around the room making use of his speed to get into position to fire two arrows point blank into pink before tripping him.
arrow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 4
flurry arrow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6
assurance trip vs pink reflex: 10 + 7 = 17
GM Doug Henderson |
With her extra action the matriarch will step out the flank.
The severed head bites the matriarch, but isn't able to tear the skin open. Still, she's not happy about being bitten.
Tuco enters the room and firmly plants two arrows into the pink choker, the second shot critically hits! But, unfortunately, the trip doesn't connect.
"Die intruders!"
The pink choker maintains its grip on the severed head and constricts, hoping to crush the thing's skull.
Constrict: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 DC 19 Fort Save
It then lashes out at Tuco with an arm, but misses!
Arm: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Choker Pink -16hp
Pavo
Shade
Phaed
Matriarch -5hp
Tuco
Abella
Bold are up! Pink looks badly wounded, but the matriarch seems extra tough.
Shade Atteran |
Shade sees Phaedria go down, and immediately works on getting her back up! He's already used battle medicine on her, so knows he has to use his healing font.
"Desna, bring my friend back so that she may save us."
Level 2 Heal, 2 Actions: 2d10 + 16 ⇒ (9, 2) + 16 = 27
He then casts guidance on Phaedria, as it couldn't hurt.
Phaedria |
FINE. I'll. SERVE. THE. SOUP.
She flings a soup bowl at Pink!
Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 + 1 = 30
B/P/S: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 + 1 = 9 Should crit for 18
She then glares with all her hate at the Matriarch. That is how it is done. I am the new master.
Intimidation (E; Vers. Perform): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29 Fightened one if will save is 19 or lower; frightened 2 if 9 or lower.
Pavo Sarini |
"Phae--!" Pavo begins to shout when she passes out, but he is cut off by a choking cough. The relief is self-evident on his expression when Desna brings her back.
"Be careful, Abella," he says hoarsely as he steps behind the matriarch. "I'll try to finish..."
He launches a swift thrust at the choker imitating civilized folk with her costume and then cuts with his sword.
Step
Attack
Attack
dagger (T), finesse, agile, IC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20 (vs. flat-footed)
piercing, thief: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8
+ sneak attack (precision): 1d6 ⇒ 6
+1 shortsword (T), finesse, agile, IC: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 - 4 = 20 (vs. flat-footed)
magic, piercing/slashing, thief, IC: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
+ sneak attack (precision): 1d6 ⇒ 6
GM Doug Henderson |
There is a moment, while the soup bowl is flying toward Pink's head, that Pink wishes, so very badly, that it had someone in its grasp so that it could yank them into the trajectory of the bowl, but alas that is not the case.
Then the bowl hits, doing double damage! Crit!
Phaed glares at the matriarch and some fear does appear in the matriarch's eyes, especially when Pavo steps behind and stabs her twice!
Coughing blood, she chuckles.
"Hehehe, you will know the master soon enough."
Then she lashes out, first at Phaedra, who dared to challenge her, and then at Pavo who stabbed her in the back!
Arm 1 @ Phaed: 1d20 + 13 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 13 - 1 = 24 plus:
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Arm 2 @ Pavo: 1d20 + 13 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 13 - 1 - 5 = 20 Also a hit?
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
She grabs onto Phaedra [00c]and Pavo if that hit[/ooc]and constricts her grip on Phaedra!
Constrict: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 DC 21 Fort Save
She only has the actions to constrict one hand.
Choker Pink -16hp
Pavo
Shade
Phaed
Matriarch -27hp
Tuco
Abella
Bold may act. Pink yet lives, although barely...
Abella Tribastarion |
Abella carefully steps back into the corner. She swirls the index finger of her bone hand in the air, as if stirring an upside down drink. Dark energy begins to collect around the boney digits.
”’Be careful?’ Why, I have them exactly where I want them.”
She flicks her hand lazily towards the matriarch, and long dark fingers of energy flash out along a line, striking both the remaining chokers.
She casts Grim Tendrils along a line that I think should only hit pink and the matriarch
Grim Tendrils: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 +1 persistent bleed damage
DC 19 fortitude save
Step, two actions to cast Grim Tendrils
GM Doug Henderson |
Fort Save Pink: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Fort Save Matriacrch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
The matriarch succeeds, but pink fails, and dies to the negative energy!
Pavo
Shade
Phaed
Matriarch -33hp
Tuco
Abella
Tuco is up and the matriarch is looking badly wounded!
Tuco_ |
Tuco moves over into flank and fires as many arrows as he can.
bow vs FF: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1
deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 4
Flurryvs FF: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 10 - 5 = 13
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1
bowest vs FF: 1d20 + 10 - 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 10 = 5
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Phaedria |
fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Escape, Acrobatics (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Assuming this works. If not then she will spend the rest of her turn struggling.
She sends a broken dinner plate winging at the Matriarch's neck.
Dinner is served (telekinetoc projectile): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 = 23
P: 2d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 + 1 = 11
… Bon appétit.
GM Doug Henderson |
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Translated into Aklo, bon appétit has a particularly pulpy intonation. The words fall onto deaf ears, however, as the dinner plate slices into the matriarch's throat, killing her.
Out of combat! Well done.
The blue and yellow scarf worn by the matriarch is filthy but magical. Abella identifies it as a Dancing Scarf!
You are free to recover, and search the room and the adjacent washroom. There is another door to the east that is stuck, but may be forced open with a DC 15 Athletics check.
Pavo Sarini |
Pavo gasps and falls to his knees as he pries the dead aberrations fingers from around his neck. "Maybe next time," he says hoarsely, "You will heed me when I warn you that a particular creature from the Dark Tapestry is especially murderous."
Forgoing examining the room given Phaed's abuses at the hands if the chokers and her rather weak condition, he puts away his blades and pulls out his surgical tools. "This might hurt a bit, Phaed," he cautions. "I'm going to need to drain that hematoma next to your windpipe." He pulls out his scalpel, flask of whisky, and sewing kit.
Medicine, Treat Wounds (DC15), Assurance, Risky Surgery: 10 + 5 = 15
Harm: 1d8 ⇒ 1
Healing: 4d8 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 2) = 14
Phaed: +13 HP, can be +27 if we take a whole hour instead of just 10 minutes.
Happy to have Shade patch me up with Treat Wounds while I'm fixing Phaed.
"Wait, Tuco!" he coughs as he shouts, his throat not quite recovered. "I'm not finished. We also need to find a place to store all of these corpses we're accumulating."
I was not clear meant that "free to search the room" meant we did and found nothing else of interest or that GM Doug was waiting for us to prompt him that we were searching.
Shade Atteran |
"Let's take the time to heal up."
Remember that Shade has Continual Healing, so if he does the healing, he can keep doing it.
Who needs healing other than Phaed?
Shade Atteran |
Shade starts attending to Pavo, as Pavo works on Phaedria.
"My friend, you should try to avoid getting hit. Makes a lot of work for me!"
Treat Wounds DC15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 healing: 4d8 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 4) = 12 10m
Treat Wounds DC15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 healing: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 3) = 11 20m
Pavo is full up!
Pavo Sarini |
"I should!" Pavo agrees with Shade. He clears his throat. "I had my hands full with blades and forgot to duck. Ow!"
Phaed will be -3 at the 60 minute mark and susceptible for additional treat wounds, I believe.
GM Doug Henderson |
While the healing begins, Tuco pushes the door open, which creaks and groans loudly in complaint in the otherwise silent house. Beyond is a short hall. Tattered old cloaks and coat hooks adorn the walls.
What would Tuco and Abella like to do while the healing is going on?
Abella Tribastarion |
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Abella spends a while studying her spellbook as she swaps out one of her spells for another.
Swapping Slough Skin for another Blood Vendetta
She then hops up and strides towards the outside along the path they have traveled thus far.
”I am heading outside to research. One must always be efficient with their time. Shout if anyone is dying or dead. I will let you know if I need you for anything.”
Arcana for Research on Xarwin Caul: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
GM Doug Henderson |
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That's another success!
Abella spends ten minutes studying the exterior of the manor near the garden, and she comes to believe the Caul’s influence suffuses all of Xarwin Manor and the surrounding manor grounds.
As Abella passes a window on the east side of the manor, she catches a glimpse of a shadowy figure standing behind her; the figure raises an arm as if to touch her, yet the arm has no hand, only tendrils of dark energy emerging. When she turns to confront the image, the figure is gone. She sees only herself in the reflection.
Please make a Will Save!