Longroads Coffeehouse 2.0

Game Master chadius

Bella runs...

and runs...

and runs...

until she's finally down from the shelves.

"Unhand her, you dirty ape!" She begins a flashy dance, hoping to distract the Blue... Thing...

Performance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 vs Blue's Will DC

"Quickly, Madame Rosemont! Away!"

◆◆ Stride
◆ >Fascinating Performance< to Fascinate for 1 round. >Focused Fascination< means I only need a success. If I succeeded, I gain Panache.

"Run kitty, run!" Fran cries as the entire group, including Mister Midnight, are beset by strange shadow creatures. She hustles towards the area where she knows Nicole and Stitch were working and tries to recall if she's read anything about these strange things.
______________

◆ Command Animal
◆ Stride
◆ Recall Knowledge

Mister Midnight needs no further encouragement and darts after Fran, fur standing on end. He passes Fran and keeps going towards the far wall towards a set of stairs.

Don't let them get you, Fran!
______________

◆ Stride
◆ Stride

"Ouch! How dare you?!" Nicole shoots back at Yellow!
Hand Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Hand Crossbow Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 piercing damage

She then draws one of her lesser alchemist fire and throws it at Yellow too.
Bomb Attack, MAP: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Bomb Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7 fire damage, 1 persistent fire damage, and 1 fire splash damage

She then reloads her hand crossbow

◆ Strike
◆ Quick Bomber
◆ Reload hand crossbow

Stitch and Meat try to run White down but fail to do so. Bella gets to the bottom of the stairs and dances for Blue. The blue creature stares slack-jawed at the dancing woman, fascinated. Nicole shoots Yellow right in the head, but the bottle of alchemists fire doesn't quite hit. Fran and Mr Midnight make a run for it, getting out of the way.

Stitch, you're still grappled by White. These are also medium sized. They're meant to pop up wherever party members are.

Yellow closes the gap and attempts to punch out Nicole.

Fist vs Nicole AC 18: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Fist vs Nicole AC 18, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Bludgeoning, Crit: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Doubled to 8

Nicole drops from the blows.

Red swings at Stitch, MW: 3d2 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) = 6

Fist vs Meat Wagon AC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Fist vs Meat Wagon AC 17, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Fist vs Meat Wagon AC 17, MAP 2+, Agile: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0

White pulls out a spear and attempts to stab Stitch.

Spear vs Stitch AC 16, FF: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Spear vs Stitch AC 16, MAP, FF: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Piercing, Crit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Fran, Bella: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Blue pulls out a spear and charges after Fran. It then tries to stab her.

Spear vs Fran AC 14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 5

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2-3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

-3-
**Stitch - AC 16, 5/30 (Grabbed, FF, Immobilized); Meat Wagon AC 17, 26/26
**Bella Sidare - AC 19, 34/34 (Panache)
Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 0/22 (Unconscious)
Yellow (-7)
White
Red
Blue

-2-
**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 10/10

The grab should have worn off at the end of white's turn. Stitch is free! Almost dead, but FREE!

"Get your grubby paws off me, tell Gurny he can go to hell!" Stitch tries to patch his own wounds up now that he's free from the grabby grabberson.

Battle Medicine DC15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
HP: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

It doesn't do much so he tries it for a second time!

Battle Medicine DC15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
HP: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14

"Smash the white one MEAT! SMASH IT!"

Battle medicine, battle medicine (thanks to medic dedication), Command minion. HP 23/30, grab and frightened are cleared woo!

Meat Wagon follows orders, attacking white.

Smoosh 'em, smash 'em, turn 'em to goo. Smoosh 'em, smash 'em, woohoo!

Melee (Overdrive): Bumper Ram: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage (B): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Melee (Overdrive): Mower Blade (Agile)(Finesse): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 4 = 4
Damage (S): 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

Bella gives chase, practically skipping along towards Madame Rosemont's harasser.

"And so the fool ran"
"Up the hill he moved"
"But at the peak did he lose"

Fist: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23 I am flanking with Fran, I believe
Bludgeoning Damage, Panache: 1d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

"To the stubborn donkey's hoof!"

◆ Stride with Panache
◆ Stride with Panache
◆ Strike with Panache

Bella runs into a flank with Fran and successfully punches Blue's lights out. Blue dissipates into so much shadowstuff. Stitch heals himself and commands Meat Wagon to attack. Meat guns its engine and nearly squashes White into so much gore. White barely holds together.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2-3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

-3-
Stitch - AC 16, 23/30; Meat Wagon AC 17, 26/26
Bella Sidare - AC 19, 34/34 (Panache)
Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 0/22 (Unconscious)
Yellow (-7)
White (-16)
Red

-2-
**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 10/10

Fran moves north and draws a bead on White. Picking up a loose rock, she hurls it at White.

TKP vs White: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Fran hurls a rock at White but doesn't connect. White resumes his attack on 1-Stitch 2-MW: 3d2 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) = 3

Spear vs Stitch AC 16: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Spear vs Stitch AC 16, MAP: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Fist vs Stitch AC 16, MAP 2+, Agile: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Piercing, Crit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

White's spear plunges into Stitch, doing considerable damage.

Yellow charges Bella and lashes out with a fist.

Fist vs Bella AC 19: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Red pulls out a spear and attempts to poke Meat Wagon.

Spear vs Meat Wagon AC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Spear vs Meat Wagon AC 17, MAP: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Red's spear puts a small gouge in Meat Wagon's paint (which will probably infuriate Stitch).

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3-4
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

-4-
**Stitch - AC 16, 7/30; Meat Wagon AC 17, 25/26
**Bella Sidare - AC 19, 30/34 (Panache)
Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 0/22 (Unconscious)
Yellow (-7)
White (-16)
Red

-3-
**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 10/10

"Another interloper." Bella claps, twirls and focuses inward. The rose pattern underneath her armor glows brightly as Khiari appears next to her.

Khiari smiles at her sister before frowning at the assailant.
Athletics vs Fort DC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
She tries to shove the fiend, but to no avail. "Yikes! Nicole is out cold!"

"Mister Steeltoe isn't looking much better. I wonder what fancy ball called Mister Thunderbird away. We could have used his assistance..."

◆◆◆ >Manifest Eidolon<
- ◆ Khiari tries to Shove, Fails

"Oh time to get outta here Meaty, get me back to Nikky, its too soon to find a buyer for those organs." He shifts into reverse and puts the hammer down.

When they slide up next to Nicole he reaches down for a quick bit of mouth to mouth.

Battle Medicine on Nicole DC15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
HP: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 4) = 11

Two action command, battle medicine

Smoke spews from its exhaust tubes as its engines shift into reverse. Its tires screetch across the stone floor, swerving slightly to clip the white shady thing.

Never said I couldn't get in a freebee on the way by...

Melee (Overdrive): Bumper Ram: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Damage (B): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

Has three actions this round: Strike White, Stride x2. Provokes if they have it.

Stitch drives up to Nicole and gives her rescue breathing. White fails to get out of the way and dissolves into shadowstuff. Bella brings Khiari back. Khiari tries to shove their assailant but doesn't quite succeed.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3-4
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

-4-
Stitch - AC 16, 7/30; Meat Wagon AC 17, 25/26
Bella Sidare - AC 19, 30/34 (Panache); Khiari AC 18
**Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 11/22 (Prone, Hands Empty)
Yellow (-7)
Red

-3-
**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 10/10

With Nicole out of immediate danger Fran turns her attention to Yellow and attempts to fling a candlestick at it...

Telekinetic Projectile vs. Yellow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Damage (B): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

...but comes much closer to nailing Khiari with it.

"Sorry, sorry!"

She can see Red in her peripheral vision and falls back next to Mister Midnight; partly to protect her dear friend and partly to clear some room for Meat Wagon to maneuver.

Nicole gasps for air, trying to remember what was the last thing that happened when she was conscious. She remembers that Yellow knocked her down with some punches. Looking around, she finds Stitch who seems to her just performed a quick CPR but is not sure which type. One thing for sure is her lips are wet. "Thanks," she murmurs. She picks up her weapon before standing up and keeps moving. Was it rescue breathing? Hands-only? she keeps thinking about it everytime she looks back at Stitch.

◆ Interact to pick up weapon
◆ Stand
◆ Stride

Nicole gasps for air, trying to remember what was the last thing that happened when she was conscious. She remembers that Yellow knocked her down with some punches. Looking around, she finds Stitch who seems to her just performed a quick CPR but is not sure which type. One thing for sure is her lips are wet. "Thanks," she murmurs. She picks up her weapon before standing up and keeps moving. Was it rescue breathing? Hands-only? she keeps thinking about it everytime she looks back at Stitch.

Stitch merely just smiles as she looks at him, his old yellow teeth in a perpetual grin. "Feel better?"

Yellow pulls out a spear and tries to poke Bella,Khiari: 2d2 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2

Spear vs Bella AC 19: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Spear vs Bella AC 19, MAP: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Fortunately both miss. Red moves and closes with Fran and her cat. It tries to poke: Fran,Mr Midnight: 2d2 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Spear vs Mister Midnight AC 14: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Spear vs Fran, AC 14, MAP: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Piercing, Crit: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Crit doubled to 6

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4-5
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

-5-
**Stitch - AC 16, 7/30; Meat Wagon AC 17, 25/26
**Bella Sidare - AC 19, 30/34 (Panache); Khiari AC 18
**Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 11/22
Yellow (-7)
Red

-4-
**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 4/10

Eying a great opportunity for a hit and run, Stitch draws out his pistol and stomps on the gas "CHARARRRGGEE!" Meat Wagon's tires squeal as it lurches forward.

Draw pistol, 2 action command.

RAMMING SPEED!!

Melee (Overdrive): Bumper Ram: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage (B): 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

Melee (Overdrive): Mower Blade (Agile)(Finesse): 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 4 = 19
Damage (S): 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 = 9

Oh, that was fun. I love the feel of stuff between my tires.

Bella's glad to see her sister again. And Khiari quickly sets up a flank.

Bella raises her leg high behind her...

Fist: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22 Flanking Yellow with Khiari
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Confident Finisher: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8

And swings it right between Yellow's legs, like a joyous pendulum.

Assuming that finishes Yellow Bella turns towards Fran. "Madame Rosemont! Don't let me hog all the fun. Certainly you can handle a mere miscreant."

Aid via One for All: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

◆ Khiari Strides
◆ Bella uses >Confident Finisher<
◆ Prepare to Aid Fran via >One for All<
↺ Aid Fran

“I think so.“ she awkwardly smiles at Stitchbefore the inventor charges to his next target. She, on the other hand, reloads her hand crossbow. “Khiari, duck!“ she exclaims before shooting at Yellow.
Hand crossbow attack vs Yellow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Weapon Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 piercing damage

She reloads again.

◆ Reload weapon
◆ Strike
◆ Reload weapon

Meat Wagon easily turns Red to gore, if only it didn't dissolve into shadowstuff. Bella and Nicole do damage to Yellow. Yellow is holding on by a thread.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4-5
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

-5-
Stitch - AC 16, 7/30; Meat Wagon AC 17, 25/26 (1 action)
Bella Sidare - AC 19, 30/34 (Panache); Khiari AC 18
Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 11/22
Yellow (-21)

-4-
**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 4/10

Meat Wagon disintegrates its target, then rolls south towards the last foe. Stride

Fran again hurls a blunt object at the remaining miscreant.

TKP vs Yellow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Fran's hurled paperweight slams into where Yellow's face would be. Yellow dissolves into shadowstuff.

COMBAT OVER

Rain takes a few deep breaths, then describes what happened when he tried to leave the vault.

"I took a few steps, then a few dozen more, but I couldn't reach the door! I shouted for help, but nobody could hear me! Or nobody was there? I don't know, it was like something out of a nightmare. I turned around, and there she was! I've never seen her before, but I knew it was her. Aslynn! Tall, dark, and hideous. She was dragging something, and singing… no, more like reciting poetry. That's strange, right? And terrifying. Something about my nightmares coming to take me away. I tried to run, but she touched my mind! She took my nightmares right out of me… those things! Just like she said. Right out of my nightmares. I hope she isn't still over there. I… I can barely think. It feels like the world is ending. I'm afraid I won't be much use. Could you take a look, see if she's there? Could you also take a look, to see if you can leave the vault to get help?"

Glad I refreshed before posting combat stuff :)

Though Fran is relieved that everyone seems to be okay, she's mostly concerned with Mister Midnight. "Oh kitty! Are you okay?? I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you from that horrible thing!"

She scoops the cat up in her arms and hurries towards the others, anxiously throwing glances this way and that.

"Nicole, what about you? You don't look so good either."
______________

Depending on how much time we might have, Fran's got a couple of options to help with patching people up.

Glad I refreshed before posting combat stuff :)

Though Fran is relieved that everyone seems to be okay, she's mostly concerned with Mister Midnight. "Oh kitty! Are you okay?? I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you from that horrible thing!"

She scoops the cat up in her arms and hurries towards the others, anxiously throwing glances this way and that.

"Nicole, what about you? You don't look so good either."
______________

Depending on how much time we might have, Fran's got a couple of options to help with patching people up.

When I went to delete Yellow, I noticed Fran's token wasn't plastered against the wall anymore! :)

Stitch rolls over to Rain with the others, obviously in some discomfort, thanks to the two deep puncture wounds from that damned spear. "I don't know about the rest of you, but I need some time to stitch these holes closed. Maybe we need to stay put for a while before we roll off to investigate anything." Hell I nearly died to a bunch of shadow puffs!

He maintains his position mounted on his wagon and starts some surgery on himself.

Medicine, Risky Surgery vs DC20: 1d8 ⇒ 51d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 134d8 + 15 ⇒ (6, 1, 7, 6) + 15 = 35

Hero Point: Medicine, Risky Surgery vs DC20: 1d8 ⇒ 11d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 = 264d8 + 15 ⇒ (2, 7, 6, 1) + 15 = 31 Full! 10mins

He nearly nicks an artery but catches it in time. "This is easier after a few pints..."

So how we doing healing? I can spend the next 10 minutes on someone.. Nicole? If no one needs any real healing I'll reset MW's unstable.

"Um, I th-think Mister Midnight and I will be okay," Fran answers, her voice still a little shaky. "H-here kitty, hold still..."

Medicine - Treat Wounds (DC 15): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 1) = 9

Fran seems to know a thing or two about tending to critters - or at least small cats - because after about ten minutes or so Mister Midnight is looking as hale and hearty as he was before the party got crashed.

"There! All better," she smiles.
______________

That puts Mister M back to full health. Nicole is currently at 11/22 so we should probably get her patched up a bit more while we've got the time.

”True, I am badly hurt. Those shadow figures are nasty!” Nicole answers Fran. ”Where did they even come from?” she adds. ”Good thing, I have some elixirs of life ready.” she retrieves two of them and drinks them up.
Two Minor Elixirs of Life: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + (1) = 5 HP restored for Nicole

”If someone can lend me their Healer’s Tools, I can manage to patch up myself.” she is dissatified by the healing her elixirs gave her.

"Well done, everyone!" Bella politely claps to the crew as Khiari looks at the remains of... whatever those things were.

She watches Mister Steeltoe's scapel and simply shakes her head. "My injuries are minimal, I do not need assistance."

She turns to Rain in Cloudy Day. "Aslynn, a poet? She sounds horrid."

Once the team recovers, Bella holds the poison dagger and travels down the hall. "Hmm... sister, do you remember the Lost Woods?"

Khiari nods. "No matter which route you take, it's not the exit."

Bella sighs. "We are trapped within the vaults. Perhaps Aslynn will release us after her we listen to her bad poetry." She turns to her friends. "Stay alert, everyone."

"Use mine Nicky, just don't mind the blood. While you do that I'm gonna clean Meat's scorched wiring." 10mins to auto reset unstable

Stitch brushes the grease and grime off onto his apron [b]"Ok ready to roll out. Let's find this ugly poet I guess.. or we could just look for more treasure.. [b]"He looks from side to side at the overwhelming stacks and shelves of goodies.

ok -- I'll hold off on the healing for a bit. I'll keep your rolls but I won't apply them yet.

You report back to Rain and he wails in despair. "Oh GODS! We're doomed!" He takes a deep breath to calm himself. "Maybe you can search the vault to find anything we can use to help us get out of here. Maybe you can discover more useful information about the treasures therein or perhaps acquire useful gear to use against additional intruders." Rain begins to tremble in fear. Under the current circumstances, Rain nearly succumbs to despair. He composes himself long enough to urge you to continue searching the vault. He hopes you can discover more useful information about the treasures therein or perhaps acquire useful gear to use against any potential, additional intruders. Rain himself, having come so close to Aslynn's manifestation, remains wracked with a sense of impending doom and can be of no use in facing foes for the foreseeable future.

He just happens to notice that most of you are bleeding from different wounds. Feeling guilty, he reaches into his satchel and hands you eight minor healing potions. "Oh! You're hurt! I'm sorry I caused so much trouble. These should help."

You have 20 minutes. You can either search the Vault twice or perform Medicine checks (or any 10-minute activity), or a combination of both.

Also, you can use any Lore skill you have that seems to fit the needs of the area. When you post where you are going, please move your token to that location on the map

If you wish to keep the medicine checks, go ahead.

We're doomed? Come on mush-head, pull yourself together! Stitch quickly changes gears from the panic stricken fungus.

"I'm gonna fix myself and Meat Wagon up, you guys take those potions and find some sweet sweet treasures. Give me one potion just in case though.." He takes 1 minor healing potion for emergencies.

So as far as in-combat healing goes, Stitch used his battle medicine on himself and Nicole, as well as using up his battle medic on himself. That leaves a battle medicine for Fran, Mr Midnight, Bella, and Khiari. The rest is only out of combat fix ups at the cost of treasure hunting rolls.

Keeping my healing rolls and MW's unstable reset. That reset allows me to use his quick repair option for an in-combat heal/repair. He can set up where ever to do those checks.. maybe keep us not completely isolated and alone in case more shadow buggers show up again.

"Well then, let's make the best of this situation. Chin up, everyone." She lowers a hand on Rain's shoulder. "Especially you. You're a Pathfinder. We must set a good example. Rest up for now."

She moves to the talking skull.
"Greetings. We are from House Sidare. I am Bella, this is my sister Khiari." They curtsy politely.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
"And your name might be?" Bella waits with extreme patience, hoping to learn a bit more.

After a delightful conversation, Bella looks through the Assorted Items along the western side.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

I'll keep my one Medicine roll for Mister M.

"U-um, we should probably see if any of these weapons would be useful for fighting a hag...or if they're too dangerous to fall into her hands," Fran remarks as she finishes patching up Mister Midnight. She continues to look around nervously as she moves over to the pile of weapons and begins picking through them.

Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 No HP, whomp whomp :(
______________

I don't see a #6 on the map but that's where Fran & Mister M move to.

GAH! Looks like my 6 disappeared. I'll go put it back...

Bella heads over to the skull and starts a conversation. To her surprise, the skull answers, "Call me Zykyryz! No, it isn't my name, but it's shorter than 'all powerful wizard.' That's right, I can do magic! Just wait. Keep me close, and I'll prove it to you." You also discern that Zykyryz isn't undead. It's more likely that some supernatural aspect of her became trapped in this unusual vessel. Zykyryz says, "That sounds about right. Thanks for using your head!"

Holding on to the skull, Bella then heads over to one of the raised platforms and has a look. She and Khiari find, in a dusty corner, a potency crystal. Meanwhile Fran heads down to the weapon shelves and has a look. She finds what appears to be a beautiful sword with runes on the blade. However, closer inspection shows that the sword is actually made of wood and the runes have been painted on. A small inscription on the blade says "Property of Nilaglade and Deroff"

Nicole heads over to the scrolls shelves and has a look.

Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Nicole checks out the scrolls but only manages to find a scroll containing a list of chemical reagents needed for purchase.

A cry from Rain in Cloudy Day pierces the vault. "Oh, no! She's back!" Moments later, an imposing figure steps into the vault, striding straight past the cowering Pathfinder. With her wild hair, wicked curved horns, sharp teeth, and glowing eyes, she's a fearful sight. The bones of her enormous, clawed hands make hideous cracking sounds as she heaves on a chain wrapped around her torso, dragging an iron cauldron across the stone floor. It nearly tips, spilling a glob of vile black ooze filled with vibrant constellations.

She casts her gaze around the vault and rises to her full height. She speaks, her voice like a dying goat by a crackling fire. "What is this? Ah yes, I see. Precious treasures, all for me! A dagger, its twin my child wields. I command you, Star: break cities! Burn fields! A key, its message yet unclear. Why does it hide? What does it fear? Pathfinders! You'll seek boundless wonder across the land... and find Aslynn's nightmares, hand in hand!"

Aslynn stoops to grasp the chain once more and proceeds with her cauldron into the vault, still ignoring Rain and anyone else around her. Suddenly, a new voice—a harsh whisper—carries through the air. "Psst! Hey, you! Pathfinders! She's not real. Well, not too real. Just a bit. No time to explain! You've got to distract her! Don't let her find what she's looking for! Distract her, then find a way to get rid of her!"

There are two phases to this next encounter. Your goal is to first distract Aslynn from the treasure pile, then to trap her. Fail this and she gets what she wants.

To distract Aslynn from the treasure it seeks - Deception/Performance/Occultism

Perception DC15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Stitch looks around but can't quite pinpoint the sound of that whisper, but nods in agreement just the same. Distract a hag like that? Its gonna take a lot of beer for googles that strong...

Instead Stitch elects to bring up those shadowy minions from earlier, you know, the ones that almost spitted him like a kabob. "Those shadow puffs must have been your minions huh? Did you mold them yourself out of moosh then boil them in that pot? Some voodoo magic to get those red eyes maybe?"

Occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Stitch manages to distract Aslynn. The hag starts following him around (perhaps it's attracted by Meat Wagon's exhaust fumes).

Second part. Someone other than Stitch must come up with a plan to trap Aslynn. Any skill is ok as long as you can make it fit! Need either 2 successes or a crit success.

"Well met, Zykyryz." Bella turns to Khiari and smiles, desperately fighting off an "Alas, poor Yorick" joke. Another potency crystal is nice. Perhaps she can offer it back to Madame Flames.

Rain in Cloudy Day's cry gets her attention, and Stitch's quick thinking gives Bella a moment to consider the situation.

Hmpf. Rhyme. The first of many steps in poetry. A baby step clung onto well after the child has grown to adulthood.

"My my Aslynn, such fine horns."
"Which doctor did such fine work?"
"Straightening costs 1 gold, sharpening a plat."
"Attempts to improve your beauty have fallen quite flat!"
"You're like a gilded sword- shiny at first but ultimately a bore!"

Khiari begins tap dancing, clapping her hooves against the floor in time to Bella's insulting music.

Performance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Aslynn may become too frustrated to continue her search!

Aslynn looks at Bella with ill-concealed hatred, clearly affected by Bella's rhyme. She almost throws a tantrum, taking a handful of coins and hurling them at Bella.

That's one success. You need one more to trap her!

Occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Nicole murmurs gibberish to add an effect on Bella and Khiari's performance, making it as scary as possible for Aslynn. With some exaggerated hand movements and drawing some of her trinkets from pockets, she makes it look as if she is trying to trap Aslynn in another dimension. "Beyond this realm, be gone!" she exclaims with finality.

Perception (DC 15): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Wow, what's with all the nat 1s?

Fran has absolutely no idea where the voice is coming from - possibly her own head? But there's no time to think about it right now with a ghost hag to distract.

I think Nicole's roll is probably enough but just in case...

"Yes, begone...or I'll put a curse on you," Fran whispers, her expression solemn. "My third eye sees all, you know. I know your true weakness and I promise that banishment is preferable to the might of my power!"

Curse Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Nichole murmurs some arcane words that mean absolutely nothing. Aslynn, however doesn't know the difference and shrieks with delight and rushes to the pile of treasure at the center of the vault. "It's here! I can taste it! Come to me, my dearest nightmares!" She rakes through the treasure with her claws, scattering coins and shredding pages. "Where is it?! Where?! I must have it! What have you done with it?!" With a final shriek, she curls in on herself, melding with the ooze from her cauldron. She and the cauldron melt into the floor, bubbling and hissing. The sounds turn to frantic chittering as dozens of rats begin pouring from the ground.

At the appearance of the rats, Zykyryz suddenly goes silent. The skull flashes and proclaims "It pays to use your head!" Suddenly, Bella is more heroic!!

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Fran - AC 14, 19/24; Mister Midnight AC 14, 10/10
Swarm 2
Stitch - AC 16, 30/30; Meat Wagon AC 17, 25/26
Swarm 1
Red
Nicole - AC 18 (19 w/buckler), 22/22
Bella Sidare - AC 19, 30/34 (Heroism - +2 Attack/Perception/Saves/Skill Checks); Khiari AC 18
Blue