DM Brainiac's Blood Lords

Game Master Brainiac

Humerus flinches.

Aily thinks the plan is sound, though she worries about the wisdom requirement, thinking "Brains, maybe?" as Humerus pokes the shadow with the bone, she makes sure to stand far away, with her dagger out.

"Those do seem in short supply," Telvir drily observes to Aily.

A slight smile cracks Aily's lips, sparing a glance at Mr. Stanton, before turning her attention back to see what is about to happen

Caraid arches an eyebrow of his own but doesn't say anything.

Ceceka growls approvingly of the plan to present a bone to the obstructing shadows. There is, however, also something else on his mind. "I still insist we ought to burn this place down once we're done with it."

Touching the old bones to the eastern curtain of shadow causes it to vanish! It leaves behind traces of wispy residue that can be collected as a single dose of shadow essence poison.

The door beyond the curtain opens into an enormous ballroom that is the site of a lively scene. Four dancers dressed in finery glide and whirl across a polished wooden floor, illuminated by a grand chandelier alight with candles. A lively gavotte fills the air, skillfully dropping into a minor key. As the music morphs into a mournful waltz, the dancers slow and the scene changes. The floorboards are rotten, with ivy worming its way into the cracks. The chandelier is shrouded in cobwebs, yet the melody urges the graceful dancers on.

The orchestra stage at the north end of the ballroom is in complete disarray, with broken instruments and bent music stands thrown around so much they’ve marred the walls and gouged the floors. An enormous cloud of song and sound whirls on the stage, providing the unearthly music for the ghostly dancers.

"Most curious," Telvir scratches his chin and motions for Smoke to stay back. "I've no ear for music, but something is sinister, here."

Recall Knowledge (Occultism +21, Religion +17): 1d20 ⇒ 18

Humerus scratches his head. "You think so, boss?"

After collecting the poison, she looks into the room. "I think we found the blood of fools." Aily says with disdain, but only after she stops herself from the instinctive sway her body wishes to move to in response to the music.

"Can we dispel the cloud somehow? Something big and heavy..." after a moment of thought, she looks to Humerus as if considering the best way to disrupt it is for Ceceka to toss the skeletal servant into it.

"I might have a solution." Caraid offers, "But that depends on what it wants exactly."

Telvir recognizes the dancers as ghosts and the whirling cloud as a type of air elemental known as a melody on the wind. It is by nature a destructive elemental force, but it also enjoys the beauty of music. If you are able to join the dance and perform admirably, you might win its favor, but if you stumble it will probably invoke its wrath!

Joining the dance dance requires a successful DC 25 Performance or Society check.

dance: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37

When Mr Stanton explains the details about the whirling storm of melody on the stage, Aily frowns slightly, sighs, then without another sound slips into the passing dancers.

With whirling skirts, she spins into the arms of a perfectly tailor gentleman, dipping with grace almost to the floor, then twists out of his embrace to another. Pressing her hands against the gloved hands of a decadent lady in red silks, the two rise to the tips of their toes sashaing in a complex pattern across the polished floor, almost nose to nose despite the flurry of steps their lower bodies are performing.

Each of the four dancers gets a turn with their virtuosic new partner, in her stoic black and white uniform, only decorated with the dash of vivid red peaking out of the backside of her apron.

Aily has a greater dancing scarf!!

Once satisfied that she had mastered each of the participants, she pirouettes to the center of the center of the floor, spinning faster and faster until she simply disappears, appearing seconds later in a full sweeping curtsey to the 'band'

Then she rises, smooths out her skirts, and returns to her place slightly behind Caraid.

The melody on the wind changes its dance every few minutes. In the moments prior to the dance changing, the appearance of the ballroom changes to match the new music. The visual clues are enough for Aily to prepare herself and adapt to the shifting tempo. With her expertise in the art of dance, the rogue acquits herself flawlessly.

Once she has danced with all four couples, the melody on the wind trills a delighted fanfare. A heart-shaped, smiling greater persona mask made from solidified music emerges from its body and floats over to Aily, a gift for her to claim.

This item gives its wearer a bonus to Performance checks for playing music or singing. It also counts as the "heart of joy" needed to dispel the northern shadow curtain!

As Aily's hand grasps the alabaster mask, a soft smile curves on her lips (a very foreign expression on her face for most of the party), as she imagines singing to a little--

Her mind realizes what she is doing and STOPS, a deep frown forming and glaring at anyone who noticed.

"This is Joy. We can use it to go to the north." she announces, before spinning on her heels and heading in that direction.

Touching the mask to the shadow curtain causes it to dissolve into another dose of shadow essence poison. Beyond the curtain is a study. An ebony desk carved with strange glyphs stands against the western wall beneath a small painting of a bald Vudrani man smiling serenely. In the painting, he’s wearing simple robes and an eye-shaped amulet around his neck. The same robes and pendant are displayed on hooks on the southern wall, incredibly old.

Three books are open on the desk. The books are Fasting as Purification, Conditions of the Spirit, and an unnamed text with a key illustrated on the spine. The unnamed book contains several parables about Irori with detailed drawings; the title page has no name, only the words “Illuminated by Balji” in small, precise letters. A strip of fabric in the book includes a parable that goes into detail about vetalarana vampires: their thirst for emotions and memories, their weaknesses, and how they can sometimes inadvertently impart their condition with careless plundering of a victim’s mind.

Skipping a filler fight with animate dreams. This book is the "wisdom of the immortal" that can dispel the southern shadow curtain.

"Wow, boss, that was great. I didn't know you could dance vertically! Up in the air like that, I mean!" Humerus explains.

"Oh, and look, I think we found the wisdom!"

"An excellent find." Telvir flips through the book. "We're lucky to have you with us, Humerus. I imagine you're quite immune to a vetalarana's charms."

"Thanks, boss!" Humerus exclaims. ROTFL!

"Indeed." Caraid agrees drily. He's been eyeing Aily with a new and particular hunger in his gaze ever since her dancing performance.

"You never cease to amaze me." He whispers quietly to her as the others are distracted by the various books. Dusty pages hold less interest to him than the quick or the dead. One very quick person in particular.

"I imagine those books will be enough to open the southern curtain." He posits. "It's worth a try at least. Although how Tavah found all these guardians is... concerning to say the least."

At the whisper, Aily turned her head to pick a stray bit of lint from the skirts, but in truth, it was to hide a brief smile. For further cover, she retrieves the cloak and pendant, performing a quick inspection for anything else of value or interest.

The southern curtain dissolves into a dose of poison, and you enter the final chamber upstairs. The ceiling of this windowless room rises to a dome. Beneath it is a tattered round rug embroidered with overlapping circles of silvery thread. Low shelves around the room’s perimeter display dark-colored crystals, empty incense holders, globules of shimmering shadow, and a few books so old their spines sag.

A familiar hag is here. Iron Taviah sits cross-legged on the tattered rug, reviewing several journals. Unlike the last time you saw her, it is clear that she is now undead. Her skin is pale and drawn over her emaciated frame, her eyes red pits, and her mouth sporting sharp fangs.

She turns as you enter, apparently surprised to see you. "You? What are you doing here?" she asks warily.

"We could ask you the same. Clearly we weren't thorough enough when we dealt with you the first time." Telvir takes a stern tone with the undead hag. "Surely and your master didn't think the Blood Lords would stand for your interference."

"Well, boss, that's a long story. We're looking for a magic ritual to bring all the statue ladies back to life so a medusa can have friends, and then she'll tell us what she knows about this hag we're hunting for a graveknight," Humerus explains.

Sometimes Aily thinks she should remove Humerus's jawbone. But then she realizes it wouldn't stop him from talking at ALL. It would only accomplish him being 95% incomprehensible, making him repeat over and over and over and over, without ever stopping.

Stepping slightly forward, the maid gives a proper dip while holding her skirts, then addresses the Hag "Honorable Sir Seldeg Bhedlis, Knight of Geb, is requesting your presence for a mutually beneficial conversation. We have been sent to gather you."

"Well, boss, that's a long story. We're looking for a magic ritual to bring all the statue ladies back to life so a medusa can have friends, and then she'll tell us what she knows about this hag we're hunting for a graveknight," Humerus explains.

"This is the hag." Caraid explains quietly, managing to keep both exasperation and laughter out of his tone.

"She's a vampire now."

Ceceka hopes Humerus' words have stunned the hag because they sure managed to stun him.

Iron Taviah scowls. "I see. Well, how I came to be here is a long story. When you killed me in my cottage in Axan Wood, the shadows consumed me. But then, I woke up some time later in the miserable state you find me in now. I was in some strange shadow-choked dungeon. I don't know how, but I got the feeling that it was very distant and secure. I was lost and confused. Some of the thoughts of the being that had inadvertently imparted vampirism upon me had merged with my own, and I struggled for a long time to recover my identity from that psychic morass.

"Once I finally arrived here, I learned more about Kemnebi’s history and my own powers by reviewing the old records throughout the manor. If I hopes to prove myself useful to Kemnebi, I must give the chancellor as much information about the his enemies movements as I can. And since you have already shown your willingness to stand in opposition to his plots, then I must drain every last memory from your minds!"

Iron Taviah hisses and bares her fangs!

Everybody but Caraid may act first!

"Whoa, boss, are you sure? I didn't even know you could be a vampire hag!" Humerus exclaims loudly in response to Caraid's quiet comment.

Humerus cocks his head. "Does that mean we wouldn't remember you or all that monologuing, boss? Because I might be OK with that!"

Realizing that the lady boss would probably still remember to complain, however, he decides that maybe he shouldn't let the hag, er vampire, er vampire hag do what she wants. Falling into his fighting stance, he closes on her in a rush, fist slamming into her.

◈ Mountain Stance, ◈ Stride, ◈ Flurry to Grapple and Strike
Athletics (master) to Grapple: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
If successful, 4 bludgeoning damage

Falling Stone, iterative: 1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 19 - 5 = 31
Bludgeoning damage (forceful, cold iron and silver): 2d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 + 2 = 13
Crit? The target must succeed at a DC 26 Fortitude save or be slowed 1 until the end of my next turn.

"This time there will be no coming back for you!" And to show that those aren't just words, Ceceka introduces the hag to the sharp blade of his fauchard.

Actions 1+2) Power Attack | Action 3) enter 'Disruptive Stance' - As long as you are in this stance, you can use Attack of Opportunity when a creature within your reach uses a concentrate action, in addition to manipulate and move actions. Furthermore, you disrupt a triggering concentrate or manipulate action if your Strike hits (not only if it's a critical hit).
Power Attack: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37
Damage: 4d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 3) + 8 = 23

"See how you like stealing these sensations," Telvir weaves a confusing jumble of psychic impressions together and unleashes them on the enemy.

"Smoke, attack!"

Cast synesthesia (DC 29 Will), Command (Stride, Strike)

jaws: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34 for piercing: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 6 = 14

Aily slips into the shadows. gone for a split second before reappearing behind the hag, from the hag's own shadow. Instead of slicing into the woman, she instead slices away at the shadow itself, attempting to remove it from its owner.

dagger: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (6) + 21 = 27

Activate [three-actions] envision, Interact Frequency once per day; Effect Attempt a melee Strike with the gloaming arc. On a hit, you slice away the target's shadow from its body and it must attempt a DC 30 Fortitude save.

Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is enfeebled 1 for 1 round.
Failure The target is enfeebled 2 for 1 minute and drained 1. The target doesn't cast a shadow until it is no longer drained.
Critical Failure As failure, but drained 2.

damage for attack instead of shadow slicing: 2d4 + 7 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 + (4, 1) = 15

Will vs Synethesia: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (19) + 22 = 41

Aily's attack comes up short, but Smoke lands a good hit, even though the hound's teeth don't hurt Iron Taviah much with her physical resistance. The vampire hag resists Telvir's spell. Ceceka delivers a telling blow as he enters a disruptive stance. Them Humerus moves in, grabbing Taviah and pummeling her. His metallic empowered fists seem to be just the thing to get past her damage reduction!

As her wounds quickly begin to heal, Iron Taviah reaches out to rip at Ceceka with her claws, scoring a critical hit! She is unable to follow up on the initial strike, but the touch of her claws causes Ceceka's muscles to seize up!

Iron Claw: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (16) + 26 = 421d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 231d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
Damage: 3d12 + 12 ⇒ (1, 5, 4) + 12 = 22

44 slashing damage to Ceceka. He must succeed at a DC 29 Fortitude save or become paralyzed. The target can attempt a new save at the end of each of its turns to end the effect, and the DC cumulatively decreases by 1 on each such save.

"Good job, Humerus," Aily calls out, truly impressed with the skeleton's ability to be helpful. As much as she misses her sister, the incomparable Mithralline Cort, it's hard to imagine someone being a better companion than the one sent to them by The Shroud. Still, she has work that needs to be done, and can't spend too much time thinking about two of the most amazing undead she's ever had the pleasure of meeting. She sizes up the hag, and then at the last moment switches targets, slashing at Iron Taviah's shadow.

dagger: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (8) + 21 = 29

Activate [three-actions] envision, Interact Frequency once per day; Effect Attempt a melee Strike with the gloaming arc. On a hit, you slice away the target's shadow from its body and it must attempt a DC 30 Fortitude save.

Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target is enfeebled 1 for 1 round.
Failure The target is enfeebled 2 for 1 minute and drained 1. The target doesn't cast a shadow until it is no longer drained.
Critical Failure As failure, but drained 2.

--

"Thanks, boss! This one's pretty tough!" Humerus replies, as he continues to hold onto the hag, crushing her before slamming his fist into her side.

◈ Mountain Stronghold, ◈ Submission Hold (see below), ◈ Flurry to Strike and Grapple
Athletics (master) to Grapple for Submission Hold: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38

Falling Stone, iterative: 1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 19 - 5 = 20
Bludgeoning damage (forceful, cold iron and silver): 2d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8, 8) + 6 + 2 = 24
[ ooc]Crit? The target must succeed at a DC 25 Fortitude save or be slowed 1 until the end of my next turn.
Athletics (master) to Grapple, assurance: 10 + 16 = 26
If successful, 4 bludgeoning damage

Telvir frowns at the hag's resistance to his magic. Noting that the skeleton's blows seem particularly telling, he weaves a silent message to Humerus:

Hit her again! You are doing fine work.
You can use your Reaction to Strike, Trip, Shove, Stride, or Step

Smoke knows his business, and a nod from Telvir sees the hound continuing his attack.

jaws: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22 for piercing: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 5) + 6 = 19
jaws: 1d20 + 16 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 16 - 5 = 24 for piercing: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 1) + 6 = 15

Humerus -- at the instructions from a magic, invisible voice -- hits her again. "Sure thing, Boss Kurgess!" he calls out.

Unfortunately, his instinctive flinch at Smoke's latest attack throws off his aim slightly.

Falling Stone (foreceful, magical, nonlethal, unarmed): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
Bludgeoning damage, cold iron and silver: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12

Caraid watches the combat for a few long moments, weighing up where and how to intervene as he absently weaves magic around his hands. The light grows into an almost unbearable ray and then leaps impossibly fast across the room at Taviah.

Radiant Beam: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 375d10 ⇒ (8, 6, 2, 4, 4) = 24 Basic ref DC 29. Dazzled for a round if fails, 4 rounds if crit failed.

Also attempts to counteract any darkness it goes through and is 120ft long, so I imagine some serious fireworks!

Fort vs DC 29: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22
End of Turn Fort vs DC 29: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32

Ceceka freezes when the hag's claws get to him. While frozen, he continues to fight against the paralyzing effect and eventually, Ceceka breaks free.

Reflex: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Taviah manages to avoid the worst of Caraid's radiant beam. Aily slices at the vampire's shadow but misses. Smoke misses as well. Humerus puts Taviah in a submission hold, weakening her.

Snarling angrily, Taviah attempts to rip Humerus apart! She lands a single critical hit.

Claws, Enfeebled: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 421d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 221d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27
Damage: 3d12 + 11 ⇒ (5, 5, 8) + 11 = 29

56 slashing damage to Humerus after resistance.

"Ow!" Humerus exclaims as the vampire hag shatters his bones. Keeping his feet set, he grabs her again, crushing her briefly, before tossing her aside.

◈ Mountain Stronghold, ◈ Flurry to Grapple and Strike, ◈ Whirling Throw
Athletics (master) to Grapple: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39
If successful, 4 bludgeoning damage

Falling Stone, iterative: 1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 19 - 5 = 23
Bludgeoning damage (forceful, cold iron and silver): 2d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 6 + 2 = 18

Athletics (master) vs. Fort DC to throw: 1d20 + 20 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 20 - 2 = 30
Including –2 circumstance penalty to my check since I assume she's one size larger than me. I throw it 30 feet on a success and do damage (it lands prone on a crit success); on a failure it remains grabbed, though only until the end of my turn
Bludgeoning damage: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1, 4) + 4 = 14

Ceceka flies into a rage after shaking off the paralyzing effect, but his strikes are all anger and zero technique.

Action 1) Enter Rage | Actions 2+3) Power Attack | Ceceka is in: 'Disruptive Stance' - As long as you are in this stance, you can use Attack of Opportunity when a creature within your reach uses a concentrate action, in addition to manipulate and move actions. Furthermore, you disrupt a triggering concentrate or manipulate action if your Strike hits (not only if it's a critical hit).
Power Attack: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24
Damage: 4d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 6) + 10 = 27
129/179 hp, 14 temp hp, -1 ac, +2 to damage from rage

Caraid circles around and implants a powerful mote of negative energy into Humerus. The magic seems to make him all the brighter by comparison and the man radiates an almost palpable aura of life.

It's really quite disconcerting!

Malignant Sustenance. Fast Healing 11 for one minute.

attack shadow: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37

Shadows are slippery, like a bunny of dust under a cot that evades the feather duster with the grace of a drunk fae. But Aily is persistent, slicing until FINALLY the inky black it caught.

Telvir tests the vamprie's resistance to fire.

Cast produce flame, Command (strike, strike)

produce flame: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28 for fire: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 4, 1) + 5 = 17

jaws: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35 for piercing: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 = 14
jaws: 1d20 + 16 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 16 - 5 = 26 for piercing: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10

Humerus keeps Taviah grabbed for the time being, but then fails to hurt her further or throw her. Ceceka and Telvir miss, but Smoke gets a good hit, though his teeth don't seem to harm Taviah much. Aily does a bit better, stabbing her twice from behind.

Freed from Humerus' grasp, Iron Taviah whirls on Aily. She only manages to hit the nimble rogue once, but it threatens to paralyze Aily!

Claws: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (1) + 26 = 271d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 331d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
Damage: 2d12 + 12 ⇒ (7, 7) + 12 = 26

26 slashing damage to Aily. She must succeed at a DC 29 Fortitude save or become paralyzed. The target can attempt a new save at the end of each of its turns to end the effect, and the DC cumulatively decreases by 1 on each such save.

"You are nimble, even in death, hag." Telvir, acknowledging the witch's power, unleashes a barrage of force at her.

Cast 3-Action magic missile, 5th rank

force: 9d4 + 9 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 4, 2, 4, 4, 1, 2) + 9 = 33

Smoke continues to chew at the tough vampire.

jaws: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32 for piercing: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 8) + 6 = 19

"Phew, boss! I was worried she'd start eating all my thoughts, since I heard they can do that. Could you imagine if you couldn't think. Or she knew everything you were thinking? That would be crazy, boss! It would be like as if someone said everything they thought out loud..."

He grabs her again, battering her slightly as he keeps a firm grip.

◈ Mountain Stronghold, ◈ Flurry to Grapple and Strike, ◈ Strike
Athletics (master) to Grapple: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
If successful, 4 bludgeoning damage

Falling Stone, iterative: 1d20 + 19 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 19 - 5 = 16
Bludgeoning damage (forceful, cold iron and silver): 2d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7, 6) + 6 + 2 = 21

Falling Stone, iterative x2: 1d20 + 19 - 10 ⇒ (12) + 19 - 10 = 21
Bludgeoning damage (forceful, cold iron and silver): 2d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8, 6) + 6 + 2 = 22
Crit? The target must succeed at a DC 25 Fortitude save or be slowed 1 until the end of my next turn.

fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17
use hero point
fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

The sting of pain as her flesh opens to the hag's claws is nothing to the icy numbness that overtakes her limbs a split second later. She hates being helpless. HATES.