GM Jhaeman's "Dawn of Flame, Chapter Four: The Blind City" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Hani fires away (I have to hit at some point...).

to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
damage, E: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Jin's upward strike splits the creature open and should surely have killed it! But somehow, it stays alive and goes into a crazed battle frenzy! But another doshko swing lops off its head, and Hani blasts the corpse just to make sure it doesn't get up.

It's dead (even with Ferocity). Good work--that thing was dangerous! We are off Initiative.

Relieved that Jin is okay, Zharis slips the Stabilize gem back into her bandolier.

She backtracks to the corner where she can see the previous room, and she shoots that camera as well.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

... If there were others laying in wait, she didn't want them to be able to tell when they were coming.

Then she says to Jin

Honestly, we should rest. You and Hani could use it... I mean, we could all use it, really. Nib said they were here for the tablet... we're the ultimate target, not them. I'm worried about her as well, but they're holding them as bait, trying to draw us in. They aren't going to kill them yet. ... And if there are more of those things, we need to be in top shape. Plus, if they've been watching us on the cameras, maybe a little bit of time will help them not know when to expect us.

Medicine: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29 - 12 hp
Serum: 7d8 ⇒ (3, 5, 3, 1, 2, 4, 6) = 24
36 hp total to Jin. No serums left ))

Tulgram, bandaging Jin's wounds, throws a frown at Zharis. No shelter can remain unnoticed forever. They are not in a some maze there, but just hid somewhere at the reception. I mean, there aren't many places to hide. If cultists are looking for them, they will be found. And if they are found, it will be bad. Duergar clearly restrains himself so as not to grumble but to speak as politely as possible.

A classic dilemma, and great RP fodder. What do those of you who haven't weighed in yet say?

Thanks for the healing sauce, I'll definitely start carrying a couple dozen serums from now on - quite the jump in damage dealing at this point of the plot

"It will be all for nothing if the client is taken out or captured - we do not have the resources to track them down." Jin flashbacks a bit to his previous work in a militaristic setting. His frenzy wears out. "We should at least scout ahead and see what threat is left - if it is only one or two cultists, I... We can take care of it".

Hani is in favor of moving forward. He's also hopeful that they have defeated all of the cultists, at least any within this building.

"This eel would have been much more effective if it had support. I expect the last of the cultists are gone, else they would have been here." Xylian drones. The orocoran had not said anything about the eel before, so Xylian assumes the cultist brought it along as some kind of shock troop. He hands Jin some healing serums and reloads his carbine.

Xylian has a few MkI serums left.
Serum MkI: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Serum MkI: 1d8 ⇒ 3
8 HP to Jin/

Zharis shrugs and follows the group, even though she disagrees with the decision.

That's if they were able to control this thing, Xylian. Maybe it would have eaten them as well as us - they just let it out and closed the door. Ah. By the way... Tulgram quickly takes out a pair of syringes and takes the material in several places of the dead monster's body - at the eye, in the mouth and somewhere under the fin. Great, later I'll study whether there was a difference in the DNA from the usual species. And returning to the question... Heh! I hope there's enough of us for one more damn fight!

Having made the brave but dangerous decision to continue on immediately, the group leave the laboratory and enter an area they visited previously on their search for the phenotyll--though this time, they enter from the opposite side. Passing through the dispensary, they reach the rubble-strewn reception area. Acrid smoke still lingers in the air from the blast, but no one--allies or enemies--is visible.

Okay, you've circled around so you could enter the reception room from the far side. Where to next?

Just to clarify, the little yellow circles are simply reminders of rooms you've been to. Only one of the rooms so far has had an active camera, and you've destroyed it.

With nearly indetectable whirs, Xylian's shoulder mounted carbine elevates to point up the stars, the laser sight sweeping sweeping over the steps and railing. ~~ Nib and Otlo should be upstairs. ~~ He broadcasts telepathically. He laments the loss of the drone they had been lent by the institute. Perhaps he should build one to replace it.

Indicating with a gesture that he will go first, Tulgram carefully approaches the stairs and begins to climb it. At the same time, of course, he looks around for traps and so on.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Xylian follows Tulgram. The two doctors going first might give the tired Hani a Jin another moment to catch their breath. Tulgram is also easier to shoot over than Hani.

Per: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Jin joins in the Perception efforts, moving up the stairs:

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Zharis poses for the camera as she climbs the stairs at the tail end of the group, looking determined, but with a touch of faintly dubious. She knew how the plot would go. They were going to regret not resting, and the audience would know they should have listened to the pahtra.

... Not to worry of course, because they would miraculously come through anyway. They were the heroes, after all. But it was good to get some drama in there, so the audience would wonder if one of their favorite cast members was going to be lost.

As the group start moving up to the next floor with the lead scientists in the front, a ysoki suddenly scrambles out from under the stairwell! Dressed in the same white-and-gold armor as the other cultists of Azathoth, she grins as her hands start crackling with electricity! "Die unbelievers!"

The DC to spot her and act in the Surprise Round was pretty high (DC 31), and no one made it. We'll now move on to regular Initiative.

Initiative (Round 1)

Hani
Zharis
Tulgram
Jin
Xylian
Cultist

Bold may go!

An image of this ysoki is on the left side of the map.

The stairs aren't difficult terrain, but the ysoki is blocking the bottom end. Those of you halfway up can jump over the railing without penalty, but the two of you near the top would need to make an Athletics check to avoid some falling damage and landing prone.

Zharis is surprised that she was proven right so quickly, but here it was. She doesn't have time for much, so she turns around and lashes out with her claws.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Slashing Damage: 1d3 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 (Note: this is lethal and non-archaic, not the same as a traditional unarmed strike)

Things that are likely relevant: +5 Electricity Resistance and 1d6 electricity damage to anyone that does melee weapon damage to me, or touches me. (armor upgrade)

<I did upgrade my attack and damage numbers along with my BAB for the level up. Also chose a feat (biometric implants), but that is as far as I got.>

Having just leveled up, Hani is in somewhat better shape with a few more SP, HP, and one more RP. He might make it through this combat, though he may fight defensively oof and on if it goes longer than a couple of turns. In fact, he'll start with fighting defensively until we know if there are more cultists.

Staying close to Zharis, Hani heads down the stairs to engage the ysoki cultist. Arriving at his position, he stoically withdraws into his shell, daring the cultist to try to hit him.

Move action to get next to Zharis, as shown on map. Standard action to go total defense, giving Hani +6 to AC. 25 EAC/27 KAC.

Hah, an anthropomorphic cat tears an anthropomorphic rat with her claws, what a joke! Tulgram teleports a pistol into his hand and shoots a needle at Zharis. Catch it! It will help ye. Then he drops the gun and grabs the pole back into his two hands again. Looking in front of him and not at the stairs behind, duergar seems to expect that they will be taken in a pincer.

Zharis: +1 enhancement bonus to AC for 6 rounds

Zharis' claws tear into the cultist. In addition to the pain, a look of shock comes over the ysoki. "Hey! You're Zharis Incandenscia from the casino show! Now I'm sorry you have to die!"

Meanwhile, Hani and Tulgram move down the stairs to support their felinoid ally.

Zharis' attack hit. Xylian and Jin are up.

Jin jumps down the stairs, spinning while in the air, landing with a pose:

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Then he moves around the cultist, and, flanking with Zharis, strikes:

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. EAC: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30

Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (5, 6) + 13 = 24

Zharis' brain freezes a little bit. She was mauling a FAN? She keeps a smile plastered on her face though, and says

I'm sorry too. I'm glad you liked the performance, and I wish you weren't intent on killing us. You seem like a nice person, otherwise.

If she could leave the poor, misguided soul alive, she would, but they needed to neutralize the threat.

She wondered if she should say more for the camera, but then Jin jumped down with a theatric spin and a pose, and she was distracted from her speech.

She smiled at Jin

Well done!

Jin dramatic leap and powerful strike catch everyone by surprise. Instead of springing a trap, the ysoki has only trapped herself!

Jin's attack hit in a very cool scene to imagine! Xylian, it's your go.

Xylian takes careful aim with his ice blaster and lets fly! But the ysoki is just too nimble to hit!

Botting Xylian as attacking. The attack missed (even with the ability to ignore 4 points of cover).

@Everyone: If you haven't updated your botting instructions/rolls on your Profile page in a while, it's a good idea to do so just in case.

subzero ice carbine vs KAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
damage (C&P): 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The ysoki grunts in pain from the flurry of attacks, but the dangerous gleam of zealotry is in her eyes. "Fools! The tablet must be destroyed, and the Eshtayiv contained forever! But if my words won't stop you, this will!" Darting to the side of the stairs, a jagged bolt of electricity begins to shoot from her palms!

The ysoki is doing a guarded step and then attempting to cast a spell.

@Zharis, this provokes an AoO from you. We'll wait to resolve your AoO before I detail what happens if the spell goes off.

Zharis somewhat reluctantly lashes out with her claws again at her murderous admirer.

Attack (AOO): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Slashing Damage: 1d3 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 (lethal/non-archaic)

With cat-like reflexes, Zharis is too fast for her murderous admirer! Intense pain from deep scratches disrupt the ysoki's concentration, foiling her attempt to unleash a lethal magical blast.

Zharis' attack hit, disrupting the spell.

Initiative (Round 2)

Hani
Zharis
Tulgram
Jin
Xylian
Cultist

Bold may go!

Tulgram again teleports pistol into his hand, shoots a needle at Jin and again intercepts the pole in two hands. He still doesn't believe that this ysoki could have been stupid enough to attack them alone.

Jin, +1 to AC, 6 rounds

Jin approaches the wizard and tries to connect another attack:

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. EAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (4, 5) + 13 = 22

Zharis delays till after everyone else has taken a shot at the Ysoki.

--If she is already down, Zharis makes sure she is stable, wanting to spare her life.

Uses spell gem of stabilize if needed.

--If she is not down, she slashes at her again.

Attack (AOO): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Slashing Damage: 1d3 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 (lethal/non-archaic)

Hani steps forward, then strikes at the cultist with his pulse gauntlet.

to hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

The fearsome melee continues! Disgruntled by her foiled spell, the ysoki still has the wherewithal to duck under Zharis' claws and hop to the side to avoid Hani's punch, but she's not fast enough to avoid Jin's doshko!

Jin hit, but Zharis and Hani missed. The foe is still fighting, though definitely getting worn down.

Xylian is up.

Perhaps Xylian is afraid of mice?
Ice Carbine vs KAC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Xylian can't connect, giving the wounded ysoki a chance to retaliate against the group. She turns her attention back to Zharis: "Even your beauty must succumb to the implacable forces of entropy!" The cultist's hands turn deathly black as she reaches out, but the pahtra sees it coming and leaps back just in time!

The ysoki is casting inject nanobots, a spell that does not provoke an AoO. The spell requires a melee attack vs EAC, which missed. She then does a guarded step back.

Initiative (Round 3)

Hani
Zharis
Tulgram
Jin
Xylian
Cultist

Bold may go!

"Yes, your companions said the same." Xylian informs the lightning mouse before finally landing a shot.

Ice Carbine vs KAC (Ignores up to 4 AC from Cover): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
P + C Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (8) + (4) + 6 = 18

As the ysoki steps away, Hani follows.

using guarded step feat to move as shown on map. Hani's turn incoming in a separate post.

Hani optimizes his defenses against his foe.

Using calibrate defenses to get a +1 AC for the turn against the ysoki.

Once again, Hani strikes out with his glove.

to hit vs. KAC: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
damage, B & So: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

The force Xylian's icy projectile slams the ysoki into the door of the restroom behind her, fortunately throwing her out of the way of Hani's powerful swing!

Xylian's attack hit and Hani's missed. One more good hit might take this foe out!

Zharis, Tulgram, and Jin are up.

I'll wait for Zaris and Jin.

Jin moves up for a clearer strike:

Aurora Storm Doshko vs. EAC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Electricity damage: 2d8 + 13 ⇒ (1, 4) + 13 = 18

The tight spot is obviously screwing up his damage dealing.

Although the tight space makes for an awkward angle, Jin still manages enough power in his doshko swing to knock the ysoki out!

Jin's attack hit, and we are off Initiative.

Good work! I know she seemed easy, but if she had rolled higher on initiative and gotten that first spell to work (a 10d6 line effect), things could have turned out badly.

Zharis checks to make sure she is still alive. ... A fan who called her beautiful deserved a chance to turn her life around.

Then she searches her and takes all her stuff.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

(ha. if she can find any of it.)

Still at the top of the stairs, Xylian covers the second floor with his carbine.

Perception to stand guard or whatevs: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Hhaa! Duergar spits on the floor (to do this, he lowers and raises again life support system on the armor) and is ready to move on, carefully looking for traps and ambushes.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

As Zharis searches the unconscious body of her fan, Xylian watches the second floor carefully and covers Tulgram's advance.

Given the close quarters, Xylian draws his still unused dueling sword. ~~ There is a pool of fresh blood up here. I see four doors. ~~ He telepathically broadcasts.