Doug's Enmity Cycle (Inactive)

Game Master Doug Hahn

trip Holly: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Miss

Zeph raises her trusty shield, Strides forward and flicks the mace at the huge janni.

trip Holly: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
B: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12

Clonk.

Holly hurts the cultist. His friend tries to trip the champion who's in his face.

Trip: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
Trip: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 12 - 5 = 20

On the second attempt, he pulls her legs out from under her! Tripped

☀☀☀
The right-hand janni Round 1

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Seddek (-12 HP) │ Enlarged (huge, clumsy 1)
Cultist 2 (-0 HP) │ Reaction used (remember, they trip)
Zephrena (87/87 HP) │ Prone
Eleanor (86/86 HP)
⠀⠀Holly (86/86 HP)
Cultist 1 (-15 HP) │ Reaction available (remember, they trip)
➤ Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Xavier (42/42 HP)
➤ Rhys (88/88 HP)

"Bloody hells..." Rhys mutters, casting lightning at the biggest threat.

2 Action Elemental Blast on Seddek: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Electricity Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 = 8
1 Action Elemental Blast on Seddek: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 5 = 17
Electricity Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Barker hits the strings, and once again a music feeling hearts with fear can be heared. The harmony of haunting tunes sounds lound and clear

But then he looks at the cultist "Why are you standing in our way! Feel the pressure of my words! By slashed by every sentence that I say!"

Biting words@cultist1 lvl 2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Damage, sonic: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 3) = 14

Rhys's blasts miss, the first one is rather close.

Barker's biting words make the cultist blush and his ears bleed.

______

Seddek looks around, and decides to swipe at the prone target.

Scimitar vs FF, cover: 1d20 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 17 - 1 = 31
S, Block: 2d6 + 12 + 4 - 10 ⇒ (4, 6) + 12 + 4 - 10 = 16

Scimitar vs FF, cover: 1d20 + 17 - 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 17 - 5 - 1 = 23

Scimitar vs FF, cover: 1d20 + 17 - 10 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 17 - 10 - 1 = 22

He only manages to hit the champion once, and she blocks some of that damage.

Cultist 2 attacks Holly…

3d20 ⇒ (17, 9, 7) = 33

His razor-sharp whip slashed Holly but once.

S: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

☀☀☀
The right-hand janni Round 2

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Seddek (-12 HP) │ Enlarged (huge, clumsy 1)
Cultist 2 (-14 HP) │ Reaction available (remember, they trip)
➤ Zephrena (71/87 HP) │ Prone
➤ Eleanor (74/86 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Holly (74/86 HP)
Cultist 1 (-15 HP) │ Reaction available (remember, they trip)
➤ Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Xavier (42/42 HP)
➤ Rhys (88/88 HP)

With gritted teeth the gnome gets up to her feet, luckily she is short and its not a long trip. She hefts her shield and strikes the knuckle head right in front of her. Zeph is ready to use her reaction to help her comrades.

*Stand
*Shield
*Attack

Melee Attack 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
flickmace 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10

Holly's vines swirl and twirl as nature gives back a beatdown to humanity. Target #2

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 7) + 4 = 19

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 15 - 5 = 15
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 2) + 4 = 14

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 10 ⇒ (6) + 15 - 10 = 11
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 1) + 4 = 12

◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike

Zeph knocks the cultist upside the head, making him stagger.

Not to be outdone Holly's vines decapitate her target! Blood everywhere! The vines then lash at the other cultist but to no avail.

Cultist 1 slashes at Zeph…

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
S: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 After block 10 damage

The scorpion whip wraps around the champino's throat but she pushes it away with her shield! Crit, but not much damage

Attack: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 13 - 5 = 21

Attack: 1d20 + 13 - 10 ⇒ (1) + 13 - 10 = 4

☀☀☀
So many crits Round 2

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Seddek (-12 HP) │ Enlarged (huge, clumsy 1)
Zephrena (61/87 HP) │ Reaction used
Eleanor (74/86 HP)
⠀⠀Holly (74/86 HP)
Cultist 1 (-35 HP) │ Reaction available (remember, they trip)
➤ Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Xavier (42/42 HP)
➤ Rhys (88/88 HP)

Barker keeps on playing his instrument, keeping the enemies afraid.

Biting words@cultist1 lvl 2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage, sonic: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 2) = 10

Then Barker tries to recall what he may know about Seddek

RK: Lore: Bardic +10 with Loremaster's Etude to roll twice and take higher

Shifting focus, Rhys tries to remove the annoyance from the fight.

2 Action Elemental Blast on Cultist: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Electricity Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 = 13
1 Action Elemental Blast on Cultist: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 5 = 13
Electricity Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 5) = 7

Barker makes the cultist feel terrible about his demonic life choices for just a moment before Rhys's electric blast superheat his eyeballs and them like grapes. Dead.

Seddek laughs. They are all weak. Not me!

He steps forward and brings the hurt on Rhys, aiming for the neck:

Scimitar, cover: 1d20 + 17 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 17 - 1 = 35
S: 2d6 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 12 + 4 = 25 Crit for 50, -8 for Champ reaction

Zeph reacts, protecting her ally and giving seddek a glimpse of what might have been, a life where he never met Zridi

Scimitar, cover, enf. 2: 1d20 + 17 - 1 - 5 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 17 - 1 - 5 - 2 = 18

☀☀☀
So many crits Round 3

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Seddek (-12 HP) │ Enlarged (huge, clumsy 1, enf 2)
➤ Zephrena (61/87 HP) │ Reaction used
➤ Eleanor (74/86 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Holly (74/86 HP)
➤ Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Xavier (42/42 HP)
➤ Rhys (88/88 HP)

Barker keeps on playing and then barks at Seddek

"You don't have the heart! You don't have the will!"

Bitting words@Seddek: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Damage, sonic: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 4) = 18

Then he asks Xavier to join the fun

Punch: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Damage, b: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (6, 2) + 7 = 15

Dirge of doom, Biting words, command Xavier (move and punch)

"Is that why he wants mine?" Rhys coughs, floating back on the winds and launching lightning at the massive target.

2 Action Elemental Blast on Seddek: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Electricity Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7
1 Action Elemental Blast on Seddek: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 5 = 26
Electricity Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

Round 3
Zeph’s smile is back. Just the big guy remains… she thinks to herself. Out loud she cries Sheylin’s name as she brings her weapon around once, twice to attack.

*shield
*attack
*attack

Melee attack 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
Flickmace 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9

Melee attack 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 15 - 4 = 24
Mace of Flicking 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 8) + 4 = 16

Eleanor sits back in shock as Eleanor whips her deadly tendrils around. She smiles at having created such a strong plant. "A little more sunlight and you will be even biger."

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 15 - 5 = 17
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 7) + 4 = 15

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 10 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 10 = 21
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 = 12

◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike

Barker whiffs, and so does Xavier. But they make Seddek afraid. And afraid he should be as Rhys fries him in the face with a blast of ligntning (crit), then scorches him more. Zeph whacks him upside the head (crit) and then again. Eleanor's Holly lashes out, slashing the janni thrice!

Seddek still stands, but there is fear in his eyes. He quickly chants a spell and vanishes. Invisibility.

He's easy to track, being so large, floating through the doorway…

☀☀☀
So many crits Round 4

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Seddek (-104 HP) │ Enlarged (huge, clumsy 1), Invisible (50% miss chance flat DC 11)
➤ Zephrena (61/87 HP)
➤ Eleanor (74/86 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Holly (74/86 HP)
➤ Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Xavier (42/42 HP)
➤ Rhys (88/88 HP)

Barker stops playing and reaches to his belt pouch, he takes out a scroll and reads out loud. Seddek is sprinkled by colorful bubbles making him visible.

Taking out scroll of Fearie fire and casting it

Eleanor rests her weary bones letting the plant wreak havok. She looks around a moment to see if any of the others need any assistance.

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 15 - 5 = 28
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 8) + 4 = 15

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 10 ⇒ (8) + 15 - 10 = 13
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 4) + 4 = 15

◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike

The gnome smiles and laughs a little as Barker comes in prepared with a good spell.
Keeping her shield up, she strikes.

Melee attack 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
Mace 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 1) + 4 = 13

Melee attack 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 4 = 13
Mace 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 1) + 4 = 11

Throwing another blast, Rhys takes a great risk, launching himself over Holly to dash through the shimmering space of the djinn.

1 Action Elemental Blast on Seddek: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Electricity Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Lightning Dash Damage: 2d12 ⇒ (10, 10) = 20

bot flat checks for players: 2d20 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

Holly's strike misses thanks to concealment, but Zephrena ends the Janni's miserable existence.

As you heal up his invisibility wears off, and he shrinks own to medium size. Going through his gear you find a murderer’s knot, a +1 striking scimitar, composite shortbow with arrows.

______

Valls, speaking for the group applauds your efforts. Now, strike Zridi! We heard her talking about a theater in which to stage her warped Enmity Cycle,m but there are literally hundreds of theaters in town. Normally we have a good pulse on what's happening in the city but we've been cooped up here for weeks. You will have to ask around and find out which theater she's holed up in.

You can shop before the last part of the module. And while doingn so I neeed a Gather Info check or use a lore to talk shop with local artists or artisans.

Zephrena is in a good mood and she cheerfully chats with people while out and about. She tries to find information about which theatre Zridi might be using.

Diplomacy/Gather Info 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

DIplomacy to gather info: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Barker asks around about Zridi

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Having had a short rest Eleanor is full of energy and heads out to talk shop and look at all of the artsy pieces.

Eleanor hears two things… first, gossip from a theater council meeting in a café and then something notable about Zridi from a merchant:

“Something odd did happen at the last council meeting, or I should probably say didn’t happen. Samir and Amina, a married couple who are both actors, have been coming to every meeting for the last fifteen years. And what do they want, you might ask? To plead their case for the completion of the renovations to the old Riversong Theater. It might be historical, but if you ask me it’s not worth the trouble when there are so many theaters already in the city. It was strange they didn’t show up, though. I hope they’re okay.”

“I had an encounter with that Zridi once. I was selling scarves in the market: really beautiful Osiriani work, you know. Well, this middle-aged Garundi woman comes to the stall wearing a fashionable white and silver outfit. Very sharp. She began looking at my wares, and I pulled a beautiful crimson scarf from behind me and held it out for her. She looked at me like I had shoved a viper in her face, screamed obscenities at me, and stormed off. I was dumbfounded. Later I learned her name was Zridi and she’s some kind of merchant and patron of many artists. Well, I guess artists all have their quirks right?"

Barker listens to the gossips that Eleanor heard and goes to buy himself crimson Doublet, maybe it is the color that made her mad, who knows.

"Don't I look bloody awesome in it?"

"Two more actors are missing?" Eleanor looks worried. "What is happening here? Perhaps we give this Zridi a visit?"

The story about the crimson scarf jogs a memory for Eleanor. All these div cultists… pairaka divs possess an esoteric weakness—they cannot stand the color red! They even discard valuable rubies because of their color.

Pairakas are an embodiment of corruption and disease that sabotage the relationships and links that make up a community. They specialize in manipulating human sexuality and taboo desires. Eleanor might blush but she got the feeling Valls and his two artist friends were all in love with each other. Not only are they working on art together, but they are a "thruple" as the younguns tend to say. Their unique and somewhat taboo relationship, along with their "anbarit" about bringing together community in all of Thuvia, would be irresistible for a pairaka div. What a thing to corrupt!

Eleanor remembers Divs are weak to cold iron and good. Pairakas become enraged when they see the color red, and stories say they have a compulsion to attack anyone wearing that most hated color.

Barker however has heard tales Divs hate gold, and are weak to silver and good.

______

Zridi is in the Riversong theater, likely completing a twisted ritual that is th Enmity Cycle..

You have to end this before it's too late! Based on this info let me know if you want to make any other purchases

Barker listens to the gossips that Eleanor heard and goes to buy himself crimson Doublet, maybe it is the color that made her mad, who knows.

"Don't I look bloody awesome in it?"

The gnome’s eyes light up at the sight of the gnoll’s new doublet. She gives him a nod of approval.

She looks to the rest of the group. Barker and I are dressed for Zridi. Is everyone else ready?

You head to the theater, which stands along the river.

A remarkable amphitheater is carved out of the limestone, oriented so an audience would face the river to the east. Three sets of stairs provide access to each row of the weathered blocks that form the seating. Three statues of winged, eagle-headed lions stand watch atop of the hill. Eleanor notes that the statues don't fit the style of these ruins.

Society: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

"Looking at the architecture it is clear that it was build around 1,000 ar."

Says Barker wondering "I am not really sure why I considered it important to share that detail..." There is a crit success spoiler to uncover ;)

Eleanor too purchases a small bolt of red cloth to cover her head from the sun's torturous rays.

Society: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Good eye Barker." Eleanor looks around. "This place is quite old. Old enough only the elves would remember it. These statues stand out a bit though. Don't they?"

Society 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Zephrena looks at the building and shrugs her armored shoulders. Yes, its an old building. She hefts her mace and heart shaped shield. Lets go kick some beotch’s teeth in.

Society: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"Yeah, what Zeph said."

As you discuss the architecture the "statues" snap their wings, and shriek! The creatures were disguised as statues but you can see their cold-eyes glitter with life and intelligence, the great wings spread as the leonine creatures swoop in for the attack.

Two of the creatures swoop in!

The one that launches first shrieks as it flies in.

DC 22 Fortitude save. Faiure deafens you. Any creature that attempts a save is temporarily immune for 24 hours.

Barker tries to counter perform this effect —

Barker's Performance (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

You can choose to take this result, which means you are deafened for 1 round. If you crit succeed yu are unaffected.

The creature then Pounces at Holly!

Pounce: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
P: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9

Zeph reacts, negating most of the damage.

The other winges beast flies in, pounces the champion, and then slashes at er with its claws.

Pounce, Beak: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Claws, Agile: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 4 = 30
S: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 7) + 4 = 13

Its claws rend her armor.

☀☀☀
The flying "statues" Round 1

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Flying creature 2 (-0 HP) │ Enf. 1
Flying creature 3 (-0 HP)
➤ Eleanor (86/86 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Holly (84/86 HP)
➤ Zephrena (74/87 HP)
Flying creature 1 (-0 HP)
Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀Xavier (42/42 HP)
Rhys (88/88 HP)

Holly recoils a bit as the creature's beak strips into her fiberous stalk. Her vines lash out swinging at all angles as they sweep through the air. Their ends creating small sonic bursts like a whip.

Target #2

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 1) + 4 = 12

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 5 = 13
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 7) + 4 = 19

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 10 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 10 = 9
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 = 11

◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike

On one hand the gnome is pissed that her armor is being torn up. Yet on the other she knows that is exactly what armor is for. Her smooth soft skin is nice and intact. With a cry to Sheylin she hefts her shield and scuttles around her foe. (Hoping to be flanking on the next round). She strikes

* Shield
* Stride
* Attack

Melee attack 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Flickmace 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6

I assume you want to focus fire, let me knwo which number enemy you're attacking if possible.

Focus-firing, you do some damage to the stony-skinned creature.

The last one divebombs at Zeph, who in setting up a flank is also flankable!

Pounce, Beak: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Claw: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Both attacks skitter off the champion's thick plate.

☀☀☀
The flying "statues" Round 1

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Flying creature 2 (-24 HP) │ Enf. 1
Flying creature 3 (-0 HP)
Eleanor (86/86 HP)
⠀⠀Holly (84/86 HP)
Zephrena (74/87 HP)
Flying creature 1 (-0 HP)
➤ Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Xavier (42/42 HP)
➤ Rhys (88/88 HP)

Barker tries to understand what they are as he plays a frightening don't

deafened, dc5: 1d20 ⇒ 19 dirge of doom+ rk about 2, to twice take higher bardic lore +10

Than he commands Xavier to join the fight

He moves towards the wounded bird and strikes

Fist@2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

bludgeoning: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 1) + 7 = 9

Shaking his head as he floats sideways, Rhys joins the pile-on the wounded bird, lightning dashing through before throwing a blast of chill air at it.

Lightning Dash on 2: 2d12 ⇒ (4, 11) = 15
Elemental Blast, 1 Action: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Cold Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

2d20 ⇒ (19, 1) = 201d3 ⇒ 1

Barker knows these are hieracosphinxes. They look stony because they have some kind of alchemical salve applied to them. They have a daily contingency spell where if they take an energy type of damage they get quickened. #1 has is set to cold based on puffs of frost coming off its claws. To get the others you need to crit succeed on a RK, each one specifically.

ref: 1d20 ⇒ 4

After getting blasted i the face and zapped, #2 flies away.

#3 pounces the kineticist, then claws twice.

Beak pounce: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Slashing: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (4, 10) + 4 = 18 36 doubled -8 from champ = 28 damage.p

Claw: 1d20 + 15 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 4 - 1 = 27
S: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 = 12

Claw: 1d20 + 15 - 8 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 15 - 8 - 1 = 18

☀☀☀
The flying "statues" Round 2

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Flying creature 3 (-0 HP) │ Enf 1
➤ Eleanor (86/86 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Holly (84/86 HP)
➤ Zephrena (74/87 HP)
Flying creature 1 (-0 HP) │ Cold = activates quickened
Barker (74/74 HP)
⠀⠀Xavier (42/42 HP)
Rhys (49/88 HP)

Round 2

Sheylin’s champion cheers as #2 flies away. Grinning fiercely she hefts her shield and moves two spaces north to engage #3 with the kineticist.

* Shield
* Stride
* Attack

Melee attack 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17
Flick’em Off Mace 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 7) + 4 = 13

Holly tumbles forward as one of the hieracosphinxes fall. Its vines lash inot another before it can kill its companions.

Target #1

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 5) + 4 = 14

Tendril Strike: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 5 = 24
Damage (Sonic): 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 6) + 4 = 12

◆ Holly Stride
◆ Holly Strike
◆ Holly Strike

Holly lands a crit, snapping the hieracosphinx's wings. It too flies off. You're able o chase off the final one without much trouble.

By their perch, you find a bag of three statue skin salves.

After healing and refocusing you head into the theater.

A wide stage area stands two feet above ground level of the amphitheater. A half-completed mosaic shows a black half circle rimmed with silver. Along the sides of the stage are a number of ancient columns, some banded with metal carved with gleaming symbols.

Farther back on the stage, more decorated columns rise from the ground. Heavy black-and-silver curtains hang between several of them, barely moving in the breeze.

Wooden construction scaffolding covers the farthest end of the stage. Ropes, pulleys, blocks of stone, and tools are scattered throughout the space, a sign that some very recent work has been done.

Between the columns stand several inactive clockwork dancers — they looks exactly like Xavier, your once-decapitated clockwork friend. Their dead eyes stare sightlessly into the theater.

You approach.

Stage floor
The stage floor is painted with a strange black half circle rimmed with silver.

Columns

Metal bands on columns

Stage
Eleanor's Religion (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Columns
Zephrena's Religion (T): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Metal bands
Eleanor's Occultism (U): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Barker's Bardic Lore (T): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

______

Eleanor looks at the mosaic; it's an incomplete religious symbol of Ahriman: a Black and silver eclipse!

Zeph investigates the columns and is disturbed to realize the carvings re those associated with divs.

Finally, Barker uses his bardic knowledge to determine that the symbold on the metal bands are for magic involving music.

This is th eplace of an insidious ritual, likely the place where the Enmity Cycle is to be enacted.

As you contemplate this, Eleanor notices that the mechanical dancers' eyes are watching you with ill intent. You know Xavier can wallop a punch, so you probably don't want these dancers doing the same to you.

Before they activate, you have a moment to try and disable them this is a complex hazard.

You can use Engineering Lore, Thievery (Expert), or sell me on something else. Dc is 23/21 for lore.

"We must move quickly and cautiously. Disable those mechanical automotons before they rise." She tries to talk cally, waving her companions into positions that don't cause the mechanical constructs to shift too much while also trying to keep them calm.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

"Not sure how well they've been maintained, might be some automated routines we could activate." Rhys tries to spot any safety triggers or shutdown switches that might allow the automatons to be neutralized quickly.

Crafting: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Hero Point Reroll: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Engineering Lore 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

The gnome quickly recognizes the threat of multiple clockwork threats. She moves to disable drawing on her engineering knowledge.