DM Brainiac's Season of Ghosts Table 2

Game Master Brainiac

Hooli and Xiung-Lau raise their voices in prayer, and they calm the drowned spirits, causing the hands to retreat back into the water. The leeches remain, though. Kwan Tai brings his hammer down on several of the leeches, crushing them. There are still hundreds more, however, and they crawl all over everybody but Hooli who has moved away, biting and draining blood.

Concealed Li Jie: 1d20 ⇒ 11d20 ⇒ 6

Everybody but Hooli takes 2d6 persistent bleed damage. Everybody may act.

The Nagaji seems a bit put off by lunch trying to bite back!

Li Jie Strides 25' out of the swarm decides to Tank and Quick Bombs the swarms by grabbing a Versatile Vial!
Quick Bomb Acid bomb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 122d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6 Splash 2

And again!
Quick Bomb Acid bomb: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 5 = 172d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 6) + 2 = 14 Splash 2

The Alchemist Commands Blue to start pouring drinks!
We're staying for this buffet!

Blue gives him a Beastial Mutagen!

"I repeat, gross!" Hooli says, snapping her fingers to ignite the leeches before moving away.

◈◈ Cast ignition, ◈ Stride (away)
Ignition spell attack roll: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14 Going to Hero Point it
Ignition spell attack roll: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 2) = 13 Or 4d4 if it wasn't in melee reach

Kwan Tai flails about himself crushing leeches with every swing and stomp in a fighting retreat.

Hammer Time: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Magic Bludgeoning: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 4) + 4 = 15
Hammer Time: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Magic Bludgeoning: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10
Stride away

Bleed: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3
Flat Check to end: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Flat DC 15 Bleed: 1d20 ⇒ 12d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Between Kwan Tai's flattening hammer strikes and the acid and flames, the leech swarms are quickly annihilated.

After tending to your injuries, you settle down to rest in the Bridge Shrine. You awaken feeling refreshed and energized. Additionally, the dippers in the shrine have mysteriously filled with water from the river. You are filled with the strange urge to use them to fill the six delicate clay vials nearby; doing so causes each of the six vials to become a moderate ghost charge.

The shrine has granted you enlightenment. You all gain a +1 item bonus from the shrine to all Reflex saving throws until the end of this adventure.

"I found you a present, Li Jie Qiang," Hooli says, presenting the clay vials.

"But no, no, I appreciate you wanting to throw me a party to say thank you, but we should head to the next shrine."

Li Jie stops. The Alchemist nods in agreement to Hooli.
Nicely found! These will be great against any more ghost we encounter....feels a bit like foreshadowing...

You leave the shrine behind as you continue along the Pilgrim's Path for the second day. As you walk along the shore of Mirror Lake, the overcast clouds begin to grow darker. It will likely rain before too long.

A few hours before noon, Hooli notices danger mere moments before a pair of twisted, broken burls of wood on the forest side of the path suddenly twitch to life, unfolding into vaguely human shapes. The creatures feverishly whisper the word "Kugaptee" as they move to attack!

Hooli may act first!

"Wouldn't it be sixshadowing?" Hooli asks.

Later
"Still no Kugaptees here," she tells the creatures, trying to tell what they are. "Undead trees!" she calls out. "We can probably stab them!"

She lifts her daggers, but starts with her magic instead as she waits for them to get close. Shards of her daggers lash out at the trees before returning to the blades.

Recall Knowledge, cast needle darts
Nature (trained): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Whoops. So much for tactics
Spell attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Piercing: 5d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 4, 2) = 10
Plus 3 persistent bleed in the unlikely chance that was a crit.

Hooli doesn't recognize the creatures. She quickly hurls needles at the closest of the pair, wounding it.

The injured creature opens its mouth wide and lets loose a bloodcurdling shriek! It then moves forward and lashes out at Hooli with a thorny vine. The other creature moves to attack Kwan Tai, biting at the hobgoblin but failing to grab a hold of him.

Thorny Vine vs Hooli: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12
Jaws vs Kwan Tai: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 1) + 4 = 12
Grab: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Everybody must attempt a DC 25 Will save against Piercing Shriek. Hooli takes 12 slashing damage and must attempt a DC 21 Fortitude save against Mandragora Venom. Kwan Tai takes 12 piercing damage.

Mandragora Venom (poison) Saving Throw DC 21 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison damage and stupefied 1 (1 round); Stage 2 1d6 poison damage, confused, and stupefied 1 (1 round); Stage 3 2d6 poison damage, confused, and stupefied 1 (1 round)

Will (expert): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Fortitude (trained): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 1 = 14
Poison: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Sickened by the awful noise and her brain muddled by poison, Hooli retches, spewing up her lunch. Deciding at least her guts, if not her wits, feel better, she lashes out with her daggers.

◈ Retch, ◈◈ Twin Feint (two Strikes, second is vs. off-guard)
Fortitude (trained): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 1 = 24

Fiend's hunger - +1 low-grade silver dagger (agile, finesse, thrown 10 feet): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Piercing / Slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

+1 ghost touch cold iron dagger (agile, finesse, thrown 10 feet), iterative: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 14 - 4 = 19
Piercing / Slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Twin Distraction: Your movements with two weapons are so swift and disorienting that they befuddle your opponent. When using Twin Feint, if both your Strikes deal damage to a targeted creature, the target must succeed at a Will saving throw against your class DC or become stupefied 1 until the end of your next turn.

The Alchemist weeps at the Piercing Shriek.
My drinking days are over! My bane! My nemesis! Oh, how foul the fates forever found wanting!

Will(T) DC 25: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

The Nagaji chokes! Really chokes! It's like his throat is being constricted by a python on meth! Not fun.

The twice Sickened, Slowed Alchemist is going down swinging!
Quick Bombs Versatile Vial! Acid bomb, sickened 2: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 = 182d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 Splash 2

And again!
Quick Bombs Versatile Vial! Acid bomb, sickened 2: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 2 - 5 = 62d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13 Splash 2

Kwan Tai grits his teeth through the auditory assault, his grim determination inspiring his companions to fight on, and he takes that advice himself, plunging the speartip of his longhammer into his assailant.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Fort to reduce Sickened: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 1 = 13

Dread Marshal Stance: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 1 = 21 +2 status to damage rolls for everyone for the fight, and we Frighten 1 enemies on a crit
Hammer: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 16 - 1 = 33
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 + 2 = 15

Will save, DC 25: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 -> sickened 1

◆ Recall Knowledge (I'm guessing Occultism) w/ sickened 1: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 1 = 27

He reaches out and casts haste on Kwan Tai.

◆◆ Cast a Spell: haste

Kwan Tai Haste Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 1 = 15

Only one of Lie Jie's bombs splashes a mandragora. The other one misses entirely. Xiung-Lau uses his magic to speed up Kwan Tai, who steels himself before swinging his hammer. He scores a critical hit, though the evil plant resists bludgeoning attacks. The hobgoblin misses with the backswing. Hooli moves to flank but misses with her attacks completely!

One of the creatures bites at Hooli, but she manages to dodge. The other one attacks Kwan Tai again, this time biting and grabbing a hold of the warrior!

Jaws vs Hooli: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 171d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 211d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Jaws vs Kwan Tai: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 221d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13
Grab: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

13 piercing damage to Kwan Tai and he is grabbed (Escape DC 20). Everybody may act.

The Nagaji hurls!
Fort(E) DC 25, Sickened 2: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 2 = 26

A totally surreal and surprised expression appears on his recently up chucking serpentine face.
Ha! Sickened 1! Baby steps...

The still Slowed Alchemist that still can't ingest any of his fun Mutagens sighs.
Quick Bombs Versatile Vial! Acid bomb, sickened 1: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 = 272d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9 Splash 2

"You're the loudest plant I've ever seen," she tells it, slashing away at the tuber.

She moves away from the creature, but then starts shaking her head, as if something is confusing her.

◈◈ Twin Feint (two Strikes, second is vs. off-guard), ◈ Stride
Fiend's hunger - +1 low-grade silver dagger (agile, finesse, thrown 10 feet): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 Will Hero Point that; 2 remaining
Fiend's hunger - +1 low-grade silver dagger (agile, finesse, thrown 10 feet): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Piercing / Slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

+1 ghost touch cold iron dagger (agile, finesse, thrown 10 feet), iterative: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 4 = 29
Piercing / Slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Sneak Attack: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10
Twin Distraction: Your movements with two weapons are so swift and disorienting that they befuddle your opponent. When using Twin Feint, if both your Strikes deal damage to a targeted creature, the target must succeed at a Will saving throw against your class DC or become stupefied 1 until the end of your next turn.

Fort vs. poison: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 Stage 2: 1d6 poison damage, confused, and stupefied 1 (1 round)
1d6 ⇒ 6

Kwan Tai isn't able to shake off his lingering sickness, but he doesn't even bother to try removing the grasping creature from himself, just choking up on his polearm to impale the nuisance!

Fort to Reduce Sickened: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 1 = 19
Fort to Reduce Sickened: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 1 = 13 ...Fine
With flank
Quickened Strike: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 16 - 1 = 22
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8, 4) + 4 + 2 = 18
Strike: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 1 = 26
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5, 5) + 4 + 2 = 16

Reactive Strike from last round: 1d20 + 16 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 16 - 1 = 32
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5, 8) + 4 + 2 = 19

Kwan Tai pins the mandragora to the earth as it attempts to rise!

Lie Jie hits the remaining mandragora with acid. Hooli flanks it with Kwan Tai and stabs it from behind as the hogbolin impales it with the point of his lucerne hammer, destroying it as well!

As the creature dies, it cries out, "Kugaptee!" one last time before splitting in half to reveal a clot of crystallized blood at its core. The other mandragora died in a similar fashion. Each of these two clots is a fear gem talisman.

Xiung-Lau shakes his head. He motions to the melee fighters. "This seems like a talisman that would be useful for either of you ... Does anyone need healing or rest before we proceed?"

Hooli shivers as the poison continues to run through her. I will need some healing by the time the poison resolves; and I can use the fear gems, but happy to share.

The Nagaji Alchemist readily supplies those in need 2 Healing Elixirs(5) every 10 minutes....
2d6 each

The Medic will also Treat Poison on poor Hooli.
Crafting(E) DC ?: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

After resting and healing, you continue on along the path, moving from the shore of Mirror Lake to the northern bank of the West Sugi River. By noon, the clouds finally reach their limit, and rain starts to fall. The surrounding forest grows more and more overgrown as the path begins to wind upward in elevation.

A short time before sunset, you hear the sound of sobbing coming from a large hollow at the base of a dead tree at the edge of the road ahead, where a young human woman huddles. She is dressed in filthy clothes and clutches a string of beads. Her mournful sounds are interrupted by hiccupping sobs and cries of “Big sister! Where are you? Big sister, help me!”

"Did you lose your sister?" Hooli asks, looking around for evidence of another human -- or more monsters.

The Nagaji Alchemist just stands silently still, expecting at any moment for this innocent girl grows 2' long claws that drip poison....

"Still yourself girl. There is danger about."

The woman sniffles. "My name is Yeri. My big sister is Yuni. She looks like me, but older. She convinced me to sneak out of town to walk along the Pilgrim's Path on a dare to check out the abandoned monastery. But we got separated, and now I don't know where I am! Please, can you help me reach the monastery? I'm sure Yuni is waiting for me there!"

Yeri shivers and pulls her high-collared jacket tightly around her body, but not before you catch a glimpse of a faint scar that curls all the way around her neck.

Li Jie stares blue eyes daggers at the innocent demon in waiting little girl.
Willowshore Lore(T) DC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

He seems a bit edgy....