☠ Season of Ghosts w/ DM rainzax ☠

Game Master rainzax

Use hero point for Reflex save? Low=no, high=yes: 1d20 ⇒ 5
13 damage puts Kazuki at 16 hp. Frightened 1.

Bloodied and gasping, Kazuki stumbles onward, pain burning through every step. Then—suddenly—she's there. Standing at the base of the looming stone tower, as if conjured from the fog of memory, his mother appears.

"Don’t you dare abandon your friends, Kazuki," she scolds, pulling a rolling pin from behind her back and brandishing it with familiar fury.

Kazuki freezes mid-stride. "Mama?" he breathes, eyes wide. He rubs his bruised, swollen face with bloodied hands, disbelief wracking his voice. "No... no. I'm scared, Mama. I want to come home. We're going to die!" His voice breaks, a sob catching in his throat.

Satsumi doesn't soften. She turns and points the rolling pin toward the top of the tower, then back at him with that stern, unyielding look he knows too well.

"No, Kazuki, my son. You’re going to save that girl up there—with your friends. Then you can come home."

Her form begins to fade, dissolving into light and mist. Just before she's gone, her voice echoes—distant, warm, and strong.

"You're in good hands, my son. Your friends care about you deeply. Never forget that. Now, save the girl."

"Mama! Don't go!!!" Kazuki cries, lunging forward—but his arms wrap around cold stone. She's gone. He looks up, breath catching.

Behind him, his friends are coming, running to the tower, their presence a steady force in the night.

He turns back to the tower, places a hand against it—and feels the world shift. This strange dreamscape. Gravity pushes oddly, not down but… sideways. "What the...?" He blinks. Could he walk, or run, up the side?

With a breath of determination, he plants his foot and takes the first step...
Will (Expert): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Omg. Didn't expect that Nat 20.

◆ stride
◆ climb (walk up side of tower?)
◆ climb (walk up side of tower?)

For once Vekka gets the will save :D

1) no hero points
2) frightened 1 (baseline), anticpate from last round raises reflex failure to success, half damage = 6

With more of the team catching up, Vekka pauses to say a short prayer. He's not as spiritual as other members of the community, but it doesn't matter. Kugaptee only needs to hate it.

Religion or Nature to (◆◆) say a short prayer, frightened 1: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 1 = 11 oof

He crouches back down where we is.

◆ Anticipate with DC22 Stealth, frightened 1: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 - 1 = 17

3) HP 36/51, frightened 1

May next rounds rolls be better

I'm just glad I didn't roll a 2.
Sigurd takes 13 damage. 13 damage total so far.

"I SEE YOU, KOLPHANIR!"

Sigurd smiles. It isn't often he gets confirmation from otherworldly evils that his divine ancestor exists. He never lost faith she didn't exist, but...

The distraction costs him his concentration, and the tendrils seep into his armor, tearing into his body and lunging for the heart.

He continues to Stride as much as possible towards the pillar. I Stride to the Yellow arrow for my first action and then straight down with the next 2.

Climbing is no problem for him, but can he keep up with the pillar as it rises?

Lan won't reroll any of the saves. Frightened 1, 13/53.

Standing in the pitch darkness, Lan prays to a god - any god. Except Kugaptee. That guy sucks.

◆◆ Religion, frightened 1: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 1 = 15

He feels a deep sense of peace. Perhaps not salvation, but peace.

◆ Heal (2nd rank), 1-action: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Kazuki is surprised to see that simply placing his foot on the wall, buffered by his strong Will, allows him to treat walking up just like Climbing - up he goes!

Works just like a normal Climb check (just rolling with a different skill and no free hands needed) - Kazuki go ahead and ascend your first elevation check, and roll your second!

Kazuki turns to Sigurd as he stands sideways on the stone tower.
"Hurry! Toss me the heart, Sigurd! I'm going to run up there as fast as I can! I have rope in my climbing kit. I will affix one end up top then drop the other end down."
Before Sigurd tosses the heart (if he wants to!), Kazuki reaches into his pack for his potion of lesser healing. He pops the cork and guzzles it down.
Potion/lesser healing: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 3) + 5 = 9
He sighs softly in relief as a couple lacerations magically heal.

@GM: will it be Acrobatics checks or Will Saves up the tower?

◆ interact
◆ quaff potion
◆ ???

Kazuki - you do not have a new turn yet (undo those actions please) - there is one roll outstanding from your last turn: HERE

"Here I go..."
Acrobatics (T): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Acrobatics (T): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Sigurd nods, then looks to his teammates-

"Where's Lan?" He frowns. "LAN!"

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
The other roll was 32. Plus 29.
61 total.

Lan hears his name from a great distance.

"Get the heart to the altar!"

Lan can hold out for a little bit by making saves and/or Healing himself. I think taking actions to light the torch and then running has a lower chance of survival than staying in place and casting Heal. If he can do both in one round, he should have enough "extra" hit points to light the torch and catch up.

Kazuki stays at the bottom of the rock and awaits his team.

Lan disappears into the darkness, remaining behind.

The party's prayers fail, and...

Both of Kugaptee's eyes appear distantly visable in the sky - he is getting Closer...

Lan? or... Lan?: 1d100 ⇒ 4

"WHATS THIS? A LITTLE COWARD?? FUMEIYOSHI???"

◆) Observe Lan (Effects unknown!)
◆) Terrifying Roar
◆) Lacerating Tendrils

Save vs Fear
Ho Lan's Will Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Sigurd Kolphan's Will Save (DC 22) w/ Tan Sui-Jing's Heart (+4): 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 4 = 35
Kazuki Sato's Will Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Vekka Tchakon's Will Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Basic Save vs Slashing Damage
Auntie Wu's Reflex Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Ho Lan's Reflex Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Sigurd Kolphan's Reflex Save (DC 22) w/ Tan Sui-Jing's Heart (+4): 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 4 = 23
Kazuki Sato's Reflex Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Vekka Tchakon's Reflex Save (DC 22): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Slashing Damage
Auntie Wu: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 4) = 14
Lan: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 6) = 15
Sigurd: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 2) = 8
Kazuki: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 6) = 18
Vekka: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 6) = 19

With Lan out of sight, desperation begins to set in... perhaps one among the party falls prey to the morass of trees!

To Do:
1) Decide if you would like to use a Hero Point for any of those saves
2) Assign conditions / damage as a result of outcomes
3) Declare your end-of-turn conditions / HPs

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

KUGAPTEE'S ANGER

Recall Knowledge (◆) Both spoilers open > LINK
Disable Hazard (◆◆): Slow it by one action (DC ??) from anywhere in mindscape
Disable Hazard (alternate): Return the Heart of Tan Sui-Jing to it's Owner (the corpse on the slab)
Progress: ??? / ???

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Mitigation of Hazard Damage
End your Turn in a Clearing or on Pilgrim's Path: +1c to Reflex vs Lacerating Tendrils
Raise Shield: +2c to Reflex vs Lacerating Tendrils; May Shield Block
Drop Prone: +2c to Reflex vs Lacerating Tendrils
Take Cover while Prone: +4c to Reflex vs Lacerating Tendrils
Anticipate with Acrobatics to Tumble Through the Underbrush (◆, DC 22): Success @ +2s to Reflex vs Lacerating Tendrils (1 round)
Anticipate with Stealth to Hide in Underbrush (◆, DC 22): Success @ Improve outcome vs Lacerating Tendrils by one tier (1 round)
Be in Possession of Tan Sui-Jing's Heart: +4c to all saving throws incurred by the Haunt

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Climbing the Slab (◆)
Athletics, Will, or any Tradition Skill to Climb
If you use Athletics, you need two hands, as normal
Otherwise, you are "walking up" by bending the mindscape to your will, which is functionally identical to climbing, except you do not need free hands
The DC for Athletics is 15, but the DC for "walking up" is 20
Please report your Elevation for each Climb action!

Current Slab Height: 35 feet up!

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Kugaptee
The Party

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

The Party is Up!

Success. 4 damage taken. 17 damage total so far.

"Kazuki, can you climb while holding the heart?" Sigurd needs both of his hands to climb. "If you cannot, I will climb instead."

If Kazuki can climb one handed, Sigurd will spend 2 actions to move to Kazuki and hand him the heart.

Is anyone able to go to Lan? If I don't climb I will go back for him.

Waiting for Kazuki's response...

Success. 4 damage taken. 17 damage total so far.

"Kazuki, can you climb while holding the heart?" Sigurd needs both of his hands to climb. "If you cannot, I will climb instead."

If Kazuki can climb one handed, Sigurd will spend 2 actions to move to Kazuki and hand him the heart.

Is anyone able to go to Lan? If I don't climb I will go back for him.

Waiting for Kazuki's response...

I have the combat climber feat, however, I plan to use Will saves to run up the tower. So, yes, I can carry the heart.

Kazuki would like to Hero Point that reflex save, please.

Quickly, Auntie Wu binds Vekka's wounds. Before Kazuki runs up the pillar, Auntie Wu dashes up to him and slaps a poultice on his wounds, too.

Battle Medicine vs. Vekka, DC 20 (E): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Vekka's Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 7) + 10 = 22

Battle Medicine vs. Kazuki, DC 20 (E): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25
Kazuki's Healing: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 7) + 10 = 22

She glances around, checking who else needs healing. "Lan?! Lan, where are you? Guys, he didn't...? He didn't...? Mogu, do you see him?" The mushroom shifts around on her head, but gives her no favorable answer. Its filaments caress her cheek sadly.

Not frightened. No Hero Point. Success on Reflex save vs. Lacerating Tendrils for 7 damage. New total HP: 34/56.

◆ Battle Medicine, ◆ Stride, ◆ Battle Medicine

Kazuki, battered and bloodied, stands sideways on the tower wall—gravity bending strangely around him. It’s a surreal sight: his body perpendicular to the earth, the laws of nature taking a break in this dream-warped world.

Through swollen, blood-crusted eyes, he squints down at Auntie, who’s briskly smearing a pungent poultice across his wounds.

“Thankths, Aunthie… th-that feelth goodth,” he mutters, his face a bruised and bloated mess, the words barely intelligible through puffed lips.

He glances around, still breathing hard. “Wherth Thigurd? Gimme the hearth… I’ll go up the thower,” he says, legs trembling as he braces himself, hand outstretched and ready for the handoff.

Hey! A round of great saves!

1) no hero points
2) will success so still frightened 1 (baseline), reflex success so half of 19 damage (10 damage) => 26/51

His prayers failing (even in dreams his lack of religious attunement is detectable!), and not hiding very well from the continued thrashing from the trees, Vekka is starting to feel shaky. As defiant as he might like to seem the wounds are starting to build up and really hurt...

Just then Auntie Wu appears and provides some relief. He smiles at her and feels better already. => 48

With Sigurd and Kazuki working on getting the heart up the slab, Vekka tries again, praying against the dream assault and at the end crouches down to avoid more abuse.

Religion to (◆◆) say a short prayer, frightened 1: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 1 = 14
◆ Anticipate with DC22 Stealth, frightened 1: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 - 1 = 19

3) HP 48/51, frightened 1

"You can do this, Kazuki. I will return to find Lan." Sigurd moves up to Kazuki and hands him the heart.

He turns around and moves up from the pillar. "Lan! I'm coming!"

◆ Step up to Kazuki
◆ Hand Kazuki the heart
◆ Stride