TOZ's Oathbreakers Die (Inactive)

Game Master TriOmegaZero

Khāṇa steps forward, her nose pinched as the vinegar aroma is not so faint to her, and she tries describing what they'd seen....

Inspired Heal: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 7 + (2) = 12

...although between her comparatively amateurish grasp of alchemy, her slightly foreign sensibilities regarding life and death, and the consequences of aforementioned nose-pinching on her voice, she doesn't do as good a job getting the idea across as she might.

Inspired Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 10 + (4) = 21

"...But enough about that," She unpinches her nose and gives Pemak a shrewd look.

The party can attempt a Diplomacy check as well. Aid attempts are allowed as usual.

Khāṇa shakes her head with fatigue (more emotional than physical - that dodgy assassin was frustrating!).

"Are your walls so thin?" She says, cutting back to Taldane. "I have to cut the others in at some point, you know!"

Inspired Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (17) + 2 + (2) = 21

She looks back at her confederates conspiratorially. "She's got a special offer for those in the know, you understand."

Bluff to innuendo? Is that even necessary: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

She'll explain the situation directly (at least, as "directly" as the Abyssal tongue allows) to Beryx and Naomi (see the "Sense Motive DC 16" spoiler above).

After a brief glance at the shop's wares, she tries probing Pemak for familiarity with hopefully less-common tongues: Necril, Terran, Auran, and Abyssal, in that order.

"You place so much faith in simple wood in a world of magic?" Pemak chuckles, a deep and throaty laugh. "There are simply ways of doing things that outsiders don't always understand."

"In any event, your unfortunate companions have certainly been laid low by a strong poison. You must have staunch enemies for such an act, or run afoul of some conspiracy. Is that Timinic I spy out in the cold? Can I assume this is a Pathfinder matter?"

Linguistics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Hskomoro tries getting the gist of the "secret" conversations, but shakes his head in agreement with Pemak's statement. He pulls a scroll from the case on his thigh. "Thiss sscroll alone would defeat your "ssecret" converssation. It wass sscribed by an apprenticce wizard."

"It might be a sso-called "Pathfinder matter", but it might not. It could be random chancce." Hskomoro puts the emphasis on to imply that it's almost certainly someone with a vendetta against the Pathfinders, but allows plausible deniability to Pemak.
T10 Bluff for secret message: 10 + 10 = 20

"Do you feel that... "professsional bartenderss" are ussing your sstock for thiss?"

Pemak shakes her head as Khāṇa shows off her linguistic prowess, before turning to Hskomoro. "Professionals follow good practice. There are restrictions on valid parties for contractual obligations. And professionals would not use untested formulas acquired without proper compensation. I know of some contractors that have displayed such unprofessionalism before."

In fact, we have a question, are we ready to kill for her property or not? Dark waters, I've already swum in them and I'm not rushing there anymore. He shrugs his shoulders. But if there is no other choice…

"Ah," Hskomoro says with a knowing nod. "Amateursss. They can be more unpredictable than professsionalss. Not jusst to their workssite, but to uninvolved bysstanderss."

He looks at Beryx. "Would you rather missfortune happen to more people?"

You may roll a Craft Alchemy or Heal check to properly describe the poisoning of Bosk and Brandur.

Akkina tries to factually describe how Bosk died, in the precise order of events.

Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

"If you can help us at all figure out who would use such a brazen method of eliminating someone, which I might say, is 'begging' for professional attention, unlike someone who would prefer to retain a low profile and just use a regular poison, we would be in your debt, and perhaps could extend a hand in return to prevent any further... inconveniences befalling unto your shop..."

Diplo trade talk: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Akkina looks around the rest of the Pathfinders, begging for someone with a smoother tongue to step in...

"There is one individual in particular that is proficient with multiple performances, but his work was always lacking in attention to detail. The cleanup after was not up to standards, and so he was unbonded when his natural talents proved not enough to excuse the poor reputation. Ilchok, I believe was his name. Last I had heard, he fell in with other unlicensed workers."

He looks at Beryx. "Would you rather missfortune happen to more people?"

Lesser evil? I don't believe in it. Evil is evil, bigger or smaller...

2 Pemak:

Where can we find this laggard?

"Can you tell us how to reach this Ilchok?" Daenerija tries to ask confidently, but stutters

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"I have made inquiries about his associates. With the work that your friend Timinic has been doing, I believe I can direct you to their hideout. I'm sure Venture Captain Bosk would allow you to use the maps if Timinic asks nicely."

"A shapeshifter would perhaps easily explain the otherwise out-of-character falling out between Bosk and the good dwarf Sergeant, yes? as for using the maps, I doubt Bosk will be opposed, unless he's doing so from Pharasma's Boneyard..." says Akkina, opening the maps and waiting for Pemak to mark the trajectory.

"Ah, so Bosk is dead? And you say Brandur Clovesh did it? That certainly seems out of character. A shame either way. He was well respected in Daggermark, for his discretion."

"A...'clothes-horse in oiled buckskin', you say?"

For the first time in the journey, Khāṇa's Orcish half looks about ready to take over and break something...but her anger is tempered by something resembling relief. "That would do a lot to explain why the bastard's been so hard to...take measurements for!"

She laughs a soft, low, and unsavory laugh; this doublespeak business is absurd - after all, is it so different from simply speaking another language, one that lost its purpose once it became common enough? - but she's beginning to enjoy it for what it is.

Inspired Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (16) + 7 + (6) = 29 I will take the liberty, if I may, of deeming that to be enough to know the following:

Suddenly, though, she slaps her hand to her forehead. "So that's what that must've been back in the Tavern!"

She looks back at the party.

"Perhaps one or two of us should go back to the Dripping Wall...right now? Just to check on the proprietor. Wouldn't want her to, ah, 'slip on the wrong puddle of runoff'!" She declares, followed by a bit more grotesque laughter.

"It hass been an hour. If the hazzard wass already in the bar, Ramyla would have had plenty of time for a quick sslip by now. It might be better to go after the contractorss before they have time to sset up anything more ssubtle, if they feel inclined that way."

Hskomoro watches Pemak mark their maps, comparing the distance to the bar and the hideout. If it was on their way, there was little to lose by checking in, but if it was in the opposite direction...

"How many memberss are in the "club"?" he asks.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"That I have not been able to find out, but it seems they are a small team. Fortunately, their hideout can be accessed from the Dripping Well." Pemak looks out into the street for a moment, before calling out. "If you're looking for oilcloth, I'm afraid I don't have any in stock!"

Sense motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

"We should then approach Dripping Wall with extreme caution. They may have set up an ambush, so let's turn the tables on them. Why did you mention oilcloth?" Daenerija asks

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Remember the bar?"

Hskomoro quickly moves off to the side of the door, drawing his well-polished gandasa.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Akkina casts divine favor on herself, stepping back around the wall's corner.

Inspired Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 10 + (2) = 23 If I had failed that, I'd have deserved whatever happened to me.

Khāṇa barely moves, save just enough to look Pemak in the eye. "Perhaps not, but I think I saw a cartful of fresh moleskin on the way here...must've taken a lot of moles!"

She then looks away from Pemak, and toward...nothing, it would seem. She seems distant for a moment, almost catatonic, as the barely-audible susurrus around her begins to grow louder, including some distinctly audible, but incoherent, voices that sound as if they were not whispering, but shouting, screaming, laughing or crying from a long way off, and small, fleeting lights, like fireflies in a lurid and ominous array of colors begin to flit in and out of being around her....

1 more Necroforensic point spent, for my first-ever use of Whispering Spirits (+WIS insight bonus to AC/saves for 1 minute)!

Outside the shop, a woman stands by the covered stall in the square. The only sign of something being off is her focused concentration on the party, until you notice a single pearl earring that looks familiar. As those that recognized Pemak's warning move to defend themselves, the womans features shift, flesh turning gray and eyes becoming blank orbs as the assassin raises thick claws instead of hands!

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok

Well, I think he might be in trouble with those initiatives. Party is up!

Akkina moves out of the building, drawing her sawtooth sabre. She tests the enemy's defenses carefully.

cold iron masterwork consecrated sawtooth sabre, Fighting Defensively, Divine Favor, Fate's Favored: 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 + 1 + 1 = 23
slashing cold iron dmg, Divine Favor, Fate's Favored: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7
negative energy from charged consecrated weapon equal to half a Channel Smite, Will DC 13 for half: 1d6 ⇒ 4

+2 dodge bonus to AC from fighting defensively; current: AC 24, touch 15, flat-footed 23

Will Save: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Ilchok screeches in pain as the consecrated weapon slashes into his flesh, claws twitching as he prepares to return the favor! Timinic scrambles around the side of the building to cover as combat breaks out.

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 11)

Bold have actions remaining!

Hskomoro returns the stare with one of his own, before leaving the shop and detouring around the nearby well.

Swift-action Hypnotic Stare (mind-affecting, -2 on will saves)

Reaching a flanking position, he takes one two-handed swing with his gandasa.

Attack with flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23
Slashing silver damage (including whetstone and painful stare): 2d4 + 4 + 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + (4) + 1 + 1 = 12

He tries to remember if he'd seen something like this creature before.
Knowledge: Local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Suspect this creature requires Nature rather than Local

Hskomoro recognizes the pale flesh and shapeshifting powers of a doppleganger, explaining Ilchok's ability to perfectly mimic Sergent Clovesh. As his blade cuts painfully in, the nagaji recalls they also can detect thoughts as a spell like ability, explaining the hostile magic he felt.

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 23)

Bold have actions remaining!

Would you be willing to let me 'call in' my Knowledge (Local) roll from earlier?

"I knew it," Khāṇa rumbles; emboldened by circumstance and a need that's been festering for some time now to finally get her hands on this slippery twerp, she charges straight out of the shop, axe held high like a farmer after a stubborn fowl!

"...RRRRAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUGGHHHHHHHH!!!"

masterwork greataxe, charge: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Khāṇa's anger as she carves into Ilchok does not cloud her understanding, realizing that dopplegangers don't normally have an ability to move without leaving a trail, meaning he must have some training that allowed him to avoid her scent. But now, up close and personal, she recognizes his scent from the lodge, the cottage, and even the bar.

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 31)

Bold have actions remaining!

Daenerija surrounds herself with magical protection and joins the fray. She too has now sharp claws.

Cast mage armor and move 30 feet. Free action to grow claws.

Together with his faithful pet, Beryx goes out to the assassin.
Double move for Beryx, no AoO.

Hissing furiously, digmaul tries to hook the enemy pointed out by the master.

Trip: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 (no PA; advantage)
Trip: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 (no PA; advantage)

Tandem Trip (T): Whenever you attempt a trip combat maneuver against an enemy threatened by an ally with this feat, you roll twice and take the better result.

As the party moves in, Ilchok dodges the angry cat, lashing out at Akkina and Khāṇa in return!

Claw on Akkina: 1d20 + 12 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 4 - 3 = 28
Claw Damage on Akkina: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 6 = 19
Claw on Khāṇa: 1d20 + 12 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 4 - 3 = 33
Claw Damage on Khāṇa: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 6 = 14
Confirmation on Khāṇa: 1d20 + 12 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 4 - 3 = 23
Crit Damage on Khāṇa: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 + 6 = 20

His claws dig deep with powerful slashes, Pathfinder blood joining his own in the sleet!

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 34?)
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 31)

Delaying Naomi to keep up momentum. I'm assuming Khāṇa would like to use Defiant Luck?

Akkina winces at the viciousness of his claws... she steps back conjures a bunch of copies of herself.

Mirror Image: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

His claws dig deep with powerful slashes, Pathfinder blood joining his own in the sleet!

I'm assuming Khāṇa would like to use Defiant Luck?

0_0 ... Correct as unclef!*#ing usual, King Friday!!!

Confirmation Reroll on Khāṇa: 1d20 + 12 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 - 3 = 14

Khāṇa sees her life flashing before her eyes as she narrowly avoids a claw to the neck!

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19, 4 Images)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 14)
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 31)

Bolded are up! Ilchok does NOT step into Khāṇa's square, as she is NOT prone and bleeding out. :)

First time I'd ever gotten to use that, either - and scarcely a more auspicious start!

AND, it's the first time I've ever gotten to do this:

The now-quite-visible-and-audible lost souls surrounding Khāṇa begin to blink and vibrate with anger and excitement, some casting faint jeers at Ilchok while others whisper all manner of gossip and observation about Ilchok to Khāṇa, who simply gives her perp a nasty, bleeding grin; she moves to the side with a suspiciously casual manner...

"...A brutal and opportunistic fighter, undisciplined, and not even in a way that knows how to make the most of that...are we looking at a failed Ninja here??...a classic 'cornered rat' type, committed to the notion that the best defense is a good offence, to a practical fault...."

...before striking again!

masterwork greataxe, Studied Combat, flank: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The sorcerer recoils at vicious lashes of the monster, quickly swings at it with her own claws and takes cover behind well 5-foot step.

claw, flank: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 1 + 2 = 21
Slashing: 1d4 ⇒ 4
claw, flank: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 2 = 14
Slashing: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Khāṇa's blow scrapes off of a bony protrusion, not quite able to get purchase in softer flesh, while Daenerija manages to scrach the blank face, eliciting a hiss of pain!

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19, 4 Images)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 14)
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 35)

"Having trouble?" asks Hskomoro of their surrounded opponent, grinning toothily. "Jusst give up."

Swift-action demoralize with Intimidating Glance
Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

To follow that up, Hskomoro feints to the side before flashing his blade through the light coming from inside the shop. His attack is aimed to disable, since it might be a good idea to question this fellow. Sadly, the attack itself was rather poorly-aimed.

Move-action feint. If successful, DC13 Fortitude vs 1r blindness
Feint (only -2 vs non-humanoid): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Nonlethal attack (possibly vs flat-footed or blind AC): 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 - 4 = 9 and damage: 2d4 + 4 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 + (1) + 1 = 9

"Trouble? When I nearly took your friends head off?" The doppleganger blusters, managing to see through the nagaji's trick and avoid another blow.

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19, 4 Images)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 14)
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 35, Shaken)

Beryx is up, and if someone can bot Naomi we can keep going, I'm just not comfortable with her options to make a tactical choice.

Yes. Trouble. Berix snaps his fingers lightly and says whispers words: Polymorph Plague.

At the same time, strange and creepy changes begin to occur with Berix's cat. Long and thin tentacles burst out of the back, which begin to feel the ground. The tail is also greatly lengthened, it seems that now it is another tentacle...

Berix whistles softly and as soon as his cat rushes forward, he takes his sword at the ready to strike when the enemy is surrounded.

+1 Falshion (Power Attack): 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 4 = 212d4 + 10 ⇒ (2, 1) + 10 = 13 (slashing)

Plague Hunter rushes to surround the enemy, trying to deftly avoid possible blows. Its tentacles help to move incredibly and paradoxically changing the trajectory of its muscular feline body.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38 to avoid AoO

Once behind, mutated digmaul tries to hook the assassin with its tail again.

Trip: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 4 = 18
Trip: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 4 = 18

In case the assassin wants to escape, the tail has a 10-foot reach now, so Plague Hunter can try to trip it again anyway.

Beryx manages to carve another gash into the assassin, but he still manages to avoid the trip attempt. "Then I guess I'll have to give you something serious to worry about." Ilchok lashes out at Khāṇa and Plague Hunter with sharp, savage slashes!

Claw on Khāṇa: 1d20 + 12 + 2 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 - 2 - 5 = 18
Claw Damage on Khāṇa: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 Plus 1d4 Bleed
Claw on Plague Hunter: 1d20 + 12 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 2 - 5 = 9

Khāṇa's wound is ragged, bleeding profusely!

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19, 4 Images)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 24, 1d4 Bleed)
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 48, Shaken)

Party is up!

I'm not impressed. And with these words, for the first time since you have been traveling together, Beryx removes the handkerchief from his face. You see a terrible mouth full of dagger-sharp teeth. It doesn't look aesthetically pleasing like vampires and the like. It seems that the fangs grew chaotically, some even sprouted through the skin... It looks just as frightening as the strange disproportionate figure of Beryx himself.

+1 Falshion (Power Attack): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 272d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17 (slashing)
Bite (Power Attack): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 (P/B/S)

Beryx first plunges the blade into the assassin, and then tries to bite him.

Beryx catches the doppleganger with a heavy thrust! "Ow. You're heartless enough to be in the guild." Ilchok dodges away from the nasty bite, spitting blood on the ground. "Even if you stop me, the Ghostknives will destroy you."

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19, 4 Images)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 24, 1d4 Bleed)
11 Beryx
5 Ilchok (Damage: 65, Shaken)

Party is up!

The scary mutant cat, dodging the blow, falls on the enemy with a hissing, growling stream of bites and scratches of claws tearing flesh to the bones. This ends with another attempt to hook the assassin's legs with its tail...

Vengeance Strike: Bite (Power Attack): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 261d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 (P/B/S)

Bite (Power Attack): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 241d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 (P/B/S)
Claw 1 (Power Attack): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 191d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 (B/S)
Claw 2 (Power Attack): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 141d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 (B/S)
Tail (Trip): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 vs CMD
Tail (Trip): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 (PA)

Ghostknives... Good. Beryx is smiling, and that smile could turn any peasant inside out who happened to see it.

Plague Hunter tackles Ilchok to the ground, tearing out his throat with savage bites and claws!

18 Hskomoro
17 Akkina (Damage: 19, 4 Images)
15 Naomi
13 Daenerija
12 Khāṇa (Damage: 24, 1d4 Bleed)
11 Beryx

Combat over!