GM Rotation, The COREageous Crew

Game Master Pete H.

Ryul's weapon scratches across the surface of his opponent's heavy armour, not managing to find a chink in it.

Paloma and her pet, on the other hand, opt for the brute force approach, reducing the Qadiran corpse to a pile of disjointed bones.

The Kellid warchief moves forward, possibly feeling some faint memory of a life as a hunter, and takes a swing with their club at the cheetah...

Ivory Club: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 for 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 damage.

...but the clumsy blow is easily dodged.

The Osiriani mummy lets out a dry hiss, steps up, and attempts to rend Paul limb from limb...

Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15, for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage.
Claw: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21, for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage.
Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23, for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 damage.
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5, for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 *Additional* damage.

...and does a decent job of doing precisely that, dropping the luckless half-elf.

I also need a Fort save from Paul.

The Awakened Dead, Round 1:

Ryul
Paloma
Proto-Kellid War Chief
Osirion Scarab Seer
Paul (-14, dying; Fort save)
Jack
Bronze Legionnaire
Cortina

Paul and Jack are up!

Fort save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Did the channel have any effect?

Did the channel have any effect?

The channel hasn't happened yet. I posted the action Cortina will take on her turn.

@Paul: Cortina is correct. If it is any consolation, even if she had gone, that damage would *not* have been enough to down the one that hit you.

Jack quick draws his greatsword, moves up, and wallops the Orision mummy two handed.
greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 slashing: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 = 13

Jack charges forward and takes revenge for Paul, splitting the Osiriani mummy in two, lengthways.

The Brone Legionnaire attempts to club Ryul with the longsword gripped in its rotting hands...

Longsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14, for 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 damage.

...but the clumsy strike is turned aside by his armor.

Cortina then strides forward and channels...

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10.
Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6.

...causing the bones of the Kellid War Chief to burn away, as if in a pyre, whilst simultaneously scorching the flesh of the rotting legionnaire.

Fhaldon then starts singing.

The Awakened Dead, Round 2:

Ryul
Paloma
Paul (-14, dying - needs Stabilisation for round 1, and potentially round 2)
Jack
Bronze Legionnaire
Cortina
Fhaldon (Inspire Courage active)

Ryul, Paloma, Paul x2, and Jack are up!

After causing the mummy to be beside itself, Jack steps into flank with Ryul and attempts to do the same thing to the Legionnaire.
greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20slashing: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 5) + 6 = 15

Thanks to the flank, Jack just *barely* finds a chink in the legionnaire's armor, splitting his torso in two.

Combat over!

One other body was on display in this room, and did not animate: A Mwangi warrior, his body preserved in hot mud, stands against the wall of the exhibit hall. In his hands he clutches a bone-handled kukri with a jade-carved blade.

Knowledge(History) to know more.

Still need some stabilisation checks from (and healing for!) poor Paul.

With no further threats, Ryul moves over and attempts to apply a tourniquet to Paul…

Heal to Stabilize: 1d20 ⇒ 19

…exactly where necessary, stopping him from bleeding out.

”Anybody got potions or magic healing or wands or such?”

He looks around in the room for anything that may be of use on this mission. Maybe one of those bone and obsidian blades that defeats the monkey demons.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Paloma reached down to scratch Cheeper between the ears and offer her a meaty treat for a job well done. Then she joins Ryul beside the fallen rogue. "I can help, a little." She placed a hand over his brow and softly muttered her incantation.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Her mouth twists ruefully and her brow furrows at just how little help it is. "He is quite badly hurt, still." She said, stating the painfully obvious. I think that brings him to zero... =/

Knowledge(Geography): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 Possibly for some nugget of info regarding the weapons, if they left any behind?
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

That does indeed bring Paul to zero... assuming he passed his first stabilisation check (otherwise, he will be stable at -1).

Unfortunately, the only relevant check at this time is Knowledge(History).

Paloma does not spot anything unusual.

Searching the corpses of your fallen foes reveals a MW Ivory Greatclub, a MW Alchemical Silver Scimitar, a longsword, and a suit of bronze half-plate.

All are pitted with age, but still serviceable.

Having done all she could for Paul, Paloma retrieves the silver scimitar from the wreckage of bones. "These must be property of the Museum, but they surely would not begrudge us their use while we strive to lift this fell curse." She said as she affixed it to her belt.

Hopefully Cortina can get him on his feet.

Hang on a tick mate. He rummages through his kit but draws a blank.

Aw b*gg*r. I KNEW there was something I was supposed to do before this.

Faldon ceases his song, murmuring and humming just a bit, and it seems to the others that they can still almost hear the song...
Lingering Performance: Song lasts 2 additional rounds after he stops singing

"Sorry, no healing, wand or otherwise from me, yet. Going to have to work on that next time we're near a shop, methinks. Cortina, can you help him?" the Bard calls over to Ryul and the dwarf while making his way over to where Paloma was surveying the gear in the wreckage of ancient bodies.

Faldon says, "Here, let me see some of those...I wonder what era these might be...". The dark-haired young man is soon lost in his examination of the literal armory of weapons and armor left behind by the undead creatures.

Knowledge(History): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Regarding the mud-covered warrior that did not animate, Fhaldon recognizes him and his kukri as being from the ancient Jambala Jaeg tribe...

The Kukri is MW, and may be especially effective against Tik Taan idols...

Over on the north wall, a doorway is marked as 'Employees Only'... although the frosted glass door that once blocked it has been smashed to smithereens.

Faldon gives a low whistle as he examines the unmoving figure. "These are from the...what was it? Jambala Jaeg tribe, I think. Really old. That blade of his is extremely well made..."

First stabilization check: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 1 - 4 = 16

Paul stabilizes quickly on his own.

Faldon gives a low whistle as he examines the unmoving figure. "These are from the...what was it? Jambala Jaeg tribe, I think. Really old. That blade of his is extremely well made..."

Paloma nods to the bard's assertion. "Best to bring it along then too. That is the tribe that worked against the cult that created the fell figures. We may have need of it if we locate the idols."

She moves to the broken glass doorway and peers inside, tossing her lighted bullet in if it were too dark to see. Cheeper follows as always on her mistress' heels, scenting the air for signs of further danger.

Paloma Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Cheeper Perception + Scent: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Paloma won't go through the doorway until we get Paul's condition resolved, just seeing what can be seen/heard/smelled through the open doorway. Is the broken glass a hazard, GM?

Paul regains consciousness slowly. "What was that thing? I didn't get a good look at it before it knocked me out."

2d20 ⇒ (17, 19) = 36

Neither Paloma nor Cheeper notice anything unusual from beyond the doorway.

The glass is not a hazard - I would have warned you if it was ;-)

"Paul, you're still badly hurt! Let me help you."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Really, dicebot? Really? :-/ Two consecutive ones for CLW on the first mission where we cannot buy a wand first? I'll use a channel, then...

Channel to heal: 1d6 ⇒ 3 Oh, come on! >:-(

"There, that should help."

Question: Shall I use my last possible CLW or my last channel - or leave Paul at 7/10 for now?

Faldon takes the bone-handled kurki so that it's not forgotten, then chuckles and mutters, Huh. Can't believe I almost forgot to do this..."

The bard then says quietly, "deprehendere magicae" and casts his detect magic cantrip, glancing at the kurki, and then around the room.

For effect, by the way, all of Faldon's incantations are simply the spell's name in latin.

Nothing magical.

Paul regains consciousness slowly. "What was that thing? I didn't get a good look at it before it knocked me out."

"Nasty, it was." But then from what Paloma remembered about the mummification process, perhaps it was inevitable that it's victims woke up on the wrong side of the sarcophagus.

It did be the Terribad! And on we march in Rookie ignorance, lol!

Question: Shall I use my last possible CLW or my last channel - or leave Paul at 7/10 for now?

No offense to Paul, but I don't think the GM is throwing dice because Nigel is planning us a surprise party >.< We might all need healing in a minute.

She nods to the Rogue again, "Are you ready to go on, Paul?" At his assent, she drew her newly borrowed silver scimitar and readied her shield before preceding the others into the offices.

Will move 20' into the room once I get the ok to proceed.

Paul nods, sheathing his rapier and readying his shortbow. "I'll keep back a bit, if you don't mind."

Stick behind me mate

The party starts to move into the offices...

The door to this chamber was once a pane of expensive frosted glass, which now lies in broken shards on the floor. Within, several desks lie overturned, papers in disarray, and chairs smashed to kindling. A sturdy steel cabinet sits against the back wall, its doors much battered and dented. The mist here roils near the floor and ceiling, creating a strange patch of visibility stretching from knee-height to a few feet overhead. The smoky tendrils flow up and down the walls unnaturally and savage visages swirl to life, fanged mouths agape, before dissolving into mist once more.

As Paloma and her cat cautiously move into the room, two dishevelled figures drop down from the ceiling, let out animalistic howls - they once seem to have been middle-aged human scribes, based on their ripped and damaged clothing, but they have been horribly warped by something - both now look like ape-man hybrids, and have an utterly crazed look in their eyes as they attempt to pummel Paloma!

Slam (Paloma): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 + 2 = 15, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 damage.
Slam (Paloma): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 2 + 2 = 19, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage.

Paloma takes a pair of brutish love-taps.

To be transparent, that was a surprise round - tactics have them dropping from the ceiling to flank-attack, and they have a Stealth modifier of +23... so with my rolls earlier, neither Paloma nor Cheeper noticed them :-/

Paloma: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14.
Ryul: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12.
Jack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20.
Paul: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5.
Cortina: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15.
Faldon: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6.
Kadarnik and Yannis: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17.

Monkey Madness, Round 1:

Jack
Kadarnik and Yannis (-, -)
Cortina (-)
Paloma and Cheeper (-7, -)
Ryul (-)
Faldon (-)
Paul (-3)

Jack is up!

As soon as combat starts, hoarse, panicked screaming starts emanating from a metal cabinet at the back of the room, one that has several fist-sized dents in it...

Jack swings at the one with yellow tinged skin.
greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 slashing: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12

Monkey-fied scribes not being known for their heavy armor, Jack's sword strike cuts into the flank of Yannis, dealing a solid blow.

Kadarnik attacks Paloma again...

Slam: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 damage

...but misses.

Yannis turns their attention to the one that hurt them, and punches at Jack...

Slam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4, for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 damage

...but lacking any formal training, his blow is quite telegraphed, and easily dodged.

Monkey Madness, Round 1/2:

Kadarnik and Yannis (-, -12)
Cortina (-)
Paloma and Cheeper (-7, -)
Ryul (-)
Faldon (-)
Paul (-3)
Jack

Party is up!

Cortina touches Ryul Dathana lightly on his chest, invoking Desna's blessing. Ryul gets Bit of Luck. Then she 5-foot-steps to the side to give him space to attack. "Now hit that thing, Ryul!"

Bit of Luck: Until Cortina's next turn, each time you roll a d20, you may roll twice and take the more favorable result.

Jack strikes again (Yellow)
greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 slashing: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11

Darn. That sword is getting so heavy, he nearly drops it.

The elf steps in to take double advantage of the blessing and tactics, bringing his sword in a downwards slash.

ECB + Flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 = 26
ECB + Flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9

for Slashing: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Crit?: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15
Crit?: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 24

for Crit Damage?: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Ryul comments, ”I didn’t expect Deana to be so deadly.”

*Desna

Teeth gritted from the pain of the blows she received, Paloma raises her shield and steps out of the flank, motioning Cheeper to attack the foe.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 4 = 19

Then she slashes the monkey-man with her borrowed silver scimitar.
MW Scimitar attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24 S Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Confirm?: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 22 S Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Paul waits, arrow on the string, for signs of life from the enemies.

Delay.

Cortina infuses some of Desna's luck into Ryul.

Paloma steps out of the flank, and then she and Cheeper go to town on Kadarnik.

Claw Confirmation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19, for 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage.

Incredibly, despite a nasty hit from the scimitar, and being comprehensively mauled by Cheeper, the monkey-fied office drone remains unconscious, albeit well and truly bloodied, and prone on the ground.

Ryul, on the other hand, guided by an uncharacteristically blood-thirsty Desna, deals a horrifying blow to Yannis, dropping the man.

As he collapses to the ground, mist flees his body like steam from a boiling pan, and his simian features disappear - leaving a balding, middle-aged man on the verge of death.

Paul stays out of harms' way.

Jack, with so many people all around him, has trouble landing a decisive blow.

Monkey Madness, Round 1/2:

Kadarnik and Yannis (-21; Prone, -30; Dying)
Cortina (-)
Paloma and Cheeper (-7, -)
Ryul (-)
Faldon (-)
Paul (-3)
Jack

Faldon is up!

Given that combat isn't over I think Cyan is both prone and conscious.
Oops, ninja'd... Cortina appears to agree.

The bard pulls out his rope, "Here, maybe we can tie that other one up..." All the while wracking his brain over what he'd just seen from the deceased man. What the hell was that mist, and the face?? Some illusion?

Knowledge:Arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"Stay down!" Paloma growled, not wishing to slay the unfortunate man, but unable to stand down until the threat was quelled.

Turning in soon, so posting my Round 2 action if it comes to it. Again, will call the cat down and stabilize as soon as he slips unconscious.

Can we stop these guys from dying now they're human again?

@Jack Hurricane: Only one of the 'monkey-fied office drones', Yannis, is back to normal (and dying). The other one, Kadarnik, is seriously wounded and prone, but still monkey-fied...

Can we stop these guys from dying now they're human again?

Cortina will channel to heal as soon as it's her turn and Kadarnik is also unconscious and human again. That will heal (and stabilize) them and our injured party members as well. We'll need a scarf for each of the poor folks, too - at least until we have moved them out of the mist.

@Paloma: You could make your AoO - and your round 2 attack - non-lethal by taking a -4 penalty to the attack roll. Then Kadarnik will definitely survive.

Seeing the brutal effectiveness of Desna's blessing, Cortina cries out:

"Don't kill the poor souls! Just knock them out!"

Desna isn't as blood-thirsty as you think... ;-)

You called your sword Desna? says a rather surprised Jack. Dunno what the real Desna would think of that.

Unfortunately, the scenario does not give me a specific way to tell the PCs anything specific, but...

Faldon is sure that whatever this is, it is not an illusion; these poor souls have been transformed. It might be something like a transformative curse, but then again...

What would you like to do with your action?

Realizing what's going on in the office, Paul stows his bow and draws a sap. "I can knock them out if I can get in there!"

Paloma will take Cortina's suggestion and deal NL damage for the AoO, the -4 will balance out with the modifier for being prone. But back to lethal for round 2 if he makes it back to his feet. Will still call Cheeper down as soon as the man is out.
Also it is storming today, so we might lose power. =/

Unfortunately, the scenario does not give me a specific way to tell the PCs anything specific, but...

Faldon is sure that whatever this is, it is not an illusion; these poor souls have been transformed. It might be something like a transformative curse, but then again...

What would you like to do with your action?

Seeing the jumble of figures between him and the prone man, Faldon draws his bow and notches and arrow, pointing it at the 'man-ape' lying on the floor. Pointing the business end at his foe, the bard says, "The lady said Stay down. and I suggest you do just that, sir." To the others he adds, "As I said, I have rope. We could secure him."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Faldon will hold his action until the ape-guy tries to get up, at which point he'll fire an arrow at him.

Despite being prone and surrounded by foes, the remaining ape-man is so hyped-up that he utterly ignores Faldon's attempt at intimidation...

...and when he foolishly stands up, is brutally knocked back down, this time into unconsciousness.

As he collapses to the ground, mist flees his body like steam from a boiling pan, and his simian features disappear - once again leaving a middle-aged man with pallid skin that obviously doesn't go outside much, on the verge of death.

1d20 ⇒ 5

Meanwhile, the puddle of blood around the other one continues to grow larger...

Monkey Madness, Round 2/3:

Kadarnik and Yannis (-34; dying, -31; Dying)
Cortina (-)
Paloma and Cheeper (-7, -)
Ryul (-)
Faldon (-)
Paul (-3)
Jack

Party is up.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 4 = 22
Paloma quickly gives the signal to call Cheeper down and the cat sits back on it's haunches, panting. Then she begins to lick her paws, cleaning away the blood.

Paloma drops her shield beside her and reaches down to touch the dying man, casting stabilize to keep his life-blood from ebbing away. She then exhales a shaky breath and fishes a meaty treat for Cheeper from her pouch. "Good girl, well done." She croons as her head swivels, searching for further threats.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Still a bit wary that we're still in initiative... Hopefully we're just marking time for the dying museum employees. Kept it to free actions, one standard and one move, just in case.

Only keeping you in initiative because you indicated that you wanted to stabilise/heal them, and they are reasonably close to death, so without your intervention, they are very likely to bleed out.

There is also the metal cabinet from which screaming was emanating - with the end of sounds of combat, it has quietened down to a soft whimpering.

Ransacking the offices uncovers a few items of interest:

In particular, Paloma finds scraps of Mwangi cloth inscribed with strange writing. The cloth (made from beaten bark) is quite ancient, and its original inventory tag states that it was cataloged along with “Tik Taan Idols, courtesy of Lugizar Trantos”

I need a Linguistics check to read it... or a Comprehend Languages spell, of course!

In a sack labelled 'museum expenses' in one of the desks, you also find 500gp.

Leaving the healing to those more capable than he, the rogue strides past the rest of the party to the cabinet. "Master Aldain, is that you?"