Oathbreakers Are Dying In Your Closet!

Game Master I'm Hiding In Your Closet

k. religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8worth a shot...

[=k. religion]1d20+6worth a shot...

Try Knowledge (Nature).

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

The mercurial creature seems determined in its pursuit of Walks with Giants, leaping onto the long table he's trying to run past...

claw, Power Attack, Favored Enemy, higher ground: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

...but losing enough momentum in the process that its blow is stymied by Walks's armor.

Timinic steps out, a crazed but otherwise inscrutable expression on his face, and wards himself with an intense field of sparkling static.

ROUND 1.5:

Salron, Rosla
___________________

DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla!
___________________

Walks with Giants (-15), Cara, Tempestas, Timinic (shield)

Tempestas moves towards the not-Ramyla and takes a swing.
longsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Finding himself cornered, Walks is forced to take a defensive posture (fighting defensively for a +4 to AC) and then tries to step away.

If it insists on attacking him, he is going to make it hard.

Cara moves up and reaches out to touch Walks and heal his wounds.

clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

it provokes...so...yeah...i was gonna channel but i think that's being a cheese weasel type of moveto avoid the AoO...

Rosla hustles back and jumps on the table to get into a flanking position with Tempestas.
She purposely provokes an AoO with her movement before she jumps (see map). I count on her Mobility feat (+4 to AC vs. AoOs) to not get hit. ;-)
Also, with her +11 to acrobatics there is no need to roll for the vertical jump, right?

She then spins around and tries to stab not-Ramyla right in the face.

MW cold iron Elven Leafblade, flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 2 = 26 (+1 if higher ground counts)
Piercing OR Slashing: 1d4 ⇒ 3 I choose piercing this time.
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Total: 6 piercing damage

I really hope I can sneak attack this thing!

A leafblade? Cool!

it provokes...so...yeah...i was gonna channel but i think that's being a cheese weasel type of moveto avoid the AoO...

Are you talking about your wand-use (because I'm pretty sure that DOESN'T provoke - which is great because healing wands can be weaponized against undead!), or your movement? If the latter, could you please indicate how you moved? Assuming all is in order and you're right about provoking...:

Tempestas's halfhearted (or perhaps just terribly, terribly confused) swing gets nowhere near the shapeshifter.

Walks with Giants, meanwhile, is actively trying to be nowhere near the shapeshifter.

Cara trusts to Sarenrae (or perhaps is just letting grief get the better of her) and opens herself wide to the creature's flailing claws...

attack of opportunity, Power Attack, Favored Enemy, higher ground VS Cara: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

...which indeed leave a long, hideous slice down the side of her neck and midsection. She's managed to halfway-close Walks's wound, but at the price of receiving an even worse one!

Rosla catches up with the foe, brazenly inviting its bloody ire in the certitude that she is quicker than it is...

attack of opportunity, Power Attack, higher ground VS Rosla: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

...and she is right, and repays it with a painful prod in what is at least currently its back!

Suddenly spoiled for (or is it overwhelmed by?) targets, the shapeshifter attempts to continue its apparent vendetta...

claw, Power Attack, Favored Enemy, higher ground VS Cara: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

With one claw it stabs Cara right in an artery and lays her low! With the other, it...

claw, Power Attack, Favored Enemy, higher ground VS Walks: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

...gets distracted by a sudden, gurgling, squishing noise from the backroom as Salron is carried off by some horrible entity (He must've consorted with the WRONG grimoire..!). Speaking of strange and occulted beings...

"How DARE you treat my FRIENDS so SHAMEFULLY!" Timinic suddenly bellows from behind, his prior self-loathing finally overridden by something a little more...productive? He runs the longer way around the bar.

ROUND 2:

Rosla
___________________

DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla! (-6)
___________________

Walks with Giants (-8), Cara (-29, dying!), Tempestas, Timinic (shield)

Not on MY watch

Tempestas slashes at it again. ((Is he actually in flank? I'm assuming not since Rosla is on a table, it's on the bar and Tempestas is on the floor)
ongsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Walks retreats a step so that he can target the shapeshifter and not his friends and blasts it with a DC 14 color spray.

When Rosla hits the enemy she uses the opportunity (an immediate action - isn't that just a swift action when it's on my turn?) to quickly study her target and deal more damage. +1 damage

A slayer can study an opponent he can see as a move action. The slayer then gains a +1 bonus on Bluff, Knowledge, Perception, Sense Motive, and Survival checks attempted against that opponent, and a +1 bonus on weapon attack and damage rolls against it. The DCs of slayer class abilities against that opponent increase by 1. A slayer can only maintain these bonuses against one opponent at a time; these bonuses remain in effect until either the opponent is dead or the slayer studies a new target.

If a slayer deals sneak attack damage to a target, he can study that target as an immediate action, allowing him to apply his studied target bonuses against that target (including to the normal weapon damage roll).

stabilization: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Sorry for the delay, this would've gone up yesterday, but had other things to do...

Tempestas is just not used to fighting things on tables. Maybe he should use a fork.

Cara gets just a bit closer to Sarenrae...

Walks with Giants strikes back with some of The Lights Fantastic...

...but it just happens to have turned its head into something resembling a block of wood at just the right moment, and is completely unfazed!

ROUND 3:

Rosla (Studious)
___________________

DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla! (-6)
___________________

Walks with Giants (-8), Cara (-30, dying!), Tempestas, Timinic (shield)

@DM: Not-Ramyla should be at -7... the immediate action studying applies the bonus damage... well, immediately. ;-)

"I will destroy you!" Rosla stabs at DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla again.

MW cold iron Elven Leafblade, Studied Target, flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 18 (+1 if on higher ground)
Piercing OR Slashing, Studied Target: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 I choose piercing.
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Total: 6 piercing damage

Sounds like a retcon to me, but OK (I get that the PbP format can make certain actions more of a PitA.

Rosla barks a little bit worse than she bites - but she does manage to take another bite!

The shapeshifter hops off the table...

Acrobatics to avoid AoOs, but I'm not sure it's necessary: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

...and resumes its assault on Walks with Giants.

claw, Power Attack, Favored Enemy VS Walks with Giants: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Critical threat...: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
OHHH THE HUMANITY!!!: 2d8 + 20 ⇒ (3, 5) + 20 = 28

Consider the action paused; please see Discussion.

ROUND 3...?:

Rosla (Studious)
___________________

DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla! (-13)
___________________

Walks with Giants (?!!?), Cara (-30, dying!), Tempestas, Timinic (shield)

stabiize: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Tempestas starts looking angry. He moves in for the flank and swings.
longsword: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 = 21 slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

But wait! That is not what REALLY happened...!

*DOODLY-DOODLY-DOODLY-DOOOO....-theremin noises-!*

When Ramyla first shows up, she is audibly and visibly drunk.

When she melts into a mercurial shapeshifting thing, that thing seems to be just as intoxicated, and it shows in its fighting - and a drunken master, it ain't!

It still manages to carve a great, bloody gash through Walks's midsection, but it's a bit less bloody; it wobbles its way onto the bar in pursuit, and certainly does not fare any better in its next attack; the long, hideous slice down the side of Cara's neck and midsection isn't quite so deep, and its next attack against her merely pricks her artery rather than slashing it open, and its follow-up against her is an embarrassing failure, leaving Cara just conscious enough to resort to her trusty healing wand...

Cara's wand of cure light wounds on self: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cara, I assume you'd use a wand for the sake of not provoking, but if you'd have instead wanted to attempt defensive casting for a slightly stronger healing spell and no wand expenditure, you may.

...meaning it stays put (save to step away from the pincer-maneuver Tempestas and Rosla had it in) and aims for a killing blow to Cara's neck, only for her heavy collar to save her life - or at least grant it a moment's reprieve.

She is in grim condition...but an errant ray of warm sunlight passes through the tavern's window and alights on her unconscious cheek.

One down, the shapeshifter finally turns its attention to Tempestas...whom I've taken the liberty of moving you to your original position. You may redo your turn if you wish.

claw, sickened, Power Attack, higher ground VS Tempestas: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

...against whom it could have scored another nice blow, if only it weren't quite so drucking funk.

Timinic, meanwhile, lopes onto another table, loathing in his crazed eyes; he reaches out toward the creature, his arm suddenly stretching to an unnatural length!

shocking grasp, Long Limbs: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
electrical damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 2) = 11

Timinic's revenge takes the form of frightful green electrical burn!

ROUND 3: Once More With Feeling!

Rosla (Studious)
___________________

DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla! (-24)
___________________

Walks with Giants (13/19), Cara (-9/25, SAFE!), Tempestas, Timinic (shield)

Ooooo weeeee woooo ((Dr Who Theme))

Tempestas attempts to strike back with both weapons
longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 slashing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
shortsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 piercing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

You know how your brain can suddenly jump tracks and your imagination can take over? For a second there Walks contemplates how dangerous being a Pathfinder can be and pictures being eviscerated by the clawed monstrosity. It takes a second to reorient himself from the all-too-real vision, but then he shakes himself and plants a nice juicy magic weapon spell on Rosla's weapon before moving into a position where he can provide flanking with his long spear and catch an opportunity to stab the brute if it tries to flee. Or to heal the unconscious Cara. Options are good.

@GM: In order to save time I will post Rosla's actions for round 4:

"I'll take you down for what you did to Cara!"

Rosla jumps off the table and gets in a flank with Tempestas.
move action, see map
With her now magic weapon she stabs at DEFINITELY-not-Ramyla again.

Magic MW cold iron Elven Leafblade, Studied Target, flanking: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 22
magic Piercing OR Slashing, Magic, Studied Target: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4 I choose piercing.
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Total: 10 piercing damage

Taking his lesson from before to heart, Tempestas goes for precision over strength this time, stabbing the creature in both legs like a street-vendor skewering a set of kabobs!

Walks with Giants's shamanic Vision gets the better of him for a moment, but he wisely directs the spiritual violence into Rosla's steel where it can do them some good...

...and some good it does, for Rosla delivers on her threat with a single, powerful stab to the creature's back! It convulses and emits a bizarre gurgling/ squeaking/ retching/ screeching noise as it collapses on the table, its skin briefly 'boiling' before plunging into large splotches of stark-white in several places.

YOU WIN!

FINAL TALLY:

'The Silver Spoofer' (-44, down for the count)
Timinic (shield)
Rosla (magic weapon)
Walks with Giants (13/19)
Tempestas (Okey-dokey!)
Cara (-9/25, stable)

For whatever it's worth:

I'm not really sure what the DC for this should actually be or even if there needs to be one, let me know if you do:

Do you search your fallen foe? OF COURSE you do...!:

Around its midsection is its only actual article of clothing: A sturdy purse containing 10 gold pieces, two vials, one containing a deep lavender fluid and the other a dark bloody-red powder, and a poorly-maintained guild-ID card; you can't make out much from it, but it does at least indicate that this thing's real name was "Ilchok".

For a moment, then, there is only the sound of the lone pearl earring that Walks with Giants had noticed earlier (identical in every way to the one you found at Brandur's), rolling idly near the bar where "Ramyla" had first shed that form, and Timnic choking back his tears. Then...

"So, uhh, does this mean I won't be getting muh' reg'lar 'Arsenic & Old Lace' cocktail anytime soon?" Inquires a Dwarven voice from the other end of the Distillery.

What now, Adventurers?

Knowledge (Nature) DC 13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Heal DC 10: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Wisdom DC 9: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Craft (Alchemy) DC 18: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"Well, it is still alive. Do we want to question it?"

Walks will try to stabilize it if it is not already.
heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Then he will offer up his wand of infernal healing for use, though he himself is not able to use it.

perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18 v 10
wisdom: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3 v 9
perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15 v 18
k dungeoneering: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 v 18

Huh. Not dead yet

And what's this? Dark reaver powder I believe,

He then looks over at the dwarf. I guess not

"That's what you get when you attack us!" Rosla is barely refraining from performing a coup de grace. She briefly looks at the severely wounded and uncoscious Cara, then grabs the offered wand of infernal healing. The rogue tries to activate it to heal the cleric, her hands still shaking with fury.

UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 :-(

"Are you sure this wand has charges left? It doesn’t work at all!"
She drops it to the ground, draws her own wand of infernal healing and tries again.

UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"Finally!" She then looks at WwG. "You also want a tap of my working wand for the gash it gave you?"

I assume he says yes, so:
UMD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"There you go." She puts her wand back into her backpack. Then she again looks at the creature she felled... and its stuff.

Rosla isn't trained in Knowledge (nature), so no attempt vs DC 13.
Perception DC 10: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Wisdom DC 9: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 LOL.
Perception DC 18: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Knowledge: Dungeoneering DC 18: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Invisibility? I call dibs on this potion!"

WwG gladly accepts the healing and puts his useless wand back in it's sheath.

Timinic continues to stare at the remains of the shapeshifter Ilchok, his face a collage of conflicted feelings.

"By Grobnar's Wenderkazoo, Ramyla...Brandur...Captain Bosk, you have been avenged..."

He suddenly slumps to his knees, nearly falling off the table he'd mounted.

"...but this is all my fault."

He looks over at Tempestas, and whichever hand or pocket he'd put his Wayfinder in, with a flat expression.

"I should probably go. There's probably some specialist's guild who could use a tainted Gnome to test their concoctions on...."

It occurs to at least some of you that Timinic has acquitted himself perfectly well in the brief time you've known him. It would be a shame if he truly quit the Society, especially now that Daggermark's suddenly in severe want of local Venture-officers....

Tempestas pulls out Timmic's Wayfinder.

You acquitted yourself with honour. You should have this back.

Timinic shakes his head, and some of his original jitteriness seems to come back. "No, no, no, I can't, I'm not cut out for it, it's not worth it, I'm not worth it, it's too dangerous, I'm too dangerous...." He continues confabulating rationales.

Someone make me a Diplomacy OR Bluff check.

Oww....that hurt... Cara says as she comes around.

i missed the spot where you healed her...was right at the top of you post and missed it..rolled a 1 for that Perception check...lol. if more healing is needed let me do it with my channels..

diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Look...we've all had our share of missteps...you can make amends...

"Cara is right. There are several VCs out there that thought the same before they became very successful VCs. Also, your help in this fight was very much needed - I'm not sure we would have survived it without you!"

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 LOL.

Tempestas has no diplomacy skills but he continues holding out the Wayfinder.
It should be yours.

"Being fooled by a doppleganger is not the same as being a fool. They are cunning b%$& with magic to aid them in their deceit. I have no doubt that the society will be able to restore the VC even from death and I'm quite sure there will be choice words if he finds out you quit."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Well thank Rovagug for that aid! Apologies again for the delay.

Timinic slowly looks up at Cara, uncertainty in his eyes - but something about Rosla's remarks kindles a spark.

"You're right," He says, the quiver gone from his voice. "They all gave me far too much for me not to see this through."

He takes the Wayfinder - his Wayfinder - back from Tempestas and ponders it.

"And me...? A Venture-Captain...?! I'll have to think about that. Battlefield-promotions do happen, I just never thought they'd happen to me. I hear all the best ones cultivate some sort of schtick to their personalities as a way of keeping agents on their toes during briefings or something, that'll take some figuring out...." He says as he absentmindedly reaches into his bags and starts fiddling with his doll-head collection.

Well that's out of the way; what next, adventurers?

"I think we should pay that apothecary Pemak a visit. I really want to know in detail what's going on here - and currently I have no idea."

Rosla pauses briefly to collect her thoughts.

"Also, Timinic: Do you know anything about the wanted killer named Cladara? The one who is investigated city-wide? Maybe the strange people in the sewers are somehow connected?"

I vote for: Shake up Pemak for answers. ^_^

Though he nods approvingly when investigating Cladara is mentioned, he does suggest a first step prior to that.

"We do need more answers, though maybe we should question the doppelganger first. If it is still live."

Cara will go tend to the doppleganger and see if it still lives.

i'l do the rebuke death until it's positive...

Tempestas stood vigil over the doppleganger.

Walks tries to restrain the creature using rope, though he is not at all certain how that would work with a shapeshifter.

Tempestas looks over at Rosla

Do you want this creature dispatched m'lady?

"Actually, it was Cara who wanted to crack their head open with her morning star." posted here... ;-)

Then it would not be my place to deny her of that pleasure m'lady

That can still happen...if this thing offers any resistance...but first..we have to at least see what it knows...so...talk...now!

intimidate: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

That can still happen...if this thing offers any resistance...but first..we have to at least see what it knows...so...talk...now!

Ilchok now resembles a melted candle, carved in only the vaguest mannish shape; it speaks with a sick, whiny drone, simultaneously low- and high-pitched, like a carp trying to play bagpipes. "Uuuuurgghhhhlll...uhhh...about...'bout what?" It stammers as it tests its bonds.

Everyone except Tempestas, give me a Will save.

will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25; +2 bonus on all saving throws against death effects
"'bout why you are on this killing spree. The Pathfinder Society does not take the murder of its members kindly. Any reason we should not just kill you as an act of justice?"

will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 (+2 vs. enchantment)

Uh-oh...

Tempestas pokes the doppleganger with the tip of his sword.
And no funny business he growls.

Ilchok seems to be in sufficient physical and mental distress that Tempestas's prod is, as they say, just gravy - but after a moment's waffling between Cara and Walks, it takes a closer, more focused look over at Rosla...

...and its eyes literally double in size. It's hard to tell with a severely injured shapeshifter, but if it were almost anything else, you'd call that a reaction of profound terror.

"I...I know Cladara, yesss," It finally stammers in reply to Rosla's earlier query as it fights down hyperventilation. "I...I - IT WAS HERRR! Sh'made me do it, THEY made me do it, th' G-G-G-Ghostknives! We-THEY, w-THEY...I was a GOOD Assassin! In th' Guild, th' proper Guild! But..." And here Ilchok's blubbering terror appears to start giving way to some deep-seated bitterness. "Th' Guild said I was [some incoherent profanity] LAZY, kicked me out...s-s-so...I...joined...the Ghostknives." It says with a slump as it realizes it's boxed itself in with its own narrative. "They, they got big ideas, Cladara's smart..." Here terror seizes up again.

"-and they'll kill me if y' don't help get me out of here!!! OATHBREAKERS DIE!"

At this outburst, Ilchok seems to have riled itself to a grain of confidence (and perhaps even hope?). "That's the Law here, the REAL Law! 'Oathbreakers Die'! That's why I had to kill Bosk, and the others, and..." It finally raises a bleary appendage toward Timinic. "and HIM too! Had to...they were all connected to the OATHBREAKER! Istivil Bosk!!!"

"It all started when he caught us on a job; we could've have killed him right there, but he SWORE up-p-p-on the Second Freedom, not to tell a single soul about us...but he must've," It says as it refocuses its eyes on Timinic. "H-h-he found us...our hideout, n-nothing personal, but we had to kill him for our own good...so when he disappeared before he could've POSSIBLY gotten outside-help...I guess that's you...we knew. Istivil Bosk Broke. His. Oath."

"Ghostknives, huh? Well, whatever we were summoned for it had to to with something Timinic discovered, not him. I don't think he DID break his oath and Cladara may be playing you."

Walk's looks at Rosla, wondering what might have terrified the shapeshifter so much. Does WwG see anything unusual?