Even days after the incident, Acher stands still shell-shocked. "He wanted something from her. The Spider. We almost died just to get him close to her..."
She looks up to Ambrus Valsin. "We were told he was part of the 'good' Shadow Lodge. How many others could be secretly against us?"
Having smashed her target into a bleeding pulp, Acher calms herself and looks sheepishly around. "Sorry, guess I struck back a little too well."
Seeing that Unnvar is okay, and in fact standing again, Acher heads towards the door. "Come on! Even if we can't find Torch we still need to alert the others. His personal men can't be the only one's in this lodge."
"No!" Acher cries as Torch disappears. Fuming into a cold fury she steps forward and bashes at the bodyguard in front of her as she calls out. "You were trusted Torch! At least face us like a man!"
Go into rage, attacking blue bodyguard Furious Focus, flanking, Power Attack, destined strike:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 for Damage:2d6 + 16 ⇒ (4, 4) + 16 = 24
Acher will try to stop him too. She's not entirely sure everything that's happening, but it's clear Torch is (at least for the moment) going rogue and should be stopped.
Acher steps back aghast "But, she was our prisoner in good faith! You told us we needed to get information, not stoop to being base assassins. Where is Guaril?"
Once the confusion finally wears off, a significantly more subdued Acher stands guard over Ouidda as her more learned colleagues search through the Spider's papers. At the discover of the 'Ten' list, she frowns to herself. I thought she knew the identities of the Decemvirate already. What value does this list hold? Potential replacements for those she may later fell? Still the Shoanti remains silent as she glares down at the caster: displaying ignorance to an enemy is always a poor show of weakness.
Once their group makes its way back to the Cypher Lodge, she listens as Kleetus and Lamare deliver their reports. "Yes," Acher adds, "though I thought you said that she already knew who the Ten were? Perhaps this is some other trickery."
Assuming she's evil (which is not guaranteed), missed the +1 from protection from evil ((+2, but doesn't stack with my cloak). That said, rolled so low it did not matter.
Also, looking at the rolls, I don't think Farg should be confused either.
As the door opens, Acher only sees a blank room for a moment before a wave of...something hit her. Her mind spinning, she sees red as she looks upon the cleric next to her. With a snarl, she strikes at him with her earthbreaker.
Acher moves a bit closer to the door, careful to avoid the rug. "So, what's behind big door number one then?" she says as she casts Protection from Evil on herself.
"Another trap huh?" Acher says as she peers over the pothers into the room. "Do you think she may not like company?"
The Shoanti woman looks at the rug, then at the papered over wounds of her colleagues and Kleetus' and Farg's minor limps, then back to the torch in her hand.
"Now I'm not a trapsmith, but do you think we can disarm it, or could the fire here do that for us?"
Would I need to make a check to exit the web? Spell says failure gets you grappled at the first square you enter, which seems to imply if at edge and trying to exit should be okay.
Assuming Acher can leave freely...
As the web spreads out from seemingly nowhere, Acher starts. She steps away from the web just as four? swarms emerge as well.
%&$^, $&%^, &$^% the warrior thinks to herself. Running through her assets in her mind paints a grim picture; she has but a sole alchemist's fire on her at the moment. She hurries down the hall past Archiblad, then call to him as she fishes out her one flask. "This has to be magic stuff, correct? Do you know if there's any chance we can outrun them, or at least outlast them? Things that pop up poof away again, right?"
Seeing the last machine fall, Acher calms herself down. Feeling very tired for a moment, she follows Archibald into the room. "Good blasting. Those things were tougher than they looked."
Perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
She looks around the room and briefly palms through the disguises. "They weren't kidding about her not trusting anyone at least. How good do you think these clankers are at hearing? If there's any more out there listening, our brush with these two wasn't exactly subtle."
Acher makes her way up towards Farg. "So," she whispers. "You know these things. How dumb are they? Do you think we could just sneak by them? Or trap them in whatever room that is? Or even just ready to ambush the pair if they come out?"
"Well, at least we're in the right place." Acher whispers as she notes the Andoran-style decorations. " But be careful. I've seen some bad experiences in underground places before."
She edges towards Kleetus cautiously as she brings out her earthbreaker.
Well, THAT was unexpected. Acher says as the would be cheaters make a hasty exit. Are casinos always this exciting? And that was some pretty fine acting there she says to Kleetus. Almost had me convinced.
The Shoanti woman peers down towards the stairs.
So, time to squash this spider?
Acher will never back down from taking point, but if someone more sneakier or Perceptive would prefer to be at the front, speak up :)
I've updated most of my sheet. I'm curious as to where you're getting some of the math though. While I certainly wouldn't mind the Fort and Will boosts, I'm not seeing how you got to 12 and 5.
(Raging Fort = 4 base from class + 4 Ability (19 Con) + 2 luck + 1 cloak = 11?)
Think you can handle me then? Acher replies slyly. She puts another few coins down then rolls one more time.
If she wins:
Grinning like a madwoman, Acher sweeps up the rounds winning and winks playfully at the man. Guess some of your coin is coming home with me tonight then. She pushes her chair back as she stands up. Now I've got to head to the fine ladies room but stick around. A few more rounds and we'll see if your gold has to be lonely.
With a wink, she walks steadily towards the quiet hallway by the stairs.
If she loses:
[b]Cor! Acher expels a mild curse as the gentleman collects her stake. Grumbling, she shoots her chair out as she stands. Stay put she points annoyed at the gentlemen.Best of three; I just need to grab back my good luck charm from my friend.
Slipping away from the table, she scans the room as if searching fro a partner, then slips down the untrafficked hallway when she doesn't see anyone looking.
Well, this luck can go in a flash Acher thinks to herself as all her winnings vanish after a bad roll.
She frowns as her wine ploy seems to have failed. Then the Shoanti perks up again. If this wine isn't coming from the cellar, then...
She as she continues to make a few wager, Acher looks around the room to see which doors the waiters and patrons are passing through. And a particular eye on which door or doors they aren't
Moving with the party past the guards and into the Parlor proper, Acher takes in the bizarre blend of characters as she looks around the room. Finally she finds what she's looking for: I hope? a dice game with a lower-end buy in.
Ambling over, she uses her large frame to squeeze her way to the table and smiles as she places down 100 gold on the mat. "All right, I'm up for a round. It's my birthday after all, and the lady is looking for a new set of boots! And can I get some wine to wash down my victory with?" Acher booms, directing the last bit at a waitress wandering nearby. She keeps her eye on the girl to see where she might go.
"Yeah! Plus the boss gives us a stipp-end to bet on sometimes. And I'm pretty sure I've got all your valley-rules down now; maybe I could win big!"
The large Shoanti smiles dumbly, thinking maybe playing up Varisian sterotypes about 'dumb Shoanti barbarians' might make her look like an easy mark for the house.
As they wander through the streets of Riddleport towards the casino, Acher looks around bemused. It's a wonder how much more lively and casual this part of Varisia is. Not miles away from the Plateau and they're carefree enough to waste away their lives and resources gambling. And this sity is one of the LESS lavish ones?
She shakes her head, before Unnvar's question snaps her out of her thoughts. "I may not know much about gambling, but I could be a bodyguard to a," She furrows her brow. "Dolphin? Is that the term for a big spender?"
Standing silently as Guaril and Torch outline their mission, Acher finally perks up. "You talk about how dangerous this Ouidda is, then just go on about politics and planning. What about the woman herself: what's she capable of up close?"
A tall, brawny Shoanti woman strides into the lodge confidently - though perhaps not carefully enough as her large earthbreaker narrowly avoids knocking over stacks of papers and crashing into shelves. A smile splays across her face as she looks around at her fellow Lodgemates.
Raised on the harsh Storval Plateau, in a culture where strength meant survival, Acher is decisive in word and action, even if her forceful personality sometimes causes her to come across too strongly. She is a friendly sort however, and quick to take people at their word, though the rager holds harsh grudges against those who break such initial trust. After descending the Plateau and leaving behind a clan where she never quite fit into (for she was never as resilient or fierce as her peers, even if she was uncommonly lucky...), Acher joined the Pathfinder Society hoping that in her work with them she might finally understand what path is waiting for her. After multiple delves into River Kingdoms ruins, Acher is excited to return to Varisia.
"Oh I don't know about that." Acher says to the dwarf. "Sure we should be respectful, but it could be good to get some talk going between us and the gillmen. Maybe learn something more about thier rites there."
She turns to Janira, "How about 'Dead God's Cavern'? Or 'City in a Cave'? Or even 'Horn's Fall'?
Acher lowers her hammer, taking deep breaths to calm herself. She feels tired from the fight, but tries to answer Janira with enthusiasm.
"There was only one gillman we saw in there, a mage named Uori. there were others that were, dead. We were forced to lay them to rest forcibly."
"But stranger was this miniature city built in there: a model of Absalom. Harry and the others found carvings nearby that depicted rites of the Dead God's. We tried one by the city, got a surge of magic. Seems the site still has some juice, though the gillman doesn't semes to think it will last much longer."
Acher turns around to look at her colleagues. "I miss anything?"
Acher lets out a harsh cry as the minotaur's axe bites into Dinucci. With a roar, she drops her sling and charges at the beast, pulling forth her earthbreaker and swinging it forcefully into the creature's side.
Hmmph Acher grunts to herself. There is a moments' hesitation: should she risk heading into the water for a better strike or play it safer until the minotaur advances slightly more?
Eventually prudence wins out, and she reloads her sling and launches the stone once more.
After loosing her first stone, Acher had contemplated charging the river and leaping over on her own. But before the Shoanti can start to move she sees Janira accomplish the feat in the opposite direction, with the minotaur stomping up to catch her. A smile splits her face So, the fun gets to come to us then.
Acher quickly moves to reload one last stone into her sling and hurls it at the enemy, hoping to get in one last good blow before the beast is upon them and the close combat can begin.
Gah, forgot about Guidance and Insprie Courage buffs. So +2 attacvk, +1 damage if counting. Or if it's a 'nned to remember at the time' situation, then no problem C'est la vie :)
