Tessa Alee's page

Tessa has no additional questions for Zenobia, but makes sure to talk to Yrsa when she has the chance to do so unheard by others.

"Say, that grey maiden said something about a briefing. You or I might draw unwanted attention there, but we have an ace up our sleeve! Or cloak, as the case may be!"

Tessa shifts the shawl of her poor lamplighter's outfit aside to reveal the tiny scaled face of Majenko, who has been listening attentively to the goings on.

"Nobody's going to see a pseudodragon hanging around, or pay attention to one even if they do! Even if it's the nicest, smartest, prettiest pseudodragon around. Mr. Majenko, would you mind finding that briefing with the Field Marshal and listening in?"

Tessa winces inwardly at the clumsy Vancaskerkin.

A simple-minded fool like that is the last thing we need blabbing our findings to the queen's minions!

"I should like to think so," replies Tessa, just as quietly. "Come, let us pass and stay unnoticed."

Tessa pauses for a moment in her "get scruffy" routine. "Gosh," she beams, "I'd love to! And what is that stuff you're drinking? It smells fantastic."

CAFFEINATED GNOME

After a refreshing and badly needed night's rest, Tessa looks much chipper in the morning.

"Whew! What a crazy day, I felt like I had been awake for months!"

As the others are discussing their plans, Tessa wolfs down a breakfast of cold ham and porridge, sneaking morsels of meat to Majenko.

"I'm worried about the consequences of the Watch knowing of what's going on. I trust Cressida, but who knows how many spies the Queen has among their ranks? I'll keep my ear to the ground, find out if me and majenko can rustle up any info."

After breakfast, Tessa dresses in her old threadbare smock and uses Prestidigitation to tousle her hair and dirty her face to restore her image to that of the poor lamplighter she sued to be. Heading out in the streets, she scurries about looking for Watch officers.

In the presence of authority, Tessa pulls her usual quiet and unobtrusive act. This is a time for the big people to talk, and Bosch at least commanded the respect due to a knight. Who'd trust a dirty street gnome?

I sure don't envy that respect right now, though. Hard to report tough findings.

An exhausted Tessa tags along with her friends, trying hard to mask her weariness and worry under a stony exterior as the group makes its exit.

"The implications of what we've found here are grave," agrees Tessa. "We need to gather allies and plan before we make any moves in the open!"

Tessa clutches a piece of copper wire in a pouch and subtly shifts, extending a finger in Bosch's direction.

I am nearly out of ways to hurt things, her voice says in his mind. we can let it go and track it down later when we're rested.

"I'm with you," Tessa pipes up. "I'm not sure I have another fight left in me though. I'm plum tuckered!"

The fiery gnome shudders. "I don't know how well I'm going to sleep tonight, after all this. Hopefully we find some key to stopping the plague in here, so we can save the city's people. The queen... the queen's gonna have to wait for later."

Aid Another heal check to assist Trey: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

"Oof," says Tessa tiredly. "I'm glad that's over with. We'll get you through this, Sir Knight."

Pallid Princess 2: Unholy Boogaloo. Can I aim a cone effect upwards to hit her and not party members? If so, Tessa will use another sorcerer burning hands. If not, delay to let people get out of the way

this is totally not good! Kill it with fire!

reflex save DC 14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
burning hands damage: 4d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2, 2, 1) + 8 = 16 half is 8

Raising her hands again, Tessa unleashes yet another burst of fire. It seems significantly less intense than earlier in the day.

Tessa looks tiredly from the display of unholy power, to Bosch, and back to the slain cleric.

Still a few embers left

The gnome fishes in her pouches for a pinch of sulphur and a firestarter, and intones some mystic syllables before blasting the evil power with fire.

oracle spells all tapped out, casting burning hands base CL 1 from sorcerer spells, +1 pyromaniac racial trait, +1 gifted adept trait, +1 varisian tattoo feat for adjusted caster level of 4

burning hands damage: 4d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 2) + 8 = 20

sorry, every time I went to post the forums were down for maintenance. Here goes nothing...

Out of spells, this is not good!

Bereft of options, Tessa aims her crossbow at the evil cleric and squeezes off a bolt.

crossbow attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Tessa doesn't have any patience for this crap.

"You're nuts, lady, and you f+&&ed up big time when you went against this city. The city ain't just a city, it's full of people, and we won't take this crap lying down. We're gonna kill you and root out your horrid little cult and put everybody you know to the flame. Burn in hell!"

casting Hold Person as soon as things get rolling. DC 15 will save

Tessa eyes the remaining cultist warily.

Not a lot of fire left in me. A different approach, perhaps!

The diminutive gnome simply points an open hand at the cultist and clenches it into a fist. It doesn't seem to have the effect she expected, though.

casting hold person

cultist will save DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

ranged touch, opponent has cover: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Tessa hurls another gob of flame, this time at the zombie in front of her.

Bosch and Yrsa probably have these handled just fine, I better help Typhon.

Wordlessly, Tessa winds up and hurls a gob of flame at the cultist menacing Typhon.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
produce flame damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Tessa whirls her hands around, fanning the flames wreathing her small mitts into a fiery ball, which she throws at the cultist fighting Typhon. Her aim is off and the flame whomps harmlessly on the far wall.

ranged touch, produce flame: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Tessa trails her companions into yet another throwdown. Her inner flame lights up again, coloring her eyes dancing hues of orange, red, and yellow, but seems less intense than before. As she advances, she snaps her fingers and draws upon flames that writhe and whirl around her arms and hands.

move, produce flame SLA

"We do have the folks we rescued for their testimony. I hope that's worth something."

Tessa wipes her brow, her skin glistening with sweat and soot. "I hope there's not too much more to fight down here, I'm running pretty low on tricks!"

we can consider Tessa to have delayed behind Trey if that's easier

somehow my icon didn't get moved, sorry about that

Tessa finishes her spell, and once again the room explodes into purifying flame.

Intensified burning hands dc 15: 7d4 + 14 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 3, 1, 2, 3) + 14 = 32
physician 3 reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
cultist 2 reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 8
cultist 3 reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 20 half damage
cultist 4 reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Tessa crackles something at Yrsa as she squeezes past the armored dwarf, starting to cast a spell.

going to be applying the Intensify Spell feat to burning hands, makes it a full round cast. Move action to get into position, standard to start casting. Spell will consume the standard action of my next turn as well.

Tessa nods her agreement.

Tessa hurries after her taller friends, her small legs working hard to keep up. From her stony silence and the set of her jaw, it seems she's serious about delivering a beatdown to anybody connected to this vile place.

Tessa shares in the sentiment of her friends. "lets finish the job! Come on, Majenko!"

Tessa bustles about, helping Trey tend to the sick. A drink of water here, a bandage there, anything she can do to provide palliative care while the lawmen quiz the victims.

As the strife dies down, the spirit of fire in Tessa's soul quiets and she's able to give voice once more. Wrinkling her nose in disgust at the foul people before her, she coughs out a little puff of smoke and sets to work securing the dead. Majenko perches on her shoulder, rifling through her satchel and handing up bandages as required.

heal check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
majenko assist: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Tessa is none too gentile as she binds the prisoners, a fierce look in her eyes. "Better treatment than these bastards deserve. I look forward to watching them dance on the end of a rope."

No good rotten street rats like me, sheep for your experiments? I don't know what layer of the abyss you're destined for but I hope they have something real special picked out for you!

If the map is still current, Tessa can hit all the remaining bad guys with burning hands and miss the party if she stands next to Trey

Tessa whoops as the horrid doctor goes down. She sounds like a log popping in a hearth. Scurrying across the room to get the angle right, Tessa judges that her friends will be spared from her flames, and unleashes another burning attack.

burning hands, reflex dc 15: 5d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 4, 4) + 10 = 28
rolth save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
physician save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
beggar save: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Frustrated by the doctor's agility, Tessa shifts her strategy to something that he can't dodge so easily.

Produce Flame SLA

cast defensively DC17: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Tessa finishes her cast, and Dr. Davaulus is scorched by white-hot flame.

reflex save dc 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

intensified burning hands damage: 8d4 + 16 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 3, 3, 2, 1, 2) + 16 = 34 half damage = 17 hp

Tessa then squeezes past the foul doctor as her unimposing form begins to shimmer with a haze of intense heat.

reflex save dc 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
heat aura damage: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 2) = 8 halves to 4

Tessa draws an attack of opportunity from the Dr, but has 20% concealment for this round

standard action to finish the cast, move action to get into flank with Typhon, swift action to activate the heat aura revelation

That jerk's talking about people like ME! Sorry Bosch, I don't intend to talk this one out...

Trying hard to look like the common street rabble she used to be, Tessa slips into the room to stand next to Bosch as he delivers his lecture. When the foul doctor opens his mouth to speak, Tessa starts to channel flame.

using the Intensified Spell metamagic on Burning hands. Makes it a full round cast. Hopefully Dr Bad there stands slack jawed long enough...

Tessa moves to and listens at each door clockwise from the entrance, and shares her discoveries with her companions.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Tessa points to one of the unconscious "doctors". "Any sense in waking him up and asking some questions?"

Tessa starts to wind up for another blast of flame before noticing that it's not needed. The dancing flames flicker out and her heat aura dissipates, leaving the room to return to the coolness and humidity of the underground. Tessa looks slightly embarrased at Yrsa's comment.

"Oh, thanks! I normally don't like hurting people... but these plaguebringers deserved that and worse."

"Lenne örömömre, lovag!"

Tessa starts speaking strangely, as she always seems to do in stressful situations. Her intent is clear, however, and she pauses to let her friends escape the coming inferno. Fire boils forth from her hands and arms to wreath around her before pouring in a torrent into the conveniently enclosed space that houses the foul doctors. The shimmering heat dances around Tessa's body, blurring her form and scorching everything around her.

Y'all might want to keep 10 feet away from Tessa. Move action to get to the doorway, Standard action to cast Burning Hands defensively, Swift action to activate the Heat Aura revelation (3d4 fire damage to all within 10 feet and gain 20% concealment)

cast defensively DC19: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
DC 16 reflex save 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
DC 16 reflex save 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
DC 16 reflex save 3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
DC 16 reflex save 4: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

burning hands damage, halved on save: 5d4 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 4, 3) + 10 = 20

heat aura damage, halved on save: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) = 5
DC 16 reflex save 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
DC 16 reflex save 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
DC 16 reflex save 3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
DC 16 reflex save 4: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

22 damage to #1, 12 damage to #2, 15 damage to #3, 22 damage to #4

Tessa relays her findings to the rest of the group.

"So, What'cha guys think? I say we head south to see who's gabbing and maybe get some answers out of them."

Tessa agrees with Typhon's assessment. "Looks like they don't want just anybody using this," she whispers, pointing out the little key hole. "And by the fact that the lift's working, whoever has the key is probably still down there right now"

When the lift arrives at the bottom, Tessa scowls. "I think this might be all the proof we need. Lets try to find something damning so we can convince others to see things our way."

Tessa then listens to each of the three doors exiting the room.

north: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
east: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
south: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

"ooh, this is fun," giggles Tessa. "Call me.. Miss Light! And you can be Sir Knight and Mr. Dog!"

Tessa waits until Bosch starts to move, then casts Bless on those present in the sewer tunnels.

"Fortune look on us fondly!"

Tessa holds her breath and breathes through her mouth as best she can as defense against the stench of the sewers.

We seem to get into these things more often than's good for a fellow, she muses to herself.

"Well, I could set the place on fire for realsies if it comes to that."

managed to lose my herolab files for Tessa, somehow. Recreating her.

Tessa's always ready2rumble

Tessa relays her knowledge to the group, petting Majenko's little scaled head.

"He's probably not setting us up for a trap, but lets not mistake that for him being on our side. All kinds of power-hungry types are gonna be coming out of the woodwork to get a slice if the Queen can't hold it."

Tessa sighs loudly and rolls her eyes when Bosch makes his little warning speech. "So lets not get caught - lets do this!"

for crying out loud, I just noticed that the statblock in my profile is for level 4 Tessa, not level 5. I did put a point in knowledge: local, to represent the growing knowledge of the city now that she's been out and about. I'll update it when I get home from work. I'm going to have Majenko assist me (seems appropriate) as a familiar has all the skill ranks its master does.

Knowledge, Local (Majenko assist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

and it makes sense he flubbed it too, lol

Knowledge, Local (Tessa): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Nobody notices a poor lamp lighter," laughs Tessa, as swirling whorls of magic tossle her hair, rub dirt on her face, and sully her clothes. When she pulls out her old lantern, Tessa looks... completely ordinary.

I must ask you to take wing once more, little friend, she thinks to Makenjo via her Message spell. See where this guard goes when he leaves us and come straightaway if he plots treachery!

I don't trust this guy one bit. We could be walking into a trap.

Away from the main conversation, Tessa casts Message. In the groups' heads, you hear her reedy little voice. "I'm going to have Majenko shadow this character, if he runs off to warn someone where we're heading we should have advance notice."

Been escorting a physician, have you?

Tessa stays small and quiet and out of the way, and discreetly casts Diagnose Disease to check out the guardsmen.