Name: Ammon Al-Mukhalas
Race: Human, Male
Classes/levels: Fighter 1, Sanctified slayer inquisitor 4.
Adventure: Book 2.
Location: Darkling hallways.
Catalyst: Surprise complete 180 of recurring foe's combat capacities, no rolled knowledge checks, rushing in too quickly to seize a momentary advantage and protect the party.
The Gory Details:
Velrianna revenant, was killed by Ammon at the end of book 1 due to an accidental crit (the plan was to capture her). We laid an ambush in the tunnels and won initiative. Figuring she was still a caster and I had sneak attack and was the tank, I attempted to charge her in the first round to try and run interference.
Well... I got the hit in, but then it was revealed that she was now a melee beast (and had lost all her magical powers). Four above average rolls and the additional +4 'hatred bonus' to hit from him killing her previously, Ammon took 56 damage which was 4 above what was needed to kill him. It was described as a heart-rip mortal combat fatality, so pretty brutal indeed! On the upside, this ended the fight as it turned her to dust upon getting revenge. Technically a double KO? :)
Always roll knowledge checks and ask for dangerous abilities, kids!
Post-Death: Had a beautiful burial ceremony in his hometown. The party medium might channel him soon to be her champion spirit, so he might linger in the party despite being dead!
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
A few moments ago.
Ammon doesn't have much time to wonder how it was possible that Valrianna, a meek caster, suddenly had the insane kind of strength to tear straight through solid platemail with her bare hands.
But the excruciating pain of having the bones of the ribcage crushed and his heart then ripped out in one single movement makes most coherent thought impossble.
As he falls limply to the floor with a gradually increasing feeling of suffocation, his eyes glide to Say'ri and then Jamie, perhaps wanting to say something, but obviously unable to.
He doesn't get back up.
As a healer, Dhakira knows that when his body starts gaping for air after Velrianna dissolves to dust, it isn't a sign of hope. Rather, it was a lingering primitive reflex and indicative of the last of his brain and respiratory systems shutting down. Without a blood supply, neither lasts long - and no amount of curative magic could change the inevitable outcome.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
As usual, Jamie's commanding voice keeps Ammon from being too distracted!
surge:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
+7 to the earlier attack for a total of 21 vs ac? 12 coldiron slashing damage and 7 precision from sneak attack if applicable. -2 ac this turn from charge. I removed -1 from attack and damage due to the str damage penalty still on him.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
willsave:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
"I don't suppose 'Sorry, it was an accident' is going to cut it?" Ammon asks dryly. He waits to see if Dhakira summons a flanking partner for him or not, then he charges!
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"Calm down. First, tell us who you are and what happened to you? It looked like these guys-" he motions over the pile of bodies and gore "-were about to sacrifice you, or something. Are you with Unwrapped Harmony?"
Ammon carefully studies the possible prisoner for sings of deception. After all, it could be he/she was willingly here to be changed into some monstrosity.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
fortsave:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
heal:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Ammon grits his teeth as the sting of the poison eventually passes. He still looks a bit worse for wear, with all the necrotic explosions going on as well, and the grip on his sword slacks a bit.
Looking at the strange body with the scalpal clasped in its hand and noticing it was about to die, he quickly calls out to the group's medics. "I don't know if this one was with them, but it's bleeding out fast!"
Considering the negative energy explosions I'd like to roll a knowledge check to see if these creatures have undead energy affinity, i'm unsure which check that would be though. Religion or the one they normally have?
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Ouch!
Just as a spray of vicera and gore flies across the room, vaguely coming from the leader's direction, Ammon feels a lingering bruning sensation from the knifewound. "Poison! Be careful! Gah, burns like a B!@#%!" he hisses.
Fortunately that doesn't impact his attacks yet. 1 more point will.
Ammon fails to fight off the poison, just as he moves to attack one of the undead swarming his position!
If Say'ri's shot kills the leader and the Snake is now available for flanking, Ammon attacks blue. Otherwise, he attacks red, and its -2 to hit and no SA.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Ammon nods. "The situation above ground is dire. Shadows and undead roam the streets and kill innocents at will. Most are hiding in their barricaded homes, though we've also seen a shadow whom walls could never stop. Not only that, but a very dangerous man is about to summon groups of extremely dangerous psychopomps to cleanse the city, likely killing hundreds of innocents. If we're unlucky, they might go below ground too. That's why it's very important that we find the source of this undead uprising quickly and deal with it before this gets out of hand even further."
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"'Mothering'? What do you mean? And why are you so nervous?" Ammon then decides to ask, hoping the others calmed them just slightly.
Remembering Dhakira's and Uthe's warnings, he lowers his voice to whisper to them. "We felt we were being followed on the way... Are these invisible presences hostile to you? Are you their prisoners?"
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
perception:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
At one point during the journey, Ammon looks back over his shoulder, but is unable to locate something odd. "Must be imagining things..." he mutters.
When the humanoids approach at the end he holds up his hands and steps back, letting anyone but him do the talking. "If they're scared, this shouldn't be me."
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"Why would they just leave something this important in the middle of nowhere, without any protection, though?" Ammon wonders, as he carries most of the stuff out in his backpack.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Somewhere on the way, Ammon looks at the map and suddenly halts. "Wait a sec... this is supposedly where there's one of those compasses. Maybe we should take a look while we're here?"
To get a better vantage point, he climbs upward and surveys the area. "Strange. There's just a bunch of metal... 'things' and plates around a pile of rocks in the middle of the room. I... guess this is beyond me, but maybe either of you casters and engineers can make more sense of it?"
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Ammon nods as he sits down near a group of refugees to rest. "It might be best to be at our full strength before we go after any of these leads, yes. And..." he looks at Jamie. "Could you maybe ask your warlord spirit ally to help us again? I feel we really missed our focus this last fight... and I hope the city won't pay the price."
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
The ground thumps with regular beats as the still invisible and Enlarged Ammon lumbers over to Sebti. "I'm... sorry your damaging trust in us, High Priestress. Normally, we're much more effective in battle. I'm not sure what went wrong on this occasion," he says solemnly, his voice coming from somewhere high up.
A few moments later, he re-appears and stands still as the clerics tend to everyone's wounds, gratefully accepting the magical healing. "Say'ri's right. To even think of entire units of those things unleashed on the city..." he shudders. "We don't have time to waste. I don't think anyone here can stop them if they fall out of line... Or if he turns on the church himself." He glares in the retreated man's direction.
After the healing, he approaches Dhrakira and Jazadi. "Thanks, you two. I'd probably have died there if it wasn't for either of you." He then pats Jazadi on the shoulder. "Don't forget the kick to his balls for me, if I miss it. Actually... make that two. We can't be too sure."
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"'Maybe I can take the hit and go for the opening!' Good plan, Ammon!" he congratulates himself, looking at the pretty fountain of blood. His blood, of course.
Still... what else was there to do? Most of their attacks seemed to miss, and there was no way he'd settle for this thing's ilk killing hundreds of innocent people, like his own family...
So, again, he waits for the snake to make a move, then strikes.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
As Ammon's deep wounds close a bit and the smaller enemy summons dissipate, he notices Dhakira's snake listening to the cleric's direct commands and approaching the varnth from behind.
"Maybe I can take one hit now and take the opening... it's risky, but that thing has to go before it gets to the others!"
"Dhakira... could you do that heal one more time?" he asks, just as the Bernard the Boa begins attacking, and Ammon quickly follows up!
Ammon waits for the constrictor snake to see if its grab attempt is succesful, then attacks from flanking position.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
knowledge: religion?:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Getting hammered quite badly by the scythe wielding foe, Ammon tries to recall any useful information regarding this type of psychopomp. Did it it have an obvious weakness to any weapon/material type, or obvious weakness in general?
...
Suddenly, Ammon gets a flash of insight. "That thing is immune to almost everything except magic and adamantine! Don't use cold or electricity either!" he shouts and quickly points at the Varth. "But... *cough* - he spits out blood - a little healing and help would be appreciated..."
From discord, it has DR 10/Adamantine and resist cold and elec 5.
Still, refusing to give up, he instead focusses on defense for now and hoped his allies would turn this around!
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Ammon is currently enlarged, and the position him compared to the enemies and the party doesn't seem to reflect this, making position based decisions a tad hard for flanking/SA. However...
If the scythe wielding enemy is within 20 feet from the ground:
Ammon, enlarged, uses his new size and reach to swing at the scythe-wielding foe, joining Jamie and Say'ri in their attack!
if the flying enemy is more than 20 ft up from the ground:
Ammon, moving his enlarged form slightly to flank the red Esobok with Uthe, notices him watching the catfolk. In that split second, he strikes it down!
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
GM Inara wrote:
Nakht looks sharply at Pteminib. "Nobody asked for your input, but I still want proof that this group of adventurers are as capable as you say." He says with a sneer, clearly not believing your capabilities or either Pteminib or Sebti's support.
Ammon eyes grow wide with disbelief. "Sorry, what? These last three days, we've cut through *hordes* of zombies, killed *two* mummies, a shade, saved a high-ranking priest and dealt with a long-standing crime syndicate stealing from the necropolis under your very nose *on the side*. Which was all, you know, after being the first group to complete the lottery sites AND the one that caught the Scorched Hand red-handed in their cheating."
Hey shrugs and raises his arms. "But all of that somehow still isn't enough for you!? While we waste our time and strength fighting eachother, those undead are still roaming out there! And even if we fought them back once, who's to say they won't come back?"
intimidate, ST?:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Later, at the Library.
After Jamie finishes the ritual and seems imbued with new magical powers, Ammon walks up to her. "So, ah, out of curiosity, how many helpful spirits are out there and don't they ask you something in return for their aid? Isn't there anything to worry about?"
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"My family is from the barge district, so you have my sword," Ammon deftly replies, trusting in Jazadi's experience. In truth, he had no idea what a psychopomp was. Must have been some fancy academic term for ghost or such?
"It sounded like we were just challenged to open combat, Priestress. Do you believe we should accept it, and if so, where?"
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Jazadi Kimendyne wrote:
Jazadi comes wandering down the stairs later, yawning and still half-asleep.
"...boy, that was a long night..."
That next day, a somewhat fatigued-looking Ammon is passed on the way down By Jazadi. "You can say that again... halfling stamina is no joke..." he laments. "Actually... wait, what were *you* doing last night? Did we miss anything?"
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Ammon joins the kiss after a moment's hesitation, then smiles softly. " Well... after a rousing speech like that, anyone's heart would be lifted. Other things too, after such a passionate kiss."
He seems to think for a moment as he settles back into bed. "Say... Jamie? Let's make a promise. If either of us ever loses control of whatever strange powers we have, the other will stop them. Non-lethally, if possible, but If I have to choose between being shot by Say'ri or you, I'd much prefer the latter."
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Jamie Vernisant wrote:
Jamie rolls over in the bed when Ammon calls her name. She props herself up on an elbow, her blonde curls framing her face in the moonlight, as she gazes sleepily at the warrior. ”Hmm? What are you doing out of bed? You need to rest.”
"I know. It's just..." he sits down on the edge of the bed. "Why do you think we were given a second chance, of all people?"
"Osiris is the father of the Osiriani pantheon. He judges the living fairly when they reach the afterlife. He is benevolent, if honest and stern. At least, that is how I think of him. So... why would he save me when I died?" He ponders, staring at the silver hook and crane pendant. "I was a pirate and arguably a slaver. There wouldn't have been much good in my Ab - my heart - weighed against his feather or truth."
He takes a deep breath. "Now, I feel like I'm getting stronger. But also... more violent. Like I know how to kill things better than I ever did, and with this last cultist leader, I just... raged out. I had a feeling of what he was going to do and how to end him, so I did. And... I wonder, would this *gift* really suit Osiris?"
Frowning, he looks away. "What if I'm wrong? What if I'm tricked into serving... something else, and Jazadi's right? What if... it makes me turn on you all someday?"
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Highly surprised their verbal defiance was quite that effective, especially his own part, Ammon loosens the grip on his sword and simply nods at Say'ri's and Dhrakira's proposals. Sleep sounded very good about now...
Later, at the inn.
That night, Ammon sits up from bed he and Jamie were sharing and quietly walks to the window to think. It was hastily borded shut, but at least enough of a breeze still came through the gaps between.
'What's happening to me...?'
He was growing stronger, yes, as did his magic. He could feel a new reserve in him, a... 'reservoir' of sorts to draw greater magic power from. Divine power granted by Osiris for his services? From the pantheon as a whole...?
But with that power came a sense of brewing violence. As he grew stronger, so too apparently did his instinct and desire to kill. He could say what he wanted, give his enemies chances to surrender time and time again, but in the end almost all of them were dead. And what about Jazadi, at the first moment of control loss? Or that girl with the stylish hat whose name he kept forgetting - Velrianna? - with a coincidental decapitate after slipping ?
Maybe those weren't his fault. But the cult leader in the mask worshipping Hakotep? That was intentional. Anger and instinct leading to instant murder.
Was he slipping further out of control? If so, what was the next step...?
Stern gaze and tracking bonuses increase by 1 (+1 sense motive/intimidate/tracking).
Intimidate +3 ranks, Perception +1, SM +1, religion +1, kn. Local +1, History +1, religion +1.
Items gained this level: Cloak of resistance +1, amulet of natural armor +1, bought full plate, bought basic heavy shield.
Edit: Also realized I made an error a few levels ago when purchasing stuff. I'd always assumed the cost for buying a masterwork coldiron something is (300+Weapon cost)x2. However, it's actually apparently (300+weapon cost x2). If I'd known that, I'd have bought a masterwork coldiron falcta instead of a seperate masterwork falcata and a normal Coldiron one. If I'm allowed to correct this I'll do it in the stat sheet, but also fine to continue as is.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
bluff?:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
"what authority do you have, to kill all these people just like that!? You don't serve the Ruby Prince, if you even know who that is! And whichever god you worship has been forgotten! The real criminal here isn't these peopel, but *YOU*! You are a vile murderer of innocent civilians pretending to be a judge, and it should be *YOU* on trial!"
Of course, not knowing anything about the skeletal figure, all of that was a guess at best, not to mention how many people he had killed, himself. The irony of it all was certainly not lost on Ammon...
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Jamie Vernisant wrote:
Jamie returns Ammon's hug. "You are not allowed to die. Not on my watch! You are...important to me, Ammon." The halfling blushes.
Back then.
Ammon's remaining adrenaline can't help but withdraw under the cuteness overdose! But... not knowing what to say to that and still look manly, he settles for stroking the halfling's hair as he awkwardly heel-kicks the severed head out of sight. Or so he hopes, judging from the clanking noise...
Now...
Dhakira wrote:
"Well whatever the reason for the removal of their eyes, they were extracted while they were still alive, and the shock killed them. Undead or alive, the monster who did that must be held accountable."
Done with his prayer (gratefully accepting the cleric's healing beforehand), and in the process of waiting for Say'ri to finish hers, Ammon's eyes widen at this even more gruesome news. "You're saying this ...'thing' took the eyes of every single one of them before they died? Then how did he keep them in the same place...? Surely they'd have tried to escape as it started executing the others?"
Ammon should be at 32/33 hp is hierophant applies to both channel and CLW wands, so he's fine. I'll equip one of the cloaks of resistance on Ammon as per discord discussion, too.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Earlier...
As the last enemy insists on fighting to the death and goes down too, Ammon somberly shakes his head and cleans his blade on one of their fancy cloaks. Unfortunately before learning it was magical. "Thanks Jamie, and Dhakira. Don't think I was hit that bad in a while..."
Religion/history, who is Hakotep, the diety (?) their leader mentioned?:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
He reaches down with his clean arm to give Jamie a hug, then glances at Say'ri. "You all right? I don't think I've seen you look that... angry in a while."
In fact, the only time might have been when a haunt almost made him Kill Jazadi, come to think of it...
Now...
Heal:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
"Maybe an undead judge from long ago decreed the living to be guilty of forgetting the old gods?" Ammon ponders, as he looks as the bloodied and mutilated faces of the victims. He takes the silver pendant of Osiris in his hand. "Judge them fairly, Father. The now living have no blame in this."
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
reflex:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Ammon barely rolls out of the way of the flame wave, then stri-!
*BAM*
...Sees Say'ri and Jamie execute the caster, with the second one cowering next to him.
Gritting his teeth from the remining pain and vertigo, he ignores the impulse to attack the second mage and points his sword at the masked figrue instead. "Give up! Your friends are dead. Surrender or you'll join them."
Active effects: Divine favor, shield of faith (AC 26, FF 24 T 14), Bless.
However, on the way, he feels a sudden spike of rage, along with a premonition that the guy would dodge left. Using his full strength, he faints right, then turns his swing into an overhead one from the other side - dangerously close to the guy's neck as he jumps fully into it.
'Why do you always get the idea that I want to kill everyone, Say'ri?' he hears himself say, just as the swing connects...
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"A protective amulet...?" Ammon asks. "Guess either Say'ri or me should wear it since we're always at the front."
I seem to recall us finding one of these before, at the cart... regardless, guess I'll equip it unless Say'ri objects?
Just as everyone gets ready to assault the room, Ammon narrows his eyes. "Should we check the door for traps? There have been at least two here. Wouldn't surprise me the leader of a bandit group had some nasty surprise on his door to keep upstarts out... or just take them out entirely."
Ammon casts divine favor after the door is checked and everyone is done with preparation spells, then heads in first. If the door isn't checked by anyone, he just kicks it down when preparations are complete.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
"Jamie's right. Every moment we linger here, they get a better ambush on us," Ammon says, looking away from the group and motioning towards the door with his sword.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Say'ri Al Bashere wrote:
"You're right, my apologies Ammon." Say'ri replies, bowing her head. "There are none so blind as those who will not see. I was wrong. I'm sorry." She nods formally towards the garundi man.
Ah, thanks. That sates my curiosity :)
Ammon's eyes widen at the unexpected, yet very earnest and formal apology. "Look, it's fine. I just... don't want any of you thinking I'm some sort of monster or something. So long as we're clear on that, we're good."
"...Though my honor still demands the next round of drinks is on you now, of course," he adds in a less serious tone, and gives Say'ri a on the shoulder as he walks past her to the front.
sense motive DC 9:
His grin at the end is forced and he seems uneasy about something.
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
Say'ri Al Bashere wrote:
"Such is the will of the Gods, but slaying him gained us nothing and he cannot come back to warn his companions so it costs us nothing either. In the balance I would prefer not to slay a man I do not need to."
She nods at Uthe's comments. "I don't know Mumia, but as a general rule always stay out of an alchemists lab. Especially if they are a bad alchemist or there's been an accident. It sounds like there's been both here!"
"Why do you keep assuming I want to kill everyone, Say'ri?" Ammon asks, frowning. "We could have just arrested him. Maybe the church could have gotten some information out of him that would have helped us. But... I suppose it's out of our hands now. Let's move on and skip the lab if you wish."
Ooc, I'm really curious what sort of monstrousity is behind that door following the python made up out of organs :)
M Human, Garundi Conditions: Permanently dead/retired.
sense motive:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Knowing the man is at least twisting his own role in this, Ammon casts detect magic on him, just in case.
Does he have anything magical on him?
Only if he's carryign something magical:
"Hand us your weapons and that magical thing over there. I don't know what caused this undead uprising, but I'm in favor of taking all magical trinkets from here just in case it was the wrong piece stolen from the wrong tomb."
If he doesn't have magical items on him:
""Leave your weapons behind, then you can go. I don't fully trust you and I don't want you shooting us from the first roof we meet back outside."
"Why did you let him go?" Ammon asks Say'ri after the man makes his exit. "He knew way too much to be a novice. He could have known much more about the thieves guild. Or are you hoping he will lead us to a different lair somehow...?"
Shaking his head, he looks at the indicated wrong door to take. "And maybe we should take a look in that room anyway. What if their 'experiment' is linked to this disaster and we walk right past the issue?"
