Ankha Brushbender's page

Ankha breathes a sigh of relief as the skum’s blade glances off her armor—that would have been a heavy blow to take. Maintaining her defensive position in front of her friends, she waits for an opening and then lashes out hard with her fauchard, trying to eliminate the dangerous threat. “Die you rebel skum!”

Fauchard Attack & 2H Damage (S): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d10 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Suddenly she blinks, as if she had just processed what was happening with the prisoners on the other side of the room. “Wait … Eliza? Eliza Haniver? We’re here to help! You don’t want to kill us the way Silas Weatherbee was killed, do you?”

She will use the Bodyguard feat whenever possible, spending an AoO to improve an ally’s AC by +5 (with successful Aid Another on any roll except a 1).

Mutagen: +4 Str, -2 Int, +2 natural armor for AC18

@GM: Just checking: Did Ankha’s attack (she rolled 13) miss by 5 or less? If the illusory copy functions like Mirror Image then that should destroy the figment.

@GM: Thanks for the pictures! I had trouble viewing them earlier too but the link works fine now.

“Ooh, mind control!” Ankha exclaims in horror and awe. “I was wondering why prisoners would have weapons and armor. And I guess that explains their rather rude behavior.” She looks apologetically at Becky, saddened that the prisoners didn’t even bother to acknowledge her cheerful greeting.

The talk of psychic magic goes over her head though, and she attributes Braxton’s odd reaction to … well, his usual odd behavior. With her companions holding off the dominated prisoners, Ankha takes another swing at her suddenly blurry opponent.

Fauchard Attack & 2H Damage (S): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 131d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Mirror image: 1 is a miss: 1d2 ⇒ 2

She will use the Bodyguard feat whenever possible, spending an AoO to improve an ally’s AC by +5 (with successful Aid Another on any roll except a 1).

Mutagen: +4 Str, -2 Int, +2 natural armor for AC18

I'll also wait a bit for Braxton's action, in case it changes anything

1st Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
2nd Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"What in the Hells is wrong with you?"

Ankha is about to ask Braxton the same thing, but the intruder alters her priorities. As soon as she notices the skum, she pivots and raises her weapon defensively, but too late—the creature inflicts a nasty blow upon the half-elf. After a sorry look and a quick glance to ensure that the wound isn’t mortal, the alchemist retaliates with a powerfully accurate strike of her own.

Fauchard Attack & 2H Damage (S): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Confirm crit & crit damage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

She will use the Bodyguard feat whenever possible, spending an AoO to improve an ally’s AC by +5 (with successful Aid Another on any roll except a 1).

Mutagen: +4 Str, -2 Int, +2 natural armor for AC18

Ankha’s relief at finding the captives turns to mild puzzlement and concern. “No,” she shakes her head, “we were told about the skum leader but didn’t see anyone below.” She glances about, wondering if they had missed something.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

“What happened? How were you captured? How long have you been here?”

Finding nothing of interest, Ankha follows Braxton up to the next level.

Ankha looks about warily. “I don’t see the leader anywhere,” she says to Braxton. “Perhaps the robots meant the floor above?” While waiting for the swashbuckler to lead the way up the next ramp, she glances curiously at the large table and quaffs her mutagen in preparation for the battle to come.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Mutagen now active: +2 AC, +4 Str, -2 Int for 30 minutes

Ankha nods at Braxton, holding her fauchard in preparation for combat, then waits for the brewer to finish ascending the ramp before following.

We’ve already committed to going upstairs, so let’s do that and we can check out the recording gem later.

Ankha nods at Braxton in relief, glad that the robots didn’t ask her to model more clothing. “It’s a little big,” she confesses shyly, before adding in a more determined voice, “Let’s go find the missing colonists.” She exits the room, ready to follow Braxton’s lead up the ramp to the second floor.

A gnawing doubt slowly creeps into Ankha’s mind. Turning to Becky, she whispers “Do you have any idea what the robots are saying?”

“Oh! Uh, okay.” Ankha looks quite confused, but gamely accepts the proffered hat and places it on her head. “Like this?” she asks uncertainly, having never modeled headwear before. She tries rotating from one side to another to offer views from all angles.

“Uh, okay,” Ankha responds uncertainly to Braxton. She gives the robots a large, cheesy smile and a merry wave.

Diplomacy (Aid Another): 1d20 ⇒ 1

Not understanding anything the robots said, and without any extracts to help her in that regard, Ankha hangs back by the door, trusting in those who do speak the strange language. All she can do is observe these advanced constructs, in the hopes of remembering something useful about them.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

@GM: Thanks for clarifying! Permanent Detect Magic did seem too good to be true. I’m going to blame the misunderstanding on Ankha. :)

Misunderstanding Becky’s explanation, and unable to see any magical auras while within the ring itself, Ankha’s excitement fades into disappointment. “No need,” she responds sadly to Becky, “this thing’s broken—I don’t see anything at all. Maybe we can fix it later, but let’s check out the other door—maybe they’ll have a working one over there.”

Go open the western door (below the crossbow that Ankha disarmed).

“Ooh, nice job!” Ankha praises Ku’Hania’s skillful clean-up. “You definitely have a way with water. Now, let’s …” The alchemist is about to go through the newly opened door when a particularly valuable piece of machinery slams forcefully into the wall, making a sizable dent. “Braxton! Stop acting like a petulant child. We could use this workshop to craft valuable ioun stones for the colony, if it weren’t destroyed. Does Ku’Hania need to take you back to the colony? As you yourself said, adventuring is not for small children.”

With a mild humph the alchemist follows Becky into the next chamber. When the bard explains the purpose of the identification ring Ankha grows visibly excited. “Ooh! Let’s see if it works.” Not shy to engage in self-experimentation, she quickly steps inside the metal ring to see what happens.

How perfect! Ankha does have 3 ranks in Spellcraft. Just to be clear: does the ring effectively cast Permanency (Detect Magic) on Ankha?

Ankha shakes her head. "No, this place is just a factory for ioun stones. The warden jacks must come from somewhere else. Maybe here?" The alchemist tentatively tries the northern door in the far corner of the workshop.

“Ooh, look!” Ankha exclaims as she picks up an ioun torch off the table. “It’s just like yours Braxton. I’m pretty sure they make all sorts of ioun stones here.” She puts the magical item in her bandolier, then gestures to Ku’Hania. “Could you wash this workshop clean of all the dust? I know diamond dust is good for some spells and rituals, but we really don’t want any in our eyes.”

“Well done!” Ankha praises Ku’Hania’s prowess with her spear. The alchemist stows her sling staff and gathers her fauchard before entering the eastern room, both out of curiosity and as a precaution to ensure there are no more skum. Peering at the shelf and workbench, she points at the crystal fragments. “That’s not the same crystals we found under the well—the ones those strange creatures were guarding—is it? Or maybe they’re using them for making spybots?”

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

If there’s nothing of interest in the room, she examines the door at the other end and cautiously tries to open it.

“Let’s try this again,” Ankha mumbles to herself, upset that her last attack was so unhelpful. She draws her sling staff and wields it high like a club. Stepping in, she brings it down with a forceful smack against the skum’s skull.
Attack (+2 flank, +1 Becky): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 16
Damage (2H B): 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Sneak Attack Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Move: Draw Halfling sling staff.
Free: 5’ step
Standard: Attack skum.

“Becky—other side!” Without missing a beat, Ankha tries to direct the bard into a flanking position on the opposite side of the skum. Once the young girl is in position, the alchemist unleashes another hefty swing with her polearm. But she focuses entirely too much on power over accuracy, and the force of her swing sends the weapon flying from her grasp.

Attack (+2 flank, +1 Becky): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 10
Damage (2H slashing): 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Damage (sneak attack): 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10
Delay to after Becky, then attack with fauchard.

“More?!” Ankha exclaims as more skum rush to attack. “Hang on Braxton,” she cries out reassuringly as she hurries into action, skirting around the swashbuckler to a spot where her polearm has room to operate. There she unleashes a heavy two-handed chopping swing against the nearest skum.

Attack (fauchard): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Damage (2H slashing): 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Move 20’. Attack red skum.

“Eep!” Ankha exclaims in surprise. “Not much of a welcome.” An open door leading to an ambush and traps—for all their advances, Azlant civilization has yet to master hospitality.

“There’s a control panel” she urgently points out to the others. “See if it disables the trap. I’ll deal with the crossbows.” Stepping to the left and swinging her long polearm up, she tries to knock the crossbow out of the clockwork’s grasp.

Disarm w/reach weapon: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

“Ooh, I wonder if the warden jack swarm uses the circle for healing?” Ankha idly wonders out loud. But when Becky deciphers the Azlanti words, the alchemist’s eyes shine brightly and all thoughts about constructs are forgotten. “Greatest potential … that’s wonderful! And with such advanced technology—that’s still working today, centuries later—I’m sure they achieved their goal of giving everyone a happy and long life! What an amazing society this must have been!”

Awestruck and giddy, Ankha moves to open the door on the left. “Let’s uncover their secrets!”

Perception (check for traps etc): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Knowledge (Arcana) on tiny jewels in murals which I suspect are ioun stones?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

After picking up and stowing one of the tridents, Ankha hurries to Becky’s side. “Ooh, that is interesting,” the alchemist admits. She doesn’t know how to view magical auras the way any wizard-in-training can, but she has studied a fair bit of magical theory to assist her experimental research. “Hmm …” she murmurs. “Do you see how the circle fluctuates a bit there … and there? I suspect it’s some sort of transmutation magic.”

Spellcraft (Aid Another): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
What a wonderfully efficient roll! That's just enough for success, so +5 to Becky's roll

“Not illusion,” she smiles apologetically at Braxton, then winks mischievously at Becky. “Don’t mind Braxton—he has no use for magic unless it makes beer.”

“Well done everybody,” Ankha relaxes as the second skum falls to the floor, dead, then has a sudden misgiving. “There aren’t any more hiding back there, are there?” She stabs her fauchard through the eastern ‘wall’, then speculatively reaches a hand through it, before cautiously poking her head through the illusory barrier, followed by her whole body. “Nope, all clear. But we’d better be careful from now on, if they’ve gone to all this trouble to hide an ambush behind illusions. And with such well armed guards,” she adds, when it’s revealed that the tridents are powerful magical weapons.

After searching behind the illusions to ensure that there aren’t any secret passages and that the double door is the only way forward, she suggests “We should take the tridents with us. I’ve heard that magic weapons are really useful against some creatures.”

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

I think Braxton is the only PC with the martial proficiency required for tridents, but Ankha would happily carry the other one.

Ankha would use all 3 of her AoOs to try to improve Braxton’s AC by 5 (via her Bodyguard feat), but it seems it’d be moot in every case, so I won’t bother rolling.

“Becky, watch out!” Ankha cries out too late. Fortunately the second skum’s strike is wide, and the alchemist breathes a sigh of relief. Stepping back to gain more room to use her polearm, she unleashes a wide, sweeping slash at the fish-creature.
Attack (fauchard): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Damage (slashing, sharpened): 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

5’ step. Attack skum next to Becky.

“Wait, what?!” Ankha exclaims in surprise as Braxton thrusts his rapier through the gleaming white wall. “They’re in the walls?!” Seeing a trident burst from the wall and blood dripping from the swashbuckler’s blade is enough to quell any doubts, and the alchemist quickly moves to attack the skum that ambushed Braxton.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Damage (2H fauchard, S): 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
5’ step west. Attack skum. If needed, Will saves are +1.

Ankha will stay next to Becky. I can't move her into the tower on the map though, because Becky's token hasn't moved in yet.

“Odd that the door was left open,” Ankha remarks in a quiet whisper, cognizant of the unknown threats that might lie within. With her polearm gripped in readiness, she carefully examines the threshold and area around the entrance, looking for footprints or anything else out of the ordinary, then protectively follows the young bard.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Ankha acknowledges Braxton with a nod. “Just give me a minute,” she mutters after ensuring that there is no sign of a swarm anywhere. She takes off the cumbersome swarmsuit and stows it away in her backpack. “Ooh, that feels so much better,” she grins at the sensation of being able to move freely once again. “Okay, ready when you are.”

Ankha will follow Braxton into the tower, with fauchard in hand.

“Maybe they left on a long range patrol, like when we saw those tracks far away from here?” Ankha suggests hopefully. “Anyway, we should take advantage of their absence. Just be ready to follow Braxton’s plan if they come back.” With her still lit torch held aloft, Ankha leads the way onward towards the tower, waddling awkwardly forward in the heavy swarmsuit as she glances about for the swarm or any other dangers.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

“I’m not sure this swarmsuit is fireproof,” Ankha mildly demurs, “but I’d be happy to try whatever you think is best.” She takes a few moments to retrieve a torch from her pack and light it with her flint and steel. “Just tell me what to do,” she says, ready to follow the swashbuckler’s lead.

Ankha will do whatever Braxton tells her to do. Feel free to take control of her for expediency.

Ankha shakes her head. "No, unfortunately I don't have any, but maybe I could set you down on a pillar where the warden jacks can't reach you. Or perhaps you could use some rope to climb the side of the tower?" The alchemist seems a little disheartened. "Sorry I don't have a better idea."

“I think those other trails were made by another swarm,” Ankha responds to Braxton after everyone has safely retreated from the threat. “Warden jacks certainly aren’t unique.” She slowly puts on the bulky swarmsuit, then mixes one of her extracts.

“This suit will protect me, and I think you’ll all be safe if I carry you—these warden jacks are more like ball bearings than like spiders or centipedes that can climb up walls; I think they’ll have trouble rolling all the way up my legs. One of you can ride piggy-back style, and I can carry the others, one in each arm.” She quaffs the extract and her muscles almost immediately begin to bulge.

Don swarmsuit, then mix and drink extract of Ant Haul (her max load is now 900 lb). The plan is to walk past the swarm to the tower, while carrying her companions out of reach of the swarm.

“Let’s get out of here!” Ankha urges. “That’ll give us time to regroup and put on the swarmsuit.”

Double move 60’ further away from the swarm. Ankha is pretty useless in this fight.

“Ooh, so that’s what made those weird tracks! I think it’s a warden jack swarm—probably a security system for the tower. Our weapons are useless against it, but something like the flaming sphere wand should work well,” Ankha informs the others. “They can also extend nasty spikes like caltrops, so watch your step.” Without any means of harming the swarm, she muses for a moment, then hurries away from the horde of ball bearings while rapidly rummaging through her pack for the swarmsuit they had found. “Just stay out of the way for a bit while I put this on ...”

Move 30’ away from swarm & tower. Retrieve swarmsuit. How long would it take to put it on? Could I don it in 1 round?

I’ll wait for answers to the following questions first before posting actions:

1) Does the swarm have any weaknesses?
2) Does the swarm have any special abilities?
3) Is the swarm confined to stay within a certain area?
4) How far will the swarm pursue us?

Also note that I won’t have access to Roll20 until Monday or Tuesday, so I have no idea where Ankha or anyone else is in relation to the swarm.

Just making the knowledge check in advance
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
May we assume that we have the wands that Dakari took since he's no longer with the party? (Not that we can use them, but just in case.)

Ankha is somewhat downcast after reluctantly relenting to peer pressure, especially when even the celedons agree that her questions can wait. It doesn’t take long, however, for her to regain her usual cheery mood—after all, Braxton is correct that the prisoners can’t wait as long as a pair of eternal statues can—and she is humming a merry tune when they encounter the stone promenade.

“Ooh, more ankhegs!” she murmurs in a tone that is diametrically opposite from Braxton’s. “How perfect! I used up the last one for more experiments.” Just in case there’s a confrontation, the alchemist quickly mixes together an enlarging extract, then helps the swashbuckler search for more signs of the ankhegs. “Though I suppose we can’t dilly dally with the ankhegs any more than we could with the celedons—we need to focus on the prisoners first. Perhaps we should just toss alcehmist’s fire into the holes and be on our way?”

Survival (Aid Another): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Success! That's +5 to Braxton's roll.

“You’ve actually been alive since before the Azlant empire fell!!” Ankha’s eyes are as wide and excited as if they were spherical squirrels overdosed on nuts, caffeine, and sugar. She didn’t really expect them to be alive during Azlant times—that was just wishful thinking—but now that her wish has come true ...

“Do you need to do anything to stay alive for so long? Special diet, exercise regimen, topical application of mildly poisonous flora or toxic heavy metals?” She rattles off the questions like kernels of corn popping in a bonfire, and in the blink of an eye the alchemist has fished out her formulae book in one hand, a quill in the other, and both are waiting eagerly to spring into action. “Not that I, uh, know the latter from direct experience,” she adds, in response to any judgmental looks she may receive. “Or do you just need to pray to your goddess, or maybe even do nothing at all?”

She makes a distracted, shooing gesture at Braxton without even looking at him. “You go on. I’ll catch up later, or else come back if you need me.” Her attention is firmly fixed upon the pair of statues. That Braxton is behaving just like Eliza—leaving immediately with promises to return and learn—does not cross her mind at all. Only one thing is on her mind.

“Please, tell me all about your creator Acavna. What must I do to have her grant me your longevity—or even immortality?--and eternal youth?”

”I believe accords are a type of vehicle.”

“Wait, what?” Ankha exclaims in confusion. “So an accord is like a carriage, or a ship? Would it help if we fixed it? Or is this an Azlanti thing?” She watches helplessly, then suddenly smacks herself in the forehead.

“Ooh, of course! I keep forgetting about Alba’s formula.” The alchemist plucks a vial from her bandolier, one that she actually had the foresight to prepare that morning but had forgotten. After gulping it down she listens to the conversation with brand new ears.

Drink extract of Comprehend Languages

“Ooh, I can understand! And I’m so glad you can understand Common. Who is this other pupil of yours, and what’s in the crumbling structure to the north?” she asks eagerly in the common tongue. After a pause, she puts away her weapon and narrows her eyes, examining the statues more closely. “And … what are you? Are you statues come to life? Were you alive during the Azlant empire?”

“Ooh, is this another Azlanti ruin?” Ankha exclaims at the incongruous sight of a marble monument. When the statue turns, however, she instinctively grabs her fauchard and brandishes it defensively. “Can you understand what it’s saying?” she asks in a sidelong whisper to the others.

Note that I'll be away on travels August 10 - 19. Posting may or may not be impacted. I definitely won't have access to Roll20 though.

“Ooh, it all makes perfect sense!” Ankha finally exclaims after a long pause. “The skum we killed attacked us with nets—they must have been trying to capture more prisoners! And Ku’Hania’s right, maybe this is where the missing colonists went! Though it seems strange for fish-creatures to have a base so far inland? I wonder if something else is involved?”

She muses for a moment, then nods her head. “Braxton’s right—we need to investigate this tower right now. Or, at least, first thing tomorrow morning,” she looks up at the night sky and corrects herself. “The prisoners have endured enough—they can’t wait. We’ll have to talk to the grindylow later.”

It’s currently night time, right? Ankha will make preparations and head out to the tower first thing in the morning.

"I don't know what it means, but I'm sure you can figure it out, right?"

“Ooh, wait a minute,” Ankha holds up a finger as realization dawns on her face. Buoyed by Ramona’s confidence in their translating abilities, she quickly mixes and drinks an extract, then examines the map again. “I don’t know what language this is, but I can read it now.”

After deciphering the script for everyone, the alchemist muses “I think we should ask Kelpa about the skum. Given that they both live in the water, the grindylow might be able to tell us more about them.”

Drink extract of Comprehend Languages

Thanks for the reminder! I'll still see if someone else can translate it first though--don't want to steal the spotlight from an NPC. :)

Apparently not understanding his intent, Ankha gives Braxton a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry—the one you killed is a perfectly good specimen, so it’s okay that this one wasn’t butchered properly. Sometimes it’s hard to be as precise as you’d like in the heat of battle. Plus, there’s another one I can collect parts from.” So saying, the devoted alchemist starts snipping off samples from the dead skum and storing them in a variety of jars and vials. She doesn’t touch the one killed so precisely by Braxton’s rapier though: “Please be careful with that one. It’s rare to have such an excellent specimen with just two small holes in it.”

When the map is discovered, Ankha hesitates. “We should definitely report back to Ramona and see if Carver or someone else can translate that. But give me a moment to see if I can track down where these things came from first. We need to be careful in case there are more nearby.” She starts examining and following the skums’ footsteps.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Ankha grits her teeth as she pulls her bloody arm free from the monster’s jaws, then steps back to gain more room for her polearm. Taking advantage of Becky’s brilliant distraction on the opposite side, the alchemist whirls and brings her fauchard down in a deadly overhand chop.

Attack (+2 flank, +1 Becky): 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 19
Damage (fauchard, sneak attack): 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 122d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

5’ step. Attack skum.

“Don’t fishermen normally use nets on fish in the water, not people on land?” Ankha asks Braxton in mock seriousness. Seeing the Caydenite’s exceptional combat prowess, she focuses her attention on the other side of the battlefield. With a wide sweeping arc she slashes her fauchard at the one menacing Becky, then steps protectively to the side of the young bard.

Attack & Damage vs Red with Fauchard: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 171d10 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Thanks to mutagen & Becky: AC 19, CMD 19; +4 Str, -2 Int
In addition to the usual AoOs, if anyone attacks Becky or Ku'Hania, Ankha will use her new Bodyguard feat to try to boost their AC by 5. She'll succeed on any roll except a natural 1.