Balin Katona's page

Hey guys, it might be obvious by now but I haven't had a lot of time lately. My office no longer permits access to the Paizo boards while I'm working, so a lot of my free time to post and play PbPs has been cut out. Given that and my busier schedule, I've had to drop a bunch of PbPs, and this one unfortunately is also on the list. I'm sorry it took so long to be sure I'd have to back out, but it's official. I've had a lot of fun, though, and I hope you guys will be able to continue (maybe with an injection of fresh PC blood.)

Hey guys, I'm alive! Superstar has sucked a lot of life out of me, however, though since I didn't win I won't be saddled with additional work that'll keep me away from my games. I'm going to take the rest of this week to decompress after everything that's gone on, and I'll be back to my normal efficacy on Monday. Sorry for how things have ground to a halt these last couple months, but that's past now!

If you need to GMPC me for the next few days, please feel free to, I won't mind at all. I should've said something to that effect before radio-silence kicked in.

Champion! Ah. Thought it was a regular skeleton. He can't control that.

Seeing the approaching undead, Balin hesitates on watching it approach and take a stab at Kairen. Seeing that it may actually pose a threat, the dhampir reaches for the wooden mask symbol tucked at his throat and clutches it in one hand, raising it aloft slowly.

"Lost soul, hold yourself fast and submit to the end!" Kairen's voice finds strength in it as he channels his will outward in a chilling wave that washes over Kairen and Zazou.

__________

Balin:
Standard Action Command Undead (Will DC 12 to resist)
If successful Balin is commanding the skeleton to stand still while Kairen and Zazou smash it to pieces.
 
Balin's Companion
Standard Action: Ready Action (Melee Attack) on any enemy moving within reach.

Hoping Zazou gives the door a search, but then we'll be opening it and giving it a little bit of exploration. Yeah.

Wow I totally forgot to roll for that. Hurr.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"That explains the auras," Balin notes studiously as he approaches Kairen's still-crackling form. "My apologies for not calling it out sooner, but I wasn't sure what effect they represented... entirely." Moving over to Kairen's side, Balin lays a hand on his shoulder and chants in a sibilant whisper, "मी या मनुष्याच्या जखमा बंद, अनेक गुप्त धनी आपले ज्ञान विनंती." A warm radiance spreads from Balin's hand and into Kairen, easing his pain and mending the blisters where lightning struck.

Lifting his hand away, Balin looks to the cobweb covered door. "When then, before we check the other statues, perhaps Zazou would like to investigate?" Balin motions to the door, while his bodyguard quietly approaches.

_______________

Stepping into the cathedralesque chamber, Balin tilts his head upward to stare at the distant ceiling. As he walks, the head of his cane marks a steady rhythm between footfalls. Behind him, Balin's companion glides with fluid grace at his heels, chain armor ever so subtly clinking as he moves. Pausing near the middle of the chamber, Balin looks around from one statue to the next, a single brow raised. After a moment, he pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose and looks back to the others.

"Fascinating," he remarks, though there's a long enough pause to make it uncertain just what it is he finds fascinating. "This structure is thousands of years old," Balin asserts with confidence, "and yet these statues look as new as the day they were fashioned." Walking back to Balin and the others, Balin motions to the black statue.

"This one, however..." his brows furrow subtly, and he says nothing. "We should do a thorough search of the room, but let's not touch anything just yet." Then, turning his back to the others, Balin speaks the same incantation as he had times before, causing his eyes to briefly illuminate as he scans the chamber.

____________
First up:
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 nnnnope.
 
Then, Balin is casting detect magic and scanning the room.

Balin has ranks in History
Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
I'll wait for the result of the check before posting anything else.

From near the rear of the group, Balin taps the end of his cane against the floor and motions ahead, sending his silent guarding in gliding pace past the others and to the ornate doors. The shield-bearing guardian swiftly draws his scimitar as he moves, turning his masked visage towards Kairen briefly, before coming to stand just a step away.

"This looks promising," Balin notes, stepping closer as he adjusts his glasses, squinting at the door to see if any meaning can be derived from the decorations on its surface.

Having been absent for an hour in the morning for privacy in prayer, having headed back to the corpse-filled room they had battled the zombies in, Balin seems both refreshed and relieved to be free of the stagnation of idleness. With his silent companion watching the junction of the hall, the dhampir creeps close to the tunnel opening, inspecting it with a gentle touch of the rough stone.

"We need to find our chickens," Balin surmises, rubbing a little bit of stone grit between forefinger and thumb. "If they haven't already fled through this tunnel, then we may need to discern why. This appears to be a means of egress into the Ossuary, which could also be a means of escape for us if we use up all of the power of the chime."

Narrowing his eyes at the opening, Balin stands up straight and dusts himself off. "However, I am loathe to send anyone in without at least attempting to discern what the bird-men knew." Looking down the other end of the hall, Balin motions with the head of his cane in that direction. "Let's check that side before we go looking for our feathered friends."

Balin had 1 point of Cha damage, but that is healed now thanks to rest. Can we get an updated layout of the tomb thus far, I forget what we have for exploration options at this point. With Gazzer gone (is he gone now or will his off-screen death happen later?) some reconsidering of how to react in combat will need to happen.
 
Balin will be preparing the same spells.

Is Gazzer still with us? I know Olwyn's pretty much gone.

Having been willing to go this far down the hall, Balin seems increasingly uncertain of the group's forward progress as they get deeper and deeper into the tomb. When Zazou finds one of the doors open, the cleric breathes in slowly and offers a look to his companion, then back to the goblin at the fore of the group. "Before we progress any further, a vote..." Balin speaks softly, not sure what may be nearby.

"Do we press on through this passage, or backtrack to a defensible position and hold up for a few hours to regain some of our strength. We have had several instances of foul luck since we arrived here." In the back of his mind, Balin was hoping to track down the cowardly tengu that fled from the battle as well and... he wasn't sure what would need to be done after that.

"I am nearly out of resources to bring to bear, and my guardian can stand watch indefinitely. He is a sleepless defender." Looking to the others with a raised brow, Balin awaits their responses.

Letting out a rasping breath, Balin looks around the room amidst the silence and waits for sign of further adversity. "I don't--" he rubs one hand at his head, thoughts cloudy and unfocused from the poison. "So much for our brave thieves. Useless." Balin's attention flicks to the others. "Is everyone alright?"

__________
How many more Fort saves does Balin need to make versus the poison? Or is 1 sufficient?

Going to wait and see if Zazou's hit drops the zombie before taking Balin's turn.

Is it back to my turn again?

Hi All!

Just to give you guys a heads-up, I'm super busy because of the holidays and haven't been on the Internet outside of my phone in a few days. I'll be delayed in updating things till this weekend, most likely, though if I manage to steal a little time here and there I will!

I hope you all had an excellent week! :D

(I'm going to take my action in assumption that Zazou is healing the injured Kairen like his OOC indicated, not the uninjured Balin like his descriptive text said.)
 
With a wave of one hand, Balin exhales a breathy, "Move around, flank it!" At his command, Balin's shrouded companion steps aside and circles the zombie, shield raised and sword striking out with a fluid slashing motion. The stroke is not hard enough to penetrate the zombie's thick hide, but it does distract it from the winged danger approaching.

In a haze of swirling black smoke and flickering red lights, a black-feathered bird the size of a hawk appears with a flash of hellfire and a whiff of brimstone. The creature lets out a piercing shriek and swoops down on the zombie, talons raking and beak snapping at its rotten flesh. Balin, to his credit, just allows this battle to play out, slowly edging towards the door with each step.
__________

Balin's Companion
Free Action: 5-foot step to J5
Standard Action: Attack zombie
> Scimitar Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 (miss)
 
Fiendish Eagle (summoned into square J7 for flanking)
Full-Round Action: Full-attack @ zombie
> Attack Roll: Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6
>> Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
> Attack Roll: Talon: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14
>> Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
> Attack Roll: Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
>> Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
 
Balin
Fort Save vs. DC 15: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15 (1 success!)
Standard Action: Fight Defensively (-4 attack roll, +2 AC)
Free Action: 5-Foot step to H4 (where Zazou was)

As Balin retreats, his shrouded companion maneuvers to continue its assault. Slicing at the zombie with its scimitar, the silent warrior keeps his shield raised and his braced stance wide. Unfortunately, the zombie's thick hide proves too thick for such a shallow slash to cut through, and the impact of the blade causes the abomination little harm.

___________

Balin's Companion
Standard Action: Attack Zombie
> Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 (miss)

Hissing in pain as the caustic fluid covers his body, Balin recoils and staggers away from the zombie with one hand raised to shield his face. "Piercing attacks! Piercing attacks -- Arrows! Does anyoen carry a damnable bow!?" he shouts in some vain attempt to direct his allies, even though the most pertinent information already became relayed in the form of a poisonous rupture from the undead creature.

Gagging loudly, Balin smears the gore across his face as he tries to wipe it away, looking back at the zombie through muck-spattered lenses. Gasping for breath, Balin draws back his hand clutching the wooden mask talisman and begins chanting once more in that sibilant, whispering tongue. "अज्ञात न पाहिलेला, परमेश्वराच्या मास्टर, मी आपल्या मार्गावर माझ्या सेवा महान प्रतिकार तोंड. या गडद ठिकाणी माझ्या अन्वेषण मला मदत करण्यासाठी मला म्हणाला आपल्या ज्ञान एक दूत पाठवा!" As he chants, Balin envisions the servant his deity's will would take -- wings spread wide and talons to rend; the secret of flight in predatory form.

____________________________________
Balin: Fort Save: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5 (+2 if it's a disease, but that doesn't appear to matter :x)

Free Action: 5-foot step away from the zombie
Full-Round Action: Cast summon monster I for a fiendish eagle (it will arrive at the beginning of Balin's turn next round, provided he isn't disrupted)

Seeing Kairen take a solid hit and recoil from the zombie's flailing limbs, Balin hisses and advances into the room to stand at Kairen's back. "Not yet" the cleric curses under his breath, pressing his bare palm against the back of the paladin with his wooden mask symbol clutched in his other hand.

"मी या मनुष्याच्या जखमा बंद, अनेक गुप्त धनी आपले ज्ञान विनंती," Balin chants in a whispery voice and a sibilant tongue as a wave of positive energy surges outward and into Kairen. At the same moment, Balin's companion sweeps its scimitar out at the zombie it had been fighting, attempting to finally fell the creature.

____

Balin
Move Action: Move behind Kairen
Standard Action: Cast cure light wounds on Kairen
> Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Balin's Companion
Standard Action: Attack same zombie as before
> Attack Roll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 (miss)

"Something..." Balin's eyes narrow as he watches the way the zombies move in the dark. "Something isn't right about this," he warns, pushing his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. "I don't-- I'm not sure these are ordinary members of the walking deceased. Watch their stomachs, there may be... nesting things."

Ordering his companion to stand at the ready, Balin waits until the others are focused on the approaching undead before retrieving his wooden mask symbol from where it is tucked inside of his jacket. Holding the symbol out towards his shrouded companion, Balin focuses his consciousness outward and to the tether of negative energy he can feel urging the zombies to movement.

Then, brows furrowing, Balin can assess that the power of a group of zombies is too great for him to control alone. Cursing, he tucks the symbol back into his jacket and thrusts his hand forward with a mental command to his guardian. In an instant the black-clad figure is sweeping forward with a hauntingly smooth gait, shield raised and scimitar readied to strike.

The robe-shrouded companion moves in without fear or hesitation, its scimitar flashing through the air with lethal accuracy and ferocity, cleaving through one of the zombie's arms, dropping its forearm and wrist down to the floor. The companion raises his shield, lowers his stance and swings his blade out wide, ready for another attack.

__________

Balin's Companion
Move Action: Move to engage zombie
Standard Action: Melee Attack with scimitar
Companion: Attack @ Zombie: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 (threat)
> Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
>> Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 = 10
 
Balin
Free Action: 5-foot step back
Standard Action: Withdraw concealed symbol of Norgorber
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 (to identify the corpses as zombies)

"Come long," Balin murmurs, jerking his head in the direction of the doorway out as he moves back into the hall, his shrouded companion ahead of him. As he exits out of the room, Balin motions to what he presumes is the north with the head of his cane. "This way, there were three doors we had not yet searched there. We'll investigate them, then come back to the branch in the hall we've not searched."

Looking to Gazzer and Zazou, Balin motions for them to go ahead. "If you wouldn't mind searching the doors when we come to them, I would be most appreciative."

__________
Suggesting we go north from our current position to finish up the three doors in the hall there. We'll check out the doors/rooms in order that we come across them.

One brow raised, Balin looks to Kairen with momentary disbelief. He remains still and silent for a short time, then realizes that Kairen's assessment matches up with his own deductions. "He speaks the truth," Balin asserts, "I can sense the magic the illusion leaves behind, but could not discern its location. Kairen's revelation proves why."

Walking over to the corpses, Balin reaches down in haste to lay a hand on the jewels in an attempt to pierce the veil of illusion by interacting with it.

_______
Balin: Will Save: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 = 17 (+2 bonus vs. mind-affecting effects)

Stepping calmly into the chamber now that neither Kairen nor Zazou have perished, the bald priest examines the room with an inquisitive eye. Brows furrowing together, he looks not at the physical but somewhere beyond. Momentarily, Balin's irises glow with a violet light before fading back to their normal pale coloration.

As he steps in, Balin's companion silently moves in behind him like an armored phantom. The black-cloaked figure stands watch beside the door, shield raised and scimitar pointed tip-down towards the ground.

__________
Cast detect magic and search the room for auras.

Nodding in recognition to the Tengu's assessment, Balin motions towards the door and his silent companion glides in smooth gait in that direction. Shield raised it waits beside the door, scimitar drawn and ready to strike. Balin offers a look to Kairen, then nods firmly and squares his attention on the doorway some teen feet from it.

__________
Balin will command his companion to ready an action (melee attack with scimitar) against anything emerging from the room once Kairen opens the door.

"It could well be worth your life," Balin calmly states as he steps into the room well after the seal had been broken. Striding up to Olwyn, the pale man offers a hand out to her, palm up. "Such magic is within the sphere of my training, I could utilize the scroll without issue, if you would be so kind." One dark brow raises, and he adds, "It would be wise to prepare for the worst, after all."

As Balin enters, his black-clad guardian silently walks in behind him, his gait even and gliding as his robes brush across the floor.

_________
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Identifying the powder ring to see if it is a component for a spell or not.

Looking over Kairen's shoulder, one brow raised, Balin shakes his head and looks back to the tengu. "That... entirely depends on your definition of treasure," the bald man notes sarcastically. Then, nudging Kairen's back with the head of his cane, Balin urges him into the room. "Still, best safe than sorry."

I'll take a look at that map when I get out of the office, otherwise I'll defer to Kairen or someone else's suggestion.

Nodding in agreement, Balin is sure to offer the requisite amount of praise for the decision. "A sound choice, Kairen." At that, Balin tucks his handkerchief back in his coat and motions back the way they'd come with the head of his cane. Balin's silent protector glides past the others and moves to accompany Kairen in the front.

"Lead on."

Glancing down at the body, Balin considers the implications of its location. Another look over the wire rims of his spectacles at the tengu comes with a level delivery of, "of course," muffled by the rag he holds over his mouth and nose. Making his way out of the room to get some fresh air, Balin clears his throat and looks back over his shoulder to Kairen and the others.

"I'm of half a mind to say that the priests of Pharasma up above have no understanding of what it is that this place either was once or has become." Brows furrowed, Balin glances towards the body of the creature, then back to Kairen.

"Which way?"

_____
Did we ever get a map of the tunnels thus far? I forget. That'd help remembering which ways we've gone.

*juggles chainsaws*

Silently, Balin's guardian stares at the tengu. The old, hand-carved wooden mask of an elderly man is an unflinching countenance that the bird-men are greeted with. The narrow eye-slits of the mask show little behind them, and with a fluidic grace the figure steps aside to allow the tengu past.

Balin comes up behind them and clears his throat softly. "Yes, let's... go to where we last saw a sign of Skezz. I think that's our best option at this point."

Making a noise in the back of his throat Balin offers a brief look to Kairen, then back to the tengu. "We're not entirely sure if he's dead or not, or at least-- I'm not. Perhaps Kairen saw something different." Tucking his cane under one arm, Balin steps past the tengu into the room beyond, looking for the treasures they spoke of. His silent protector stands motionlessly out in the hall.

"Regardless," Balin continues as he looks around the room, "you're welcome to accompany us. We have a task to perform here for the church, but it does not preclude treasure-hunting, so to speak." Or grave-robbing, depending on who you're asking. Apparently Balin is a bit more of an armchair cleric of Pharasma than first appearances let on. It's the secrets they know of that he's truly after.

They must know of a back way in...

Seeing bird men emerge from the doorway, Balin raises one brow and lets his head cant slightly to the side. "Well, that's--," he clicks his tongue agains tthe roof of his mouth. "I expected kobolds." Looking askance to Kairen, Balin takes a step back and away from the door.

"Well Skezz, Izzy," Balin rests a hand on his chest and bows slightly at the waist, "I am Balin Katona," he motions to Kairen, "This is the honorable Kairen Valos," then in a flick of his wrist he motions to Gazzer and Zazou, "Our erstwhile defenders Gazzer and Zazou," and then with a gesture of his cane over his shoulder, "the talkative Olwyn" and finally to the hooded and masked figure looming beside Balin, "and my protector."

Tapping his cane on the floor, Balin looks between Skezz and Izzy. "Now, most importantly," he narrows his eyes and pushes his spectacles up the bridge of his nose. "How in the Unnamed Pages did you get in here?"

Oh God. Ahahaha. Cha 11 dhampir rolls a 20 on his Diplomacy check.

Groaning softly, Balin rests his palm against his head and wrenches his eyes shut. Breathing in slowly and calmly, the darkly-dressed priest tries to center himself instead of saying with is directly on his mind. Stepping forward to come beside Kairen, he addresses the creatures on the other side of the door for the first time.

"Look," the strain in Balin's voice is nigh palpable, "We were sent down here by the clergy of Pharasma to resolve the issues present. If you want to starve to death in that dark room, or perhaps try to eat oen another before you starve to death that is your perrogative."

Breathing in deeply, Balin brushes his fingers against his brow, then straightens his spectacles. "Alternatively, you could come out here. Not die, and perhaps..." he searches for some proverbial carrot to put before the horse, "get a cut of the treasure we find."

Idiots!

____
Diplomacy Check: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Balin's shrouded companion gently sets Gazzer down on the ground at Balin's direction once the ratperson awakens. Hearing the voices of the creatures, Balin offers a look to Kairen to lead the way diplomatically.

"Fair enough," Balin agrees, motioning to Gazzer's small, prone form. As he does, Balin's silent companion stows his shield on his back and takes a knee. In a single, fluid motion the shrouded companion lifts up Gazzer's unconscious form and carries him over one shoulder.

"Let's return to our erstwhile chickens and see what they think of this revelation." Offering a look down to Zazou, Balin manages a faint smile before turning back to the stairs and Olwyn. "Indispensible aid as always, my dear."

"Good work," Balin's voice echoes in the dark as the creature's body slumps over. Soon, the darkly dressed priest's form comes into view down the stairs, and he motions with two fingers through the air, directing his companion to a grim task. The head of the sinspawn is jerked back by a grip at its jaw and the edge of the scimitar slashes its throat to ensure its death.

"Grisly affairs, that," Balin cooley notes before taking a knee beside Gazzer. Reaching into the collar of his buttoned coat, Balin moves to withdraw his holy symbol. View of the event is shrouded as his guardian comes in to stand over him, obfuscating his actions.

A moment later, Balin utters an incantation in eldritch chant, "موت کا راز، اس مخلوق پر زندگی کے اپنی سانس کو ظاہر." Around his clenched hand, a pale glow spreads out from between his fingers. Balin squints as the light blossoms and sinks into Gazzer's rent flesh, knitting flesh shut and sucking blood back inside of his body.

As Balin finishes his chant, Gazzer lets out a reflexive, wet cough and rolls onto his side, unconscious still but not dead. Dutifully tucking his holy symbol back into his jacket, Balin stands up straight and brushes off the grime on his knee that touched the floor.

Finally, the pale, bald man offers a raised brow to Kairen. "He is still incapacitated. What now?"

____________
Cast cure light wounds on Gazzer Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Balin remains back on the stairs, unwilling to wade into a dangerous melee and likewise unwilling to expend his precious magical resources on a single opponent. Raising one gloved hand, however, he directs his guardian to strike down at the creature, utilizing Gazzer's position to divide the sinspawn's attention.

Shield raised, Balin's silent companion winds back with his scimitar and then swiftly draws the blade down the sinspawn's back, splitting its rubbery flesh open and leaving an oozing trail of its viscous blood pulsing down its back. The masked warrior steps back after the hit, lifting its shield once more and flanking now with Zazou.

____

(Companion) Standard Action: Attack Sinspawn (flanking)
Attack; Scimitar: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23 (threat)
>> Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 (no crit)
>> Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Free Action: 5' step over to A6

From up on the stairs, Balin surveys the ferocity with which the creature attacks. Adjusting his spectacles, he offers a quick glance at the beast and surmises it must be some form of Aberration or perhaps humanoid, given his unfamiliarity with its anatomy and morphology. Brandishing his cane ahead, Balin directs his companion to move from the top of the stairs down to assist the smaller warriors in their altercation.

Without a word, Balin's masked guardian begins descending the stairs, night black shield raised and sword drawn, its dark robe flowing down the steps as it moves with a haunting fluidity. The masked guardian draws out the sinspawn's attacks, shield raised, as it moves to settle into a flanking position with the creature. Balin, patiently, waits with a scrutinizing stare to see how well it performs.

___
Balin directs his companion into position as noted. The companion takes two move actions to get into place. Balin takes no actions himself, this round.

Will that work?

Since it's a 10' wide corridor, with Gazzer and Zazou at the top of the stairs and the creature at the base, I imagine it looks something like this (key: S-Sinspawn, G-Gazzer, Z-Zazou, B-Balin, K-Kairen, C-Skeletal Companion, O-Olwyn):
 
S
G Z
_ _
_ _
B K
C O
 
So I'm going to have Balin's companion double move down the stairs, around the sinspawn (provoking an AoO) and then into flanking with Gazzer. So it should look like this afterward:
 
C _
S
G Z
_ _
_ _
B K
_ O

Figured something like that was up.

Woo! Sinspawn! :D

Stepping up behind Kairen, Balin lays a hand on the knight's armored shoulder. "Hold," he states, brandishing his cane in a warding gesture for those behind him. "Blood, at the bottom of the stairs."

Narrowing his eyes, Balin looks over to Zazou and Gazzer, "If you two would be so kind as to stealthily investigate, your keen eyes could be of great use." Turning his attention back to Kairen, Balin speaks softly. "Black feathers and blood, perhaps our monster?"

Let's go with C.

Clearing his throat, Balin gives a tap of his cane on the floor and motions to his protector to begin advancing back down the hall. "No sense in continuing negotiations with them," he concedes. "Let's go back to that corridor they're talking about and see if we can find the source of their misery."