Bublaka's page

Thanks for taking up the reins and helping complete the tale, Death-Lok.

I just lost several days' planning and hours' writing for my epilogue. I thought it was turning out really well. I think I've recreated the gist of it from memory. I hope you enjoy it.

When Friar's eyes flutter open, there is no disguising the relief in the bard's smile to see that his literal wish has come true. He quickly helps the cleric to his feet as they watch the structure self-destruct around them.

As the citizens are released from their magical boltholes and they look around at the ruins of their great city and the cheer goes up for the heroes, Bublaka uses his magic to amplify his voice as he recalls a song of Alhaster's past, a victory song from a war long ago known as "The March of the Silvered." Being familiar to those listening, they quickly join in. Once the crowd is in full throat, he lets his voice trail and enjoys their enthusiastic performance amidst the destruction.

As the citizens of the city work to rebuild, the bard seems to be everywhere, sharing jokes and stories and songs to lighten everyone's load or to inspire them in their work.

At night, he works with Celeste or he stares out into the night sky, a vague and unexplained look of concern on his fact. No one recalls him sleeping after the battle with Kyuss.

When the city's new museum to the arts is completed, during the dedication Bublaka stands on the steps and shares the "Ode of Valgrim's Vanguard". He puts every fiber of his being into the delivery of a masterpiece combining his talent for the spoken word with his master of song and his magical abilities to enhance them both. The crowd is enraptured with the telling and even the children hold still to hear the tale of where their heroes came from and how they came to be in a life-and-death struggle with stakes no less than the world itself.

The tale begins modestly, the companions on a small adventure to investigate a local mystery. As they travel, they learn much and they become stronger. Many fought, a few fell, and only four were still striding the road when the end came in Alhaster. Valgrim Twin-Axe, Friar Feres, Bublaka - these followed the road from that early mystery to Alhaster. Vug Vang, Chisora, Urg Legbreaker - these stepped from the road prior to its conclusion. Others joined the group - Rhiannon d'Deneith, killed by a coward's blade while helpless; Guardian Raya Iatos, a victim of one of Kyuss' many powerful allies; Vulcan Stormwrath, who left the path for a time only to return and fall at the hands of an abyssal commander; and Alie Saechell, whose magic was critical in the final battle and whose name will be sung for ages as one of the saviors of Alhaster.

He sings of otherworldly creatures and undead, of giants and dragons, of monsters the world has only whispered of in myths. All of these encountered and slain as the heroes pursued the being that sought to return to the world and destroy it, Kyuss.

In the end, the war came down to a single battle, an epic challenge between four mortals and their allies against a god. Above the ravaged city of Alhaster, a god was killed so that the world entire might live.

After much time passes, the recitation and song stops and there is silence in the courtyard. For a moment, Bublaka is afraid he's done too much, that he's offended his audience or stunned them with the enormity of all he has shared. But only for a moment as he sees some of his listeners openly weeping as they begin to applaud. Some kneel down in reverence to the Dawnflower for a moment for her blessings that time after time kept the heroes moving forward through her chosen, Friar Feres. Someone in the crowd begins singing "The March of the Silvered" once again and he realizes that the old standard has gained a fresh meaning as he encourages the singing of the crowd.

When the crowd's performance is complete, he amplifies his voice once more. "Thank you. Maybe the sun of Sarenrae and the stars of Desna shine down on Alhaster all of her days." Waving to the crowd, he conjures up a portal of shimmering blue light, steps through it, and is never seen again on the streets of Alhaster.

After teleporting to a room rented under an assumed name where he could disguise himself, the bard travels to Manzorian's manor on foot. There, he leaves the majority of his share of the treasure in Celeste's capable hands for the betterment of the city. "Thank you. Tell the others that I shall miss them, but my heart has been somewhere else for a while now and I must follow. Or don't tell them anything - that may be more fun. Peace, my friend."

Using one of two scrolls he has purchased in the intervening days, he hugs Celeste before teleporting away. To this day, he has not returned to Alhaster, but people still speak of his performance on the steps. Celeste has acted on his behalf as a patron of the arts, supporting classes for children and adults alike. He is a legend in his own time simply by disappearing without a trace at the height of his skills. Just as he'd hoped.

Thanks for letting me step in and play Bublaka (who replaced Bubluka in-thread almost five years ago). I can't say it's all been fun, but I did learn quite a bit, enjoyed most of it, and am very glad to have seen it through. Good game, everyone!

Peace.

Bublaka’s first order of business will be to swap the ring of wishes on and wish for Friar’s return to the living.

I can’t believe this day has finally come.

Blast it, I had a strategy that was being useful and I dropped the ball trying to finish him off.

The bard doesn't believe there's anything he can do for the Friar and suspects he won't survive the next round in reach of two massive demons, but he readies an action to dispel the god-to-be casting again as he steps diagonally up and left. He will cast defensively and should auto-make the concentration check.

Fortitude DC 39: 1d20 + 18 + 6 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 18 + 6 + 4 + 4 = 38 Including bardic resistance to sonic-type attacks

Mythic Point, better of two: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 That's a lot of sixes!

Seeing the god looking weak finally, Bublaka tries a spell.

Deafening Song Bolt, ranged touch attack, no save, no SR: 1d20 + 21 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 21 + 4 + 1 = 38 Unsure of other pertinent bonuses

Deafening Song Bolt #2: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (1) + 26 = 27 No saving a 1

Deafening Song Bolt #3: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (18) + 26 = 44

Damage #1: 3d10 ⇒ (6, 6, 2) = 14 Mythic point for the attack, if necessary; best of two rolls: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Damage #3: 3d10 ⇒ (5, 4, 7) = 16

Alie, did your Will save include the bonus from my bardic performance? That should apply vs fear and grant you another +2, if I'm not mistaken.

Bublaka will move directly 'north' three squares. I believe that puts me out of Kyuss' melee reach and within 30' of all allies that are on the map. Bublaka readies an action to dispel the god's next spell.

Remember - because I have forgotten to remind you - that if you use a surge within 30' of Bublaka, you roll twice and take the better result.

Reflex DC 39: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 23 + 4 + 6 = 40

Action pending while I try to figure out positions... sorry, is there an updated map?

Bublaka will withdraw directly away from the demi-god and position himself so that Valgrim is just within 30' and between Kyuss and the bard.

Is he able to ready a counterspell using Amazing Initiative once he's in position?

The bard's inspiration continues.

Readying an action to dispel his first spell, then.

Valgrim, you have Brilliant Inspiration again, so those misses might be hits if you want to try them. Or I can use the action to try disrupting his spellcasting if you'd rather I take the action back.

Bublaka notices that Allie is a bit too far from him to benefit from his bardic performance and waves her to approach. With dismay, he realizes he doesn't know where Friar is at this point.

He nods in approval as he sees the axe tear into the demi-god and casts to inspire the ranger once more. Brilliant Inspiration, casting defensively. DC 27, my bonus is +30, so it should be automatic, yes?

Lacking inspiration myself, however, in what else I might be able to do at this point.

Will Save: 1d20 + 21 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 21 + 4 + 6 = 44 Including bardic resistance to language-dependent spells and inspire courage. I didn't dig back for other pertinent bonuses since it doesn't appear to be necessary.

vs Spell Resistance: 1d20 ⇒ 10 Unsure of correct bonus, so just rolling base value

Reflex DC 22 for half; half fire/half divine damage

Damage: 15d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 4, 2, 2, 3, 2, 1, 3, 6, 2, 1, 3, 4, 6) = 48

He does burn a mythic point to call down the flame strike from his wild watcher banner, just to prime the wick for Allie to light the candle. Does it use my caster level for spell penetration checks? Feel free to roll on my behalf if I don’t get back here tonight - the phone is dying.

I'm unsure of relative positions - the latest map doesn't seem to match my mental image of what's occurred. I trust you to move me in a manner that makes sense.

Through the blinding pain, even searing through his mind, Bublaka realizes that the 'body' of the god really doesn't prevent his movement, so he pushes forward, a spell on his lips. When he emerges into the air and feels the cool air on his innumerable wounds, he focuses and with a word, steps through an azure doorway that appears from thin air.

Casting defensively, he automakes the concentration check for dimension door. Where he moves to, I'm not certain, but he might not necessarily think the destination through that much, either. Do I have some sort of flight available at this point? I'm not sure I do.

Does freedom of movement affect my ability to escape the engulf or move within the body?

Can I cast a spell defensively from where I am? Is the DC based on standard defensive casting?

What's the action requires to use the spell-like ability of a magic item - same as casting the spell?

Don't forget my performance lingers for another two rounds even if I don't get to continue it in my current position.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 23 + 4 + 1 + 2 = 33 Inspire courage, haste, inspired defense

Mythic surge, better of two from focus: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Bublaka now has 76 hit points and intelligence 9.

I don't want to spend a standard action to take 20 on the Loremaster and take 10 won't be enough, so rolling...

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (6) + 23 = 29 Figures. I knew it had to e a good roll to work, but still...

Bublaka readies another greater dispel magic for Kyuss' next spell.

Dispel check: 1d20 + 20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 20 + 4 = 39 That's where I need the good roll, anyway.

Per the PRD, greater dispel magic "functions as dispel magic, but you receive a +4 bonus on your dispel check to counter the other spellcaster's spell."

Just noticed that Friar forgot to include the +4 bonus to the dispel check when he dispelled the wail of the banshee - he hit the DC without needing a surge unless I missed something else here.

Greater Magic Dispelling next spell cast by Kyuss: 1d20 + 20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 20 + 4 = 41

Bublaka readies a greater dispel magic in an effort to counterspell the god's spellcasting.

Bublaka casts brilliant inspiration on the doughty dwarf once again.

Ah, thank you! Still cannot really change my action - I needed to back away.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 18 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 6 + 4 = 32 Inspiration, Bardic resistance to sonic attacks

Bleeding from his ears and near collapse, the bard can only hope healing is forthcoming. Orc ferocity keeps him on his feet, need to determine his action.

EDIT Bublaka attempts to cast dimension door defensively to retreat from the minor god's reach to where Friar stands.

Concentration, DC 23: 1d20 + 20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 20 + 10 = 49

Sorry, Friar, I don't think I have any options other than hope you can heal me after I drop. Feel free to remain on the offensive, however - I stabilize automatically once I drop thanks to the mythic Hard to Kill ability.

My plan is to UMD a scroll of Death Ward to remedy the error with not buffing Valgrim before the god of worms appeared. If I read correctly, that will have a UMD DC 27 and will provide seven minutes of protection.

Aha!

Initiative: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

1. ID the falchion
2. Displacement on Valgrim
3. Greater Heroism on Valgrim
4. Shadowbard, which begins inspiring heroics on Valgrim and Bublaka
5. Brilliant Inspiration on Valgrim if his has expired
9. Mirror Image on Bublaka Images, max 8: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
10. Haste + Inspire Courage

There's still room there for requests and/or suggestions. Thoughts?

Bublaka spends a round identifying the falchion. Another two to cast displacement on Valgrim (if he doesn't already have it) and himself, both extended with the metamagic rod.

Does greater heroism's morale bonus stack with inspire courage? Would it be useful to have the shadowbard using inspire heroics? Can I use deadly performance on a nascent god? So many questions...

If he is undead, use your falchion. If he's not, Bublaka can give you Blackrazor. I will happily provide a scroll of mass heal to our resident cleric if he wants to top us off. He can have all of them, for that matter, because my odds of using them successfully again are very low. Wish I'd looked at those DCs before I purchased the scrolls...

Spellcraft on the efreeti's weapon: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 30

And I was waiting to see if Valgrim had a request of Bublaka.

"So be it."

Bublaka casts greater dispel on their foe.

Dispel check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27

Dispel check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35

Dispel check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21

Dispel check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

Dispel check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27

As a free action, Bublaka restores the greatsword into its extraplanar storage. Calling upon the mythic power that the party had been invested with, he moves with unnatural swiftness toward the priest of Vecna as he readies his almost-forgotten whip of fury. Moving like a living thing, the whip reaches out to tangle around the cleric's legs and tries to bring him crashing to the ground.

Spending a mythic point to use amazing initiative for an extra action, then moving within whip range of Darl and delaying the trip attempt until Valgrim is within melee range. Greater Trip means that if I succeed, Darl provokes and attack of opportunity from Valgrim.

CMB, Greater Trip, +3 Weapon: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 23 + 4 + 3 = 34

Well, those are some disappointing rolls, all around.

I must have missed it. I scrolled back through the posts, too. And I missed some damage somewhere. With the 3 temporary points, I thought I was down 146. Adjusting hp total.

Reflex save DC 28: 1d20 + 23 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 23 + 6 = 44

Fort save DC 30: 1d20 + 18 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 6 = 28 Shocking! (Why couldn't I have rolled those in the other order?)

My spell resistance got stripped off in the last battle. I do not believe we were able to renew it. The electricity resistance is still in effect, however, so I'm down 130 hp.

I will be offline from Sunday 21 through Sunday 28. Please bot Bublaka as necessary. He's probably gonna have his hands full with the devil for the moment, so that kind of determines his most straightforward action at the moment.

See you at the end of the month!

Oh, boy. I wasn't planning to take on the devil alone. I was hoping to make Valgrim's job easier!

Surprisingly, the bard steps up to the dazed devil, swinging the pitch-black greatsword like he was born to wield it! His performance changes to an orcish war chant as he attacks.

Attack #1: 1d20 + 23 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 23 + 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 51 Inspiration, flanking, haste, blessing of fervor, I think that's everything
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (1, 2) + 10 = 13 plus Blackrazor's special ability

Attack #2: 1d20 + 18 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 8 = 39
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 6) + 10 = 22 plus Blackrazor's special ability

Attack #3: 1d20 + 13 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 8 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 = 15 plus Blackrazor's special ability

Haste bonus: 1d20 + 23 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 23 + 8 = 46
Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17 plus Blackrazor's special ability

Crit confirmation for #1?: 1d20 + 23 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 23 + 8 = 36
Potential Crit Damage: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (6, 3) + 10 = 19 plus Blackrazor's special ability

Everyone can feel a rather disturbing feeling of elation emanating as the first strike appears to score a mortal wound on the dazed extraplanar visitor.

First, Bublaka's overdue DC 27 Fortitude save vs stunned

Fortitude + Inspiration: 1d20 + 18 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 18 + 6 = 40

Second, for Valgrim's question, Bublaka's inspire courage bonus to saves applies to all saves now and is currently a +6 thanks to a mythic ability whose name escapes me. If the normal inspire courage would grant you the bonus, Valgrim, this should as well. Glad to see you didn't really need it to succeed on your check.

Eyes flashing, the bard focuses on the dazed devil and says to no one in particular, "I think this one qualifies." With a snap of the fingers of his right hand, a massive sword so black that it seems to absorb the light appears and he prepares to attack the creature, but Valgrim's request get his attention. With a spoken word of power, Valgrim hears that familiar internal voice suggesting alternatives and encouragement that has made failure into successes for him previously.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31

Holidays are keeping me away from the boards. Thanks for the bot, that is indeed the first round course of action. If I'm still away, assume Bub readies an action to counter further greater dispel magic unless a better choice presents itself.

And well done, Valgrim! Wow!

Bublaka takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. He mutters something under his breath, possibly a prayer, but he's not been the praying sort...

Opening his eyes, he shakes his head again, "None of us can afford to be weakened by fighting amongst ourselves and allowing this god to re-enter the world, regardless of our motivation for stopping it. Let us defeat Kyuss as a team and work out our differences afterward."

I won't bother rerolling the Diplomacy roll since a 50+ had no effect.

Bublaka watches the evil leader intently, tilting his head as though listening to a voice on the wind itself. Shaking his head again slightly, "I speak for myself. I believe my friends are of a similar mind, however."

He does hold his hand up to forestall hasty actions. Who he is signalling is left up to the viewer - maybe everyone?

Bublaka shakes his head very deliberately. "No, Darl, the power of Kyuss can be of benefit to none living. Join with us to defeat a god today and we can go our separate ways. The four of us have no choice but to stay - too many promises made, too many good people have died for us to do anything else. The only choice here is yours - aid us or stand aside and watch."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 43 ⇒ (14) + 43 = 57

And of course Death Ward on Friar.

Bublaka defers to the cleric’s desire for stronger health. And he hands the holy man a scroll of Death Ward. ”Your casting will be less likely to fail, my friend.”

The ring would be an update for Bublaka if no one else wants it, but he's really not wanting to be close enough for it to matter... I presume that the restoration would also have handled his lingering Charisma damage that I had failed to get cleared up. I don't have the ring of wishes.

Bublaka exhales deeply, looking around at the many pieces of their former foes. "That thing stripped much of my magic protections. If we meet another, should I be attempting to counter their dispels? I hate to remove my ability to aid you in your fight in doing so."

How many rounds did that fight last? I need to update my available rounds of bardic performance. I believe I kept accurate track of spells used and scratched off that scroll.

I have a wee bit of Intelligence drain and 44 hp down. How are we faring otherwise?

I'm late in realizing this, but the statue of Balakarde no longer provides benefits with the death of Dragotha, correct? I have some things to fix in my character sheet, I fear.

Bublaka glances at the wand in his hand, but has a different plan now that he's on solid ground. Moving toward the fiend, he sings three pure notes that take on a tangible form and fly toward the monster. Move within 75' of the fiend and cast Deafening Song Bolt (75' range, no save, no spell resistance, three missiles of sonic damage).

Ranged touch attack #1: 1d20 + 15 + 6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 15 + 6 + 1 + 4 = 45 Let's see: BAB, Dex, Haste, Inspire
Damage: 3d10 ⇒ (3, 6, 10) = 19

Ranged touch attack #2: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (4) + 26 = 30
Damage: 3d10 ⇒ (7, 3, 10) = 20

Ranged touch attack #3: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (18) + 26 = 44
Damage: 3d10 ⇒ (4, 6, 9) = 19

I didn't go back to see all of my buffs, but I think that's all that would affect my attacks. Do the damage bonuses from inspire apply to weapon-like spells? That would add another 4 to the damage per successful attack.

I'm hoping Friar will heal Valgrim since it's a long shot I will hit those DCs a second time in one combat. Feel free to come take the scroll off my hands if you've used up yours.

As he falls, Bub pushes away the temptation to say he's done what he could and let himself die. He has something - someone - to live for. Even as he falls, he draws a wand and utters a phrase as he pictures the ledge where Maralee and her knights had waited.

Dimension Door has ample range to return Bublaka back to solid ground where they were waiting for us. He will appear at the far wall from the edge of the abyss (right past the edge of the map) with a wand of fireball in his hand.

I must have misunderstood the scale of the map. The range on the spell is 75' and that would reach Exousia based on what I thought I was working with. Thanks for working out the details for me.

Bublaka retrieves one of the scrolls he had purchased earlier at Friar's suggestion. Having prepared himself previously for the intricacies of the unfamiliar spell, he tries to cast it for real.

Use Magic Device to emulate Wisdom 19 (DC 34): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (9) + 25 = 34 Whew!

Use Magic Device to cast Mass Heal from scroll (DC 40): 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (18) + 25 = 43

A burst of positive energy erupts from upper left quadrant of Exousia's square as the bard casts Mass Heal to harm the undead. If this can also heal Valgrim and Exousia, great, but if I have to choose between heal and harm, this is intended to harm. We have a much more proficient healer available. The spell was scribed at 20th level, so that should be 200 points of positive energy damage to any undead within 30' of the intersection that fail a DC 14 Will save, I believe.

Too late now, but Bublaka's plan was to ready an action to counterspell the fiend's greater dispel magic since they were hitting us with that so hard last time.