Dr. Ethyl "Doc" Ermengarde's page

Take care of yourself.

I wonder if you or I will get restoration first.

@Alvar, yes, you'd be woken by the debris.

@Ethyl, night terrors sounds about right. Are you referring to this lesser madness?

Yep that's the one.

Ethyl mumbles something, ”Icanstill…,” before trailing off. She stands up and regards the oneirogen corpses discompassionately. She finds her surgeon’s tools and begins to study the remaining tissue, searching for answers. She ignores her surroundings, for now.

Maybe someone with their mind left would like to investigate the papers that are fluttering about?

In my sleep deprived night last night my brain fixated on this post, for some reason.

Did Loomis have anything on her?

That's another madness for me. Is anyone able to cast lesser resto yet?

I like night terrors for the 2nd one.

Sanity: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

When the veil of fog becomes diaphanous Ethyl’s nerves begin to calm and her heart begins to slow. Only to spike again as she lays her eyes on the naked horrors held within it. Her mind reels from the insanity of it all, she’s unable to reconcile these things' existence with her theory of the world, shattering some ordered part of her mind that she uses to prop up against the darkness.

Luckily for the Doctor her proprioception did not rely on her conscious mind and she maneuvered out of the path of the falling structure without thinking about it and suffers only minor bruising from the debris.

Ethyl maneuvers closer to the rubble and tears into the remaining oneirogen.

Claw 1, defensive, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 24
S/B: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Claw 2 defensive, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 25
S/B: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Bite, defensive, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 12
S/P/B: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Enoch's breakdown and Iosif's mocking nearly distracts Ethyl from her terror, she even snorts.

I didn't mention it in my post but I'm certain I provoked from one.

Ethyl rushes past the oneirogen to get on the other side. Raking her claws at it as she does.

Claw, defensive, shaken, flank: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 1 - 2 + 2 = 24
Miss, PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 96
S/B: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Plus sneak: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Opps miss chance

PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 45
PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 43
PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 91

Ethyl approaches the oneirogen cautiously, she knew intellectually that the fog could not hurt her, but it was the things in the fog that could, and the fog of that proportion surely could not contain something that would be too dangerous. Viscerally she was lying to herself but it was the push she needed to act. At least she knew, from evidence that she was not affected by the soporific cloud directly.

Claw 1, defensive, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 10
S/B: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Claw 2, defensive, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 20
S/B: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Bite, defensive, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 18
S/B/P: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

5ft step full attack, AC 25

We are doing well, lol

Quick update three day weekend for MLK Jr has left me scrambling at work all week.

Do you have a melee weapon Alvar?

Once her concoction was ready she imbibed it, solidifying her natural aura into barrier that can stop the physical. She looked forward with trepidation, now faced with not one but three oneirogens. She cautiously approached after Alvar and Enoch and paled at the scene.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Will vs scotomaphobia: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Ethyl glances at the card and comments, ”Doesn’t he work in charcoal landscapes? I suppose it's possible.”

Out of sight of the crowd and immediate danger Ethyl tentatively begins to set up her alchemy kit, pulling glass vials, titrator, mortar and pestle, and ingredients. Would like to spend a minute to prepare my last extract before going forward.

Loot is logged. Is my mutagen still up? It lasts 30 minutes and I took it around when we left the kitchen area.

Yep already up there.

Ethyl sighs as she puts her kit back away, barely able to unpack anything from her kit. She calmly states, "I don't like out chances if Zandalus chooses to reimpose order on this rabble. It seems we use this at least as an opportunity." She moves to the stairs, pain spiking through her still tender ribs as she ascends.

If we have a couple of hours I can heal 3hp with treat deadly wounds.

It will take 1 minute for my last mutagen, whether its another shield or CLW will depend on how much I'm healed, down 15 currently.

Doing another mutagen will take an hour. I drank my 1st one before we left and it lasts 30 minutes. I'm assuming it's close to expiring, if it hasn't already.

I may have taken 22 damage in that fight. I was going to dig into the potions otherwise.

Ethyl pulls out a vial of something viscous and the dark like color of blood. She downs the concoction, it tasted like copper, but her bones began to set, letting her breath easier.

CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

She rasped at Dr. Elbourne, "How much time do you think we have to prepare? An hour? Ten minutes?" She began to idly flipped through her formula book and pull out ingredients.

I will prepare my last slot and reup my mutagen if we don't immediately head upstairs.

Ethyl felt and heard the sharp crack of her ribs fracturing. She felt faint and the tangy smell of blood filled her nostrils. She drew in a ragged, painful breath and ordered her thoughts. One fled foolishly, they had died, she barely thought about the move. Ethyl fell upon the remaining Apostle with a mad glint in her eyes.

Claw 1, : 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 1 = 24
Slahsing: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7

Claw 2, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 9 - 1 = 17
Slashing: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7

Bite, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 1 = 19
S/P/B: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

Daaaamn, those rolls.

Also +2 seems low to maintain a grapple even with a str penalty. Did you figure in the +5 bonus since Enoch didn't break it?

Ethyl spits up blood as she is repeatedly whacked by the cultists. Not good, could be internal bleeding.

She shuffled back so that she couldn't be surrounded and tried to end a human life.

Claw 1, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 = 27
Slahsing: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Claw 2, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 9 - 1 = 10
Slashing: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

Bite, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 1 = 18
S/P/B: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Ethyl lets out a whuff of air as the cultists sucker punch her with a crowbar. But only bruised by the blow she turns on her attacker.

Claw 1, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 1 = 13
Slahsing: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Claw 2, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 1 = 18
Slashing: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 = 7

Bite, risky: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 9 - 1 = 9
S/P/B: 1d8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 - 2 = 7

In the unlikely event that she down’s blue she would 5ft step to black in between attacks.

Ethyl idly picks bits of dried blood from her claws, ready for this parley to fail spectacularly at any moment.

Nyarai has the worst saves of the entire group overall followed by Alvar. My vote would be either of those two, unless you're worried about Ethyl being dominated or confused with the by far worst will.

Ethyl regards Loomis impassively, sizing up the elderly serial killer. She let her more personable companions take the lead, unsure if they would try and convince her of values they did not share.

Got it updated in the sheet, thanks. Could have been a data entry error on my part.

Real quick I can't do anything but the potions unfortunately. Alvar will have to weigh in on the cloak and apparently some studded leather we have. It'll be more important when we find a shop.

Ethyl on the walk back to the Apostles camp, now questions their ability or the wisdom to laying in wait for Loomis to descend into an ambush. She considers the trinkets they’ve collected up until this point, curios, a hangover and nausea cure, the smelling salts could be useful if things go poorly. She considered injecting the opium preemptively but dismissed it due to the soporific effects. Her eyes settled on the talismans collected in Losandro’s office, she hated having to trust in unknown magic but thought it better than the alternative.

She strung the one said to impart courage around her neck, hoping that it would stop her from panicking at the wrong moment and bade Enoch, ”Put this around your neck. It might stop you from dying.”

The talisman of healing might be over-kill at this point since it heals 4d6+7 but I can’t justify not using it in the final confrontations IC.

She considers the two potions and the cloak found on the deceased orderly Denette Hobes. Wafting the strange liquid to her sensitive nose she considered what they could be.

Alchemy as detect magic and spellcraft to ID: 10 + 8 = 18 That will ID CL up to 3, or 2nd level spells, unless they were made at a higher CL for some reason.

She considered suturing up the cuts, bandaging abrasions, setting broken bones but decides that it would wear thin Alvar’s own magical protections. I could treat deadly wounds on Enoch and Iosif but it would take two hours to do so, which would run out Alvar’s mage armor I think. It would run out my mutagen but I can just make another one.

Satisfied that they were as prepared as they could be without taking significantly more time she suggested, ”I don’t want to explain to Dr. Elbourne why I look the way I do. Let’s get this over with.” She led the way up the stairs at the Apostle camp, silently hoping that it wouldn’t be too foggy.

We're probably the farthest we could be from the chapel in distance we have to travel. I wouldn't mind resting before we confront Loomis, Zandalus, et all. We also may want to update Winter.

Ethyl rolls her eyes at Enoch's irrational attachment to the dog. "We should inform Dr. Elboourne about the oneirogen in the tower and perhaps Winter as well but that would afford Zandalus time to discover our activities. Perhaps the dog should be stored safely in the crate we found it? At least until our business is concluded."

I assumed blur and shield had expired by now.

Ethyl explains, "The dog did not kill the man. The teeth marks do not match at all. See here, these marks indicate multiple rows and the markings are too wide. I suspect another horror has found its way from the Dreamlands. We should make haste and remove the remaining oneirogens. I'm sure you noticed the effects of removing them had."

Nature as heal for cause of death?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Ethyl whispered to Alvar, "I'm beginning to suspect that caution may be necessary. Do you think we can lure it back into the crate?"

Ethyl comments, "Amnesia like ours usually will resolve itself with time, we are already recovering memories. Though I find it odd that we all recovered the exact same memory at the exact same time. Perhaps that is due to the effects of the dimension of dreams locally. I have one other clear memory of revealing a specimen I managed to capture to a colleague of mine, a spindly man name Leldro. I suspect this was during our time at university, when I was attempting to make my mark on my field."

Ethyl raises an eyebrow at Enoch's recitation of what must be a remembered text or quote he overheard from Alvar.

Ethyl begins to examine the remains, a specimen jar in her hand when the memory washes over her. The jar shatters as it drops from her hand and Ethyl regards it with no small amount of disdain.

She comments, "Yes it seems so. I remember treating a cousin Elyssa, at least now I can confirm that she is Lowl's cousin, and not my own. She had some form of violent mania. Apparently she was more prone to it at crepuscular times. This Elyssa, in my memory was incredibly thin, so the disorder also affected her apatite or caused her to be unable to keep food down."

Nature as heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Ethyl replaces the specimen jar and collects samples from the oneirogen, blood and tissue. She makes an observation, "It has no internal organs. See here," She makes an incision with a scalpel revealing nothing but torn skin and ripped musculature, "They were not removed in surgery, there would be scars somewhere. And likely everywhere. Is there magic that could remove the organs from the inside?"

Its all good, I don't mind rolling for the miss.

Miss, PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 90
Miss, PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 27

Defensive Claw 1: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 11
Miss, PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 79
Slashing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Defensive Claw 2: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 24
Miss, PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 36
Slashing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Defensive bite: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 17
Miss, PCs like high numbers: 1d100 ⇒ 63
Piercing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

AC 21 after the attack

Blah I'm sick. At least I don't have to go to work as well.

Climb, shaken: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 - 2 = 5
Climb, shaken: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 2 = 6
Climb, shaken: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 1 - 2 = 16

Caught in a zugzwang, Ethyl manages to ascend to her companions after a few false starts.

She paused and regarded the oinerogen. Something foreign escaped her lips, "You have my gratitude Nyarai."

Diffidently she approached the oinerogen.

Ethyl obviously lied, "I thought it prudent to form rear guard since you and Alvar were having difficulty with the climb. I will ascend after you."

Ethyl scales the height with some difficulty, "I don't possess any rope my dear. Perhaps Iosif would help you out."

When she reached the second level she wished she hadn't.

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

And she immediately climbed back down and out of the fog. "They seem to have things well in hand," she explains nervously.

Damn, it was in another game I think that Ethyl made a rope by tying all the clothing from the corpse pile at the beginning of the adventure.

Lol, yeah. Being able to do 3 attacks at level 2 with bonus to damage is wild. Stack that with alchemist's natural tankiness.

I'm not gonna bite gross enemies unless we're in dire straights.

The next step in her offense would be agile amulet of mighty fists, to add dex to damage, but that's a ways off and dependent on either its availability or another party member crafting it.

Reckless claw, flank: 1d20 + 9 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 + 2 = 29
Slashing, reckless, sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 + (2, 6) = 14

Reckless claw, flank: 1d20 + 9 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 1 + 2 = 25
Slashing, reckless, sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 + (6, 6) = 18

Ethyl turns to the remaining ghoul and deals with the problem promptly.

Will vs scotomaphobia I should have done earlier: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

The foggy scene didn’t bother her as much as before. She briefly considered that exposure was breaking her fear of the unseen. But still a little quiver in her stomach told her otherwise. At least she was able to focus on more pressing matters, this time.

She advanced on the far ghoul, leaving her momentarily vulnerable as she left. She raked the next one much like she had the first.

Reckless claw: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 1 = 16
Slashing, reckless, sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 + (4, 5) = 15

Ethyl answers Alvar and Iosif reflexively in their strange otherworldly tongue,

Move, provoking from the nearly dead if not already dead ghoul, and attacking the farthest one.

Ethyl does not return. She seems to have disappeared into a room full of ghouls!

Reckless Charge!: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 - 1 = 18
Slashing, reckless, sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 2 + (2, 1) = 10

If I'm not able to charge I will just move up to the nearest instead. AC 22

Ethyl eyes Enoch peevishly, "I doubt the animal has a choice in the matter."

I lined us up for the next door to the north.

Ethyl frowns, "Of course, they could all band together and easily topple Zandalus' reign over them. But, it seems, people do not act rationally. Some of them will die and I think that is causing a lot of them to act selfishly rather than for the good of the group, so they are complicit in Zandalus' plan. Plus you must consider that most, if not all, were patients in an asylum, rational action may not be possible for a good portion of them."

Ethyl looks to the puppy squirming in Enoch's arms, "If I were the administrator I wouldn't allow it. Dogs are vectors for pests, which are vectors for disease."

Ethyl shakes her head, she considered poisoning it but she lacked the materials currently. "Better off killing and butchering it. That way it doesn't eat our food and we get an extra meal. But I know you won't let that happen so, let's get this over with."

She said to the victim, "You can stay here and bar the door or try you chances with the Apostles past the kitchen. Stay out of the fog no matter what."

With that she started towards the door intent on heading north but waited for the rest of the party if they wanted to linger here.