Elyssa Volgori's page

Hate to check out this early or at all but it seems I won't be having a much free time as I thought I would have come New Year's, which means I'm going to have to leave the game.

Thanks for the opportunity to game this AP. It was a lot fun and good luck for the rest of it.

FYI, with the holidays going on I won't be able to post as often probably until Friday. Hope that's not a big inconvenience.

With the centipedes disposed of, and no other creatures hopefully around, Elyssa relaxes if only a little as the group continues on its way. Her eyes and other senses however are still keen in detecting any would-be threats or hazards.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

With another fight before them, Elyssa summons forth her psychic powers and searches for something she can throw the red centipede's way. Eventually, her eyes land on a large shard of glass that she quickly lifts into the air and towards the overgrown insect.

Attack: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Elyssa listens intently as the good doctor gave her story or at least what bare fragments the half-elf could remember. "I hope you made more use of alchemical supplies than daggers," she mused, thinking on her own mysterious past and even more mysterious powers.

When the group moves on, Elyssa reflectively tries to add more light to the area by holding out the strange prismatic crystal she found earlier and channeling her psychic energies into it. The end result is the crystal glowing brilliantly, filling the hall.

Elyssa's face lit up perhaps for the first time since she found herself in the asylum. "Oh that's a brilliant idea, Lady Ethyl," she beams before quickly correcting herself. "No, its Doctor Ethyl, yes? My apologizes."

With that out of the way, the young psychic does what she can to aid Ethyl is searching through the debris for anything interesting or useful.

Taking 20 on her Perception check for a 25.

Following Iosif's example, Elyssa hangs back from the others in the front and tries to pay attention to everything around as they way their way.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Elyssa looks visibly dejected as the other group of stubbornly refuse to let them pass in peace.

(Why are you shocked, sheath? All mortals are selfish creatures. Obsessed with their survival beyond all else. You should fellow their example.)

Despite the voice's taunt, apparent returning strength, Elyssa ignores it and follows Ethyl to the northern hallway.

In that moment, Elyssa sorely wishes she could show her thoughts and feelings to the skeptical staff but alas that doesn't seem to be an ability in her psychic repertoire. At least for now. Instead she has to improvise. "My friend speaks the truth. We felled one of the shapeshifters below. Campre can attest to that. But if that's not enough... she turns to their wounded orderlie friend. "Campre do you know some secret or fact that only an employee of the asylum would know?"

"Please!" Elyssa pleaded, throwing out her hands in peace. "We mean you no harm. We're survivors trying to make our way through the asylum."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

The back and forth between the others and the conversation on what they knew and did not know left Elyssa noticeably uneasy. "Infernal and Abyssal... such unholy languages. The fact that we know them yet are ignorant of so much else about ourselves is... disconcerting to say the least."

Wishing not to dwell on all the implications of that and wanting not to be near the corpse of the zoogs, Elyssa joins Ethyl and Iosif at the door to try and spy what was on the other side.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Unfortunately, like sotto voice, daze is humanoids only, so this won't actually help.

Whoops.

With only one of the rats remaining, and desiring an end to the fight as quickly as possible so she can rush to Campre's side, Elyssa concentrates her psychic might into a dazing spell that will hopefully stun the creature long enough to be slain once and for all.

Elyssa casts Daze on the last zoog. That's a DC 14 vs Will. If it fails it get no any actions.

Fort Save vs. Deafness: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Elyssa attempts to block out the noise of the thundering musket with her hands to no avail.

"Aaaahhh!" Let out a less than ladylike scream as the rat creature tries to attack her. Unfortunately, it misses her feet and Elyssa is able to take advantage of its misstep by trying to smack it telekinetically with another loose brick.

Elyssa is casting Telekinetic Projectile yet again this time on the red zoog.

Attack: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Damage: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Oops. Nearly forgot this.

Fort Save vs. Deafness: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Despite the heat of battle, Elyssa ears (or perhaps it would be better to say her strange mind) picks up Iosif's oddly familiar words. "Those languages... you're speaking-" the psychic is stopped short by the terror in Ethyl's scream as the creatures once more try to bite her.

"Go away! Flee! If you do not then you risk your own destruction."

As if to literally hammer in that point, Elyssa's mind lifts another piece of heavy debris and hurls it again at the zoog closest to Ethyl.

Elyssa will cast Telekinetic Projectile again and launch another rock at whatever zoog just tried to attack Ethyl.

Attack: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Damage: Telekinetic Projectile:: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"I sense... divination magic? We may be being spied on-" before Elyssa has time to finish her sentence the rat-like zoogs are already upon them and attacking. Insinct takes over and Elyssa's mind grabs the first ldle brick she spies on the ground and throws it at the zoog that has just stuck Ethyl.

Elyssa will cast Telekinetic Projectile and launch a bbrick at the green zoog.

Attack: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Damage: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The strange light doesn't exactly set Elyssa's nerves at ease as it gives her the very distinct feeling of being watched by... something. "Perhaps I can use my magic to learn what it is?" she says aloud to the others. Focusing her will, Elyssa expands her mind and tries to find a magical aura in the boiler room.

Elyssa casts Detect Magic for three rounds to see if she can detect and discern any magical auras.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

While Elyssa is not exactly confident about her physical abilities she nonetheless follows Iosif and Ethyl in climbing up the furnace, whispering a prayer to Iomedae that suddenly comes to her mind as she does.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

When confronted with more information about their options, Elyssa comes to a less than enthusiastic conclusion. "You are right, Sir Iosif. Staying together would best. But as for where we should go... I think the shaft would be best. I'd rather not see anymore corpses but if Campre is right it is the easier path to take."

Elyssa accepts Campre's thanks with a formal bow. "Your welcome, sir." Being called "lady" seems to stir something in her that feels right and proper but the feeling is ultimately fleeting and she shakes her head to force herself back into the present.

"So our options are the shaft and pipes? Neither seem especially pleasant a journey but getting outside as well as possible seems prudent, right? All the better so we can find help."

"Thank you for telling us what you know," Elyssa tells Campre. With the chaos of the fighting over, Elyssa takes the time to more closely look Campre over and does not like what she sees. "You must have lost great deal of blood. I would heal you if I could but my powers..." She stopped and tried to figure out if she could actually explain her abilities. Whether they came from the presence in her mind or were her own she did not know but she certainly hoped it was the latter.

"I don't think they work that way," she finally manages to get out, apologizing as she does. Rummaging through the retrieved items she and others just ran, Elyssa does not hesitate to offer her healing potion to Campre. "Here. Take it. I managed to not get hurt and you need it more than I do."

As she rummages through the items discovered by Iosif, a revelation comes over Elyssa. "I... I think my name is Elyssa," she realizes suddenly. "Yes! I'm Elyssa Volgori." Though momentarily thrilled by the discovery, Elyssa quickly settles down once her mind swiftly reminds her that a name alone means little and that does little to explain her current less than stellar circumstances.

She looks to Campre and asks a vital question. "What of the rest of the asylum? Is there truly no one running it now?"

I agree to this. I don't want to slow down too much, but carrying on at a breakneck speed helps no one either.

The holidays aside, I'd like to ask my players what is the timeframe you'd like me to wait before I push on with plot progression? 24-hours, 48? I should have asked sooner, but I had a few other things going on at the time and forgot a few details like this.

A post a day or a post every 24 hours seems fair. Though maybe on weekends there's understanding that its fine to miss a day.

For several seconds, Elyssa remains absolutely still as Scaen's blood drips from her body. She wants to scream but knows that if she does then bits of the shifter may end up dropping into her a mouth, a prospect that nearly sends her stomach into a convulsion.

(See? See?! A wasted effort. You should have let me skin her. Now all that flesh is wasted.)

Elyssa ignores the taunt. The dark presence is still weak after her return and she has little desire to listen its abuse. Instead, she slowly and calmly removes the blood and gore on her face with her sleeve and proceeds to make her way to the still captured Campre. "Forgive us for not freeing you sooner, ser," she says stoically, obviously still in shock, as she tries to use the key she stole from Scaen to open his bonds.

Regardless of whether the key works or not, Elyssa asks the obvious question that everyone surely wants answered. "Please. Can you tell us where we are and how we got here? And do you know who we are?"

Dr. Ethyl "Doc" Ermengarde wrote:

Since it seems that we may find our gear soon could I retroactively have a crafted cure light wounds potion in my gear? I fear the party has exhausted it's healing capabilities without a rest.

We may want to rest anywith all the spells we were throwing around.

Alternatively there's a chance I'll wake up in an hour and be able to prep an extract for myself.

That is acceptable.

PS, congratulations. Y'all are the first group in some time that managed to keep Campre alive.

Huzzah!

The Entity gives the pleading Scaen a wide wolfish grin that looks altogether unnatural on Elyssa's face before flicking its demonic eyess Campre's way. It gives the man a grotesque simulation of empathy. "Oh you have nothing to fear, dear fellow. I mean to thoroughly gut this mewling creature and make a cloak of its skin. A fine act of justice given your own tribulation, wouldn't you sa-ARGH!"

The Entity takes Elyssa's head into her stolen hands and reels as something fights to regain control. "Stupid, stupid, sheath. You dare interfere. You wanted this! You cannot back out now!"

Concentration: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Elyssa succeeds against a DC of 11 in taking back control from from the Entity/Darklyssa.

But it appears Elyssa can. With one powerful thrust of will she did not know she possessed she manages to drag the evil presence back into the far reaches of her mind.

Despite her flushness and sheer exhaustion, she manages to quickly make an argument. "W-we, we can't kill her. Please. You don't even know what she is. She may not have true control over her actions. Like..." she trails off for a moment before regaining her conviction. "The tiefling is right. Locking her up is the way. Iomedae would call it just."

Continuing to laugh at Scaen's rather fortunate run of bad luck, the Entity (or Darklyssa if you prefer) was again launches a cruel beam of psychic power straight into the prone creature's ailing head.

Elyssa Casts Mind Thrust I one last time on Scaen. DC is 16 Will this time around since I'm out of Phrenic Amplification.

Damage, Mind Thrust I: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Spells Per Day 0/4.
Phrenic Amplification 0/4 Pool.

The thing currently wearing Elyssa's skin seems mildly annoyed by the Scaen's resilience to its psychic attack but is hardly scared when the shifter approaches the cell. That cold bravado turns into wild, mad mirth that is unnervingly out of place coming from Elyssa's body when Scaen slips on the grease suddenly below them and falls on their arse.

Once their demonic screed is over, the entity once more conspires Elyssa's psychic might and blasts it into the mind of the fallen shifter.

Elyssa Casts Mind Thrust I again on Scaen and uses the Overpowering Mind phrenic amplification to boost its DC by 1 again. DC is still 17 Will.

Damage, Mind Thrust I: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Spells Per Day 1/4.
Phrenic Amplification 2/4 Pool.

Oops! Can't believe I forgot that bit lol. Thanks for the reminder Ethyl.

Damage, Mind Thrust I: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Well Scaen still takes half damage from Mind Thrust so that's one damage plus the bleed.

The sight of Dr. Ethyl's pooling blood and deathly gurgling noises causes Elyssa to seize up for a moment. Something not even worthy of being called a memory seems to flash in her mind. Another place, another time, but blood is the constant. Crimson ichor being everywhere in sight.

The very thought of it has Elyssa close her eyes tight and start mumbling to herself. "No, no, no, no, no. Not again. I don't want to see it again."

(You don't have to, sheath. Let me emerge for a spell and I will make all the blood go away. You just have to give in.)

Something in the pit of Elyssa's soul practically begs her to say no but the horror all around her and the bloody half-memory in her mind causes her to do the exact opposite.

"Ok."

And with that invitation, Elyssa lets out a bloodcurdling scream that seems to break her very mind as the presence there surges forth like a tide and devours her completely. While her mind drowns, Elyssa's body shifts and contorts, her veins turn black, and her eyes take on a sickly yellow that seems to glow in the dark.

With its transformation done, Elyssa, over whatever is currently wearing her body gives Scaen a piercing stare and a foul smile as it summons a lance of dark psychic power to pierce her wild mind.

Elyssa enters her Dark Half mode. She gets +1 to the DC of her psychic spell, a +2 morale bonus on Will saves, and is immune to fear effects. Also each of her successful damage psychic spells cause 1 bleed damage.

Elyssa Casts Mind Thrust I again on Scaen and uses the Overpowering Mind phrenic amplification to boost its DC by 1. DC is now 17 Will. Spells Per Day 1/4. Phrenic Amplification 2/4.

Our rolls are getting embarrassingly bad.

Looks like I might have used up all my luck (or maybe the whole party's) with that nat 20 earlier lol.

With her body back under her control, Elyssa tries to aid her compatriots by gathering the broken glass from the floor with her mind. Before she launches the shards Scaen's way she tries again to talk the monster woman down. "You don't have to fight us," she pleads earnestly. "None of our minds are as they should be but if we work together than perhaps we can heal them and- ARGH!"

(NO! NO! NO! There will be no negotiation. You will destroy that worm or I will do it myself.)

Elyssa tries to resist the command and the spike of pain that fellows but the voice ultimately overtakes her yet again and soon the glass is sent flying towards Scaen.

So much for parley.

Elyssa will cast Telekinetic Projectile and launch a bunch of broken glass at Scaen.

Attack: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Damage: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Elyssa takes -1 Sanity Damage, dropping it to 45.

Elyssa's jubilation at actually managing to get Scaen to turn away from its victim quickly turns back to fear as the creature rushes to slash her with its claws. While she's able to dodge the monster's attack, the sheer terror of nearly being mutilated almost causes her to suffer a panic attack.

(Weakling! Fool! Are you so useless that you cannot manage to fell even this pathetic pretender!)

Before Elyssa could even think of a denial, her body is once again not her own as the voice inside takes a hold of her power and summons up a psychic shield to protect them both.

Elyssa Casts Mage Armor. AC is now 15.
Spells Per Day 2/4.

Elyssa just manages to prevent herself from gasping in joy as the keys land safety in her grasp. Not wasting time, she moves to the lock of her group's collective cell and opens it... only to be left uncertain on what she should do now.

The madwoman seemed ignorant of the loss of her keys, which meant a sneak attack was possible. The young psychic also pondered whether she should try to negotiate with "doctor" only for another cruel laugh from her mind to make that idea seem worse than foolish.

In the end, she regretfully decides that the only to save the victim on the table is by using force. "You... you need to stop. Please," she says at first haltingly before putting more steel and power in her voice. "If you don't then I'll be forced to make you.

(Yes... yes. Show the strength of our Flesh. Of our Blood.)

Elyssa casts Mind Thrust I on Scaen. Will Save DC 15 for half damage.
Spells Per Day 3/4.

Mind Thrust I: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Well, we already reached a majority but I'll just say milestones have my non-necessary vote too!

"Keys," she whispers, managing to get her head to focus on the ailing man soon close to her. "If I get the keys we might be able save him."

The voice in her head laughs at that but made no attempt to stop or control her movements. Elyssa counted that as a dear blessing and reached out with her mind. At first nothing seems to happen but soon invisible psychic energies begin to convalesce into something capable of grasping something light and nearby.

Elyssa casts Mage Hand and attempts to pull the keys towards her past the bars.

Elyssa awakens from her nightmare with her heart pounding in her chest. She looks around trying to catch her bearings and center herself on something, anything, familiar or safe but finds little of comfort in the cell she finds yourself in. The only thing that does marginally put her at ease is the fact that's not alone.

(Alone? You are never gone, sheath. I am always here. I will always be here. But you? Haha. You won't survive for long. Not if you don't accept MY power.)

"Quiet, quiet, quiet. Just leave me alone! Elyssa screams out in a rush, as if that alone could push the voice back into the dark places of her mind. Suffice to say, it doesn't. Moreover, it doesn't exactly help the nearby tiefling man's decree that they stay quiet.

"I'm sorry. My mind is still... reeling. Forgive the outburst, good ser," she says with the utmost politeness and courtesy, a strange contrast to her current situation and attire.

"What should we do? That man over there needs our help, yes? There must be some way to aid him and ourselves?" The question is for all of them even as she looks around for some kind of solution to their predicament.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Elyssa tries to internalize the counsel of her sole remaining compatriot but it a trying endeavor. The aggrieved screaming in her mind has not been abated and the feeling of being watched by... something keeps on the very tips of a shaky edge.

And yet...

"Ok... I'll... I'll try," she manages to get out, partially to her companion but largely to herself and her frayed nerves.

Rallying her strange internal strength, Elyssa manages to lift a cobblestone from the ground and to her side. She hardly knows how she managed it but all the same the brick is waiting to be projected with her full force if someone or something nears them.

Elyssa will fellow Alvar's example and ready a Telekinetic Projectile in case the thing hunting them shows itself.

Attack: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 Nice!
Damage: Telekinetic Projectile: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The sight of the charred corpse sends a chill through Elyssa's very bones. It is to foul to bear but her body stubbornly refuses to look away. It won't let her.

Find the enemy. Find the enemy! FIND THE ENEMY!!!

Quickly running out of options but desperately needing to get the incessant voice in her head to quiet, Elyssa on some deep instinct attempts to see without seeing and tries to detect any magical force that could explain what has happened to her two compatriots.

Elyssa casts Detect Magic as well in the general area for as many rounds as her block allows. She's kind of running out of ideas lol.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 If needed.

"The alley," she says, her tongue and nose overwhelmed with the musk and taste of blood. It's a disturbingly familiar sensation.

Shaking off that foul feeling, Elyssa repeats herself to the others and points. "The thing that killed her is in the alley."

Those words must have awakened the... thing inside her to act as the moment Elyssa confirms her finding her legs are on the move without her consent pressing forward to the blood-reeking alley.

Elyssa's hands rush to her mouth to suppress a scream as she hears one Nyarai be violently cut down. The sight of the dead woman's blood does little to help with the shock and soon Elyssa feels a wave of nausea come over her.

Blood, she thinks, trying desperately not to start dry heaving. If there is one thing I know is that I hate the sight of blood.

The desire to run away into the mists and escape the sight of the red ichor is overwhelming but Elyssa's body does not obey her instincts. Her feet stay rooted to where she is, defying her. "Why can't I... why can't I move?"

Silence. You dishonor our Blood, our Flesh, with your cowardice. Act. Fight. Destroy.

"How? I can't even see what I'm facing," she says aloud before realizing that she is quite literally talking to herself. I'm mad. I must be. How else do you explain it?

Before Elyssa has time to try and answer that, the voice in her head is already making new demands.

Foolish, sheath. We have eyes. And ears. And a tongue to taste the blood in the air. Use them. Now.

And so she does. To the best her ability anyway.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

1d4 ⇒ 1

Oof. Well, Elyssa isn't that gear dependent but it isn't that big of a deal. Let's she has her prismatic crystal on her.

The girl finally stirs from the cobblestone ground her first feeling is one of utterly confusion. She remembers... nothing. Not how she got her nor why she came to such a unnerving place. Fear grips her young heart immediately and her hands go to cradle her body as if they could provide her some kind of protection from the strange mists or daunting shadows that seem to twist and fade at the corners of your eye. "Where... where are we?" she asks. More to herself than to the others, as if some facet of her mind could provide an answer.

Before it can one of the strangers supplies the answer, a dark-haired man with a fierce looking weapon. "The Dreamlands?" It is not a question or denial. The moment the man says it, Elyssa, or perhaps something at the back of her mind, knows it to be the truth.

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"I-I think know about them. Or at least read about them. Maybe?" She shakes her head as if that could help with her confusion. It doesn't really. "You're right we shouldn't be here together. This is wrong. This must be wrong."

Panic starts to creep into her thoughts. They shouldn't be here. They shouldn't here. They shouldn't be-

Stop your whining. It is unbecoming. You will make them know us. You will make them know of our Blood and Flesh.

And with that Elyssa shoot up straight and made her formal introduction without so much thinking of the act. "I'm Lady Elyssa Volgori, of the House Volgori. I am of noble Ustalavic blood and... that's all I remember," her voice trailing off. What just happened?

Before Elyssa has anytime to think on that the feeling of being watched, no, pursued overtakes her. Something is out here!

On instinct, Elyssa manages to call forth something deep within her to protect her and soon a skin of energy covers her fragile form.

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Elyssa will cast Mage Armor on herself bring her AC to 15.

Hello, hello. Thank you for the invite! It's much appreciated. Anyhow, if anyone has any questions about Elyssa feel free to ask.

As for the Roll20 token I'll follow the dear Doctor's example and say you can use Elyssa's Paizo avatar for the token.

And here's my audition of my Abomination Psychic. Or at least my own first draft of her. Will likely change things here or there (I'm really not quite set on her name) but for the most part the crunch and character stuff is done. I'm going for an Exorcist meets Hereditary vibe here and exploring just how unnerving it would be to have someone else trying to invade your mind, body, and soul. Should be a fun exercise. Mechanically she'll be a standard Psychic. Debuffs, knowledge rolls, mental thrusts, you know the drill.