Jack, "Just Jack"'s page

The GM's extra creative effort really showed. So appreciated, and all too rare.

Chronicle looks good. Thanks for running a great session for us.

"I always bring enough butter to share, Omrax, Hamish," Jack assures the paladin. "Just take off your pants, and I'll grease you up."

Grease will give you a +10 on your Escape Artist check.

Grease, Escape Artist: 1d20 + 14 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 14 + 10 = 43

Jack pulls a slab of salted (for taste) butter from his spell component pouch and rubs it over his body so quickly, you're certain he's practiced this particular procedure often. He casts a spell and squeezes past the horny skull jutting into the wall of rubble.

Once through the obstacle, he uses a bit of prestidigation to help lick off any remaining butter.

Acrobatics DC29, +2 bonus for flying: 1d20 + 30 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 30 + 2 = 48
Jack does an aerial barrel roll, avoiding the bone shrapnel.

Knowledge (arcana) DC35: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21
"Have to help the medics!" Jack draws his rapier and races toward the undead menace, humming Ritt der Walküren.
+1 Vicious Keen Adamantine Rapier, Heroism, Inspire Courage, Discordant Voice: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37
Crit!?: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40

"Love the smell of napalm in the morning!"

I never win boons: 1d20 ⇒ 18
If hell were to freeze over: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Told ya.

Taking a cue from Omrax, Jack crosses his heart with the sign of the flagon of ale and whispers a prayer of his own to the Accidental God.

"I don't ask for much, Cayden. Just a strong drink and a fine woman with an open mind and a forgiving heart." The bard pauses, considering his request. "Scratch that. I can find the first on my own."

The second would truly be a miracle.

Jack is up for another encounter.

It’s the condition invoked that the Overseer GM’s post refers to.

I don’t suppose we have an Aid token or something similar to get him out of the unconscious danger zone, do we?

The Medic Aid Mission's success grants each PC a heroic-level healing Aid Token, 8d6 hp in our subtler.

Unsure if someone has a new save option available (I do not)

Jack had not yet started a bardic performance, so he can't cast saving finale, though I think Arnaut can.

Lore Master Standard Action Take 20 Knowledge (religion) for 38 vs DC25

"It’s an advanced Nightwing. Its special attacks include ____________, and its spell-like abilities include ___________."

Stepping back a few feet, Jack snaps his fingers, releasing his lesser metamagic rod of quicken into his hand, and swiftly casts haste on the team. Then he stows the rod in his handy haversack.

"I never buy a mount, without what I've checked the blue book value first." Jack winks. "Else a man might lose more than his shirt, am I right?"

Take 10 Knowledge (religion) for 28
"It's a figurine of Chaldira Zuzaristan, a halfling goddess of battle, luck, and mischief."

Jack casts a cantrip to detect magic. "I think you're supposed to place this on the pommel of your saddle or on the dashboard of your coach. See? The head bobbles as you move. Cool."

"Nicely done, Arnaut."

As soon as Marta and Omrax enter the chamber, Jack follows and helps search the chamber, starting in the area of that flagstone jutting up from the rest of the floor.

Take 10 Perception for 34

"Yo, Marta! Slow down, girl!" Jack exclaims, as the lady tries to stride past him and into the chamber beyond. "Both doors are warded with a symbol of weakness!"

He puts his hand up to stop her, before she passes. "You wanna trigger them, go ahead. But please let us get out of the way first."

Fortitude, if Marta decides to pass him anyway: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Take 10 Spellcraft DC22 for 30
"Hmmm, necromancy." He points out the skull-and-gag sigils carved on each doorway. "Can't be good, right?"

"Hmm, I think there's something odd about that flagstone over there, the one jutting up from the rest of the floor. Might be a pressure plate." From outside the chamber, before anyone enters, Jack casts detect magic.

Lore Master Take 10 Knowledge (religion) for 28 vs DC20
Take 20 Perception for 44, or: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (20) + 24 = 44

Jack flies up through the chasm to the upper level of the Black Cavern, following the shadowy spirits of the graveknights. He peers inside the chamber.

"The carved skull with the durag and ball-gag depicts Tar-Baphon as the godhead of the Whispering Way, an Inner Sea cult which seeks to transform every man, woman and child on Golarion into undead."

Reflex DC25: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Drenched in graveknight acid, guitar hero Jack sweeps his arm around in a Pete Townsend whirlwind, ripping another power chord from the ethereal strings of his imaginary Gibson Les Paul. *BWAAAAHHH!* His phantom Marshall stack pulses, sending three more bolts of sonic destruction at these undead abominations, targeting the pink one first, and then shifting to the green one if he can.

Bolt 1 Ranged Touch, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Good Hope, Haste, Heroism; Sonic Damage, Discordant Voice; Deafened for d6 rounds: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 363d10 + 6 ⇒ (1, 9, 8) + 6 = 241d6 ⇒ 1
Bolt 2 Ranged Touch, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Good Hope, Haste, Heroism; Sonic Damage, Discordant Voice; Deafened for d6 rounds: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 323d10 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4, 10) + 6 = 251d6 ⇒ 2
Bolt 3 Ranged Touch, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Good Hope, Haste, Heroism; Sonic Damage, Discordant Voice; Deafened for d6 rounds: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 393d10 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6, 4) + 6 = 221d6 ⇒ 2
Crit!? Additional Damage, if confirmed: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 393d10 ⇒ (5, 9, 1) = 15

HIs song reaches a crescendo, stilling inspiring Marta and the Gull to new heights of greatness, his voice bestowing discordant sweet vibrations to the weapons of all his allies.

Sorry I missed that. GMing the 15-16 table is causing some hemorrhaging on my brain.

*EDIT* Looks the wall was dismissed, so not an issue.

I enjoyed Gervase's honorable mention of Jack and his playhouse in your Sewer Dragons of Absalom game.

Jack peers at the graveknights through the wall of thorns.

If the magical brambles are no obstacle...

Still inspiring greatness in Marta and the Gull, Jack inches closer to the man 'o war and casts deafening song bolt at the pink undead monster.

With a sweep across the strings of his air guitar, the bard plays a resounding power chord full of distortion and overdrive. The three notes become tangible bolts of arcane energy that shriek across the battlefield. *BWAAAAHHH!*
Bolt 1 Ranged Touch, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Good Hope, Haste, Heroism; Sonic Damage, Discordant Voice; Deafened for d6 rounds: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 243d10 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5, 10) + 6 = 261d6 ⇒ 4
Bolt 2 Ranged Touch, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Good Hope, Haste, Heroism; Sonic Damage, Discordant Voice; Deafened for d6 rounds: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 393d10 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5, 10) + 6 = 221d6 ⇒ 5
Crit!? Additional Damage, if confirmed: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 283d10 ⇒ (8, 9, 3) = 20
Bolt 3 Ranged Touch, Inspire Courage, Inspire Greatness, Good Hope, Haste, Heroism; Sonic Damage, Discordant Voice; Deafened for d6 rounds: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 373d10 + 6 ⇒ (8, 9, 1) + 6 = 241d6 ⇒ 2

(Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no; Deafened) for 5 rounds.

Does the wall of thorns provide any cover or concealment to our foes? I saw no mention of that in the spell description.

The wall is dismissible, if Rokgurn chooses to do so.

Also, Jack isn't shaken. He made his save, thanks to the circumstance bonus from the Gull.

If a table's asking for help, please do send them whatever Aid Token they need.

RETCON: With the +2 circumstance bonus from his proximity to the Gull, Jack just barely makes his Fortitude save, and does not cast Saving Finale.

Inspire Courage, Will DC26 vs Frightful Presence: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 17 + 4 = 24
Saving Finale Immediate Action Reroll Failed Save: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 17 + 4 = 22

The warsworn's advance leaves Jack shaken.

Knowledge (religion) DC26: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30
Lore Master Take 10 Knowledge (religion) for 28 vs DC21 (Graveknights' special abilities, please.)

"Graveknights have the following special abilities: __________!" the aasimar warns his companions.

Jack activates his winged boots, flies up and toward the action, and starts a bardic performance of his own, harmonizing with Arnaut to inspire greatness in Marta and the Gull.

Discordant Voice: Allies within 30ft of Jack deal an extra d6 points of sonic damage with successful weapon attacks. This damage stacks with other energy damage a weapon might deal. Projectile weapons bestow this extra damage on their ammunition, but the extra damage is dealt only if the projectile hits a target within 30ft of Jack.

Rockgurn, Jack has winged boots, so he can fly.

Marta, at level-14, Jack's extended heightened awareness and heroism last 280 minutes, or a little more than 4.6 hours. Cast at the start, they probably needed a refresh at some point during the march through the caverns.

During the trek into the Black Caverns, Jack renews his heightened awareness and heroism[/I] spells, when the extended versions finally wear off.

Arriving near the banks of the river of blood, and with Shevar Besnik's warning that action is imminent, Jack casts mirror image. Then he draws his potion of magic circle against evil, ready to toss it down the hatch.
Images: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Knowledge (religion) DC25: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
"The river of blood is charged with antilife!" Jack warns the team. "You don't want to get too close to it." (Any additional details?)

Knowledge (local) DC15 re the book: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33

When Arnaut's finished, Jack activates his wand again, and takes a look. (47 charges remaining)

"The binding is fashioned from the skin of a halfling." Jack couldn't be more disgusted. "The book is simply entitled Volume II. The mage-king writes of the discovery of a statue of the halfling goddess Chaldira holding a chipped sword, a holy relic that seemed dangerous but resisted his efforts to understand it."

"That little minx Zarta," Jack nods in agreement with Rokgurn. "Gave her all my magazine collection."

Linguistics DC30: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Jack doesn't recognize the language. He pulls a wand of comprehend languages out of his left sock and activates it. (48 charges remaining)

The script worms around into something decipherable. "'Follow the path of the Whispering Way to the Prize in the Black Caverns,'" he reads the note aloud.

"Sounds like Jackie Brown."

The aasimar looks around for more clues and spies a burnished gold statue of a skeleton.
Knowledge (arcana) DC29: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26

"Looks like Marilyn Manson."
Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29

"Workin' it, sister," Jack says, still staring at the bloody ball of dried mud. He hold it up to his ear, then hearing nothing, juggles it for moment with a dagger and flask of whiskey.

"For my next act, I'll pull a rabbit out of my holy of holies."

Having examined the clay ball, trying to learn its secrets, Jack asks, "Shall we continue exploring the Silent Shrine?"

The aasimar peers into the darkness. "Who knows what secrets this place might yet yield to us, if we look carefully... "

"Gran, I'll take a potion of magic circle against evil, please." Jack holds his hand out to the senior citizen.

(Detect Magic, Take 20 Perception for 44)
Jack examines the clay object. "What's this?"

With his pick of destiny, Jack strums a mighty power chord on his air guitar. The three notes become tangible bolts of arcane energy that shriek across the Silent Shrine's battlefield and slam into Joy. "Can you hear me now!?"

Song Bolt 1 vs Touch AC, Good Hope; Discordant Voice, Sonic Damage; Deafened d6 rounds: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 283d10 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 7, 1) + 3 + (4) = 171d6 ⇒ 1
Song Bolt 1 vs Touch AC, Good Hope; Discordant Voice, Sonic Damage; Deafened d6 rounds: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 353d10 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (9, 10, 8) + 3 + (4) = 341d6 ⇒ 5
Song Bolt 1 vs Touch AC, Good Hope; Discordant Voice, Sonic Damage; Deafened d6 rounds: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 243d10 + 3 + 1d6 ⇒ (8, 4, 2) + 3 + (1) = 181d6 ⇒ 5

(Deafening Song Bolt; No Save, SR No; Deafened for 5 rounds)

Inspire Courage: +3 competence bonus on attack/damage rolls; +3 morale bonus on saves vs fear/charm effects.
Discordant Voice: Allies within 30' of Jack deal an extra d6 points of sonic damage with successful weapon attacks. This damage stacks with other energy damage a weapon might deal. Projectile weapons bestow this extra damage on their ammunition, but the extra damage is dealt only if the projectile hits a target within 30' of Jack.

Inspire Greatness + CON mod Temp hp: 2d10 + 6 ⇒ (8, 5) + 6 = 19

Fortitude DC24: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28
Jack's stomach growls, but he ignores his hunger.

As the team moves through the catacombs on the way to the Silent Shrine, a disembodied voice speaks to Jack. "Did you hear that?"

"'The living? Here? So, you must be after my secrets. We will speak more of this if you manage to find me and look upon my greatness.'"

He looks around for the source of the voice, but sees no one.

----

Knowledge (religion) DC21 re the Large Bloody Bones: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Knowledge (religion) DC23 to ID the Huge Green Skeleton: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

Entering the dark, sound-dampened shrine, Jack calls out a warning, "The bloody bones are devourers. Their immunities include __________. The big green skeleton is a gashdokuro called Joy."

The bard starts singing to inspire his companions and casts a spell to fill them with good hope.
♫And the battle will never end well.
You can't marry our heaven to your hell.
We, Prolific, and you, the Devourer, need to see
Some things are sacred, baby.

Poor skeleton steps out,
Dressed up in bad blood,
Bad brains, bad thoughts, and others deeds.♫
(The Waiting Room, Sixpence None the Richer and Poor Skeleton Steps Out, XTC)

Inspire Courage: +3 competence bonus on attack/damage rolls, +3 morale bonus on saves vs fear and charm effects.
Good Hope: +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.
(8 mirror images, 4 minutes remaining.)

Nope, we each created three Aid Tokens, one for each of our designated Aid Characters, corresponding to the roles we assigned to them, and we had the (risky) opportunity to attempt to upgrade each Aid Token's benefits to 'heroic' level.

Our table had a total of 18, and we've distributed a couple of them already. We can't generate more, but we still have a lot left to offer other tables.

We can also accept more Aid Tokens, but we can only actually use two per encounter.

Not trying to step on the GM's toes; I know he's on the other side of the world, so I'm just trying to give you a quick answer/clarification.

You keep the tokens you've acquired and you can't pass them along (a departure from the practice in most previous Specials). The limitation is that you can only use two per encounter.

However, we should have a significant number of tokens that we can offer to other tables. At the start, we created 3 each.

Take 20 Perception for 44
Taking a commonsense cue from Marta, Jack joins the search of the catacombs. "Always wondered what an ooze keeps in its pocketses."

CLW: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 5) + 3 = 10 (45 charges remaining)

"Well done, team." Jack uses a wand to close his wounds.

"Blow me, Arnaut."

Fortitude DC22 vs : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Fortitude DC22: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19 (+4 vs sonic for 23)

As soon as Rock-Burn grabs his sparkly balls and tea-bags the carnivorous crystals trapped in the sphere of moistness, Jack moves up and pricks Pink.

Readied Attack +1 keen vicious adamantine rapier, heroism, haste, Inspire Courage, ; Damage, Discordant Voice: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 351d6 + 7 + 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 7 + (5, 2) + (5) = 23
Vicious Self-Inflicted damage to Jack: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Yup. A standard action to dismiss the silence, and a swift action to cast the quickened mirror image.

With enhanced speed, Jack moves through the gap he created in the wall of sound and then dismisses the silence.

♫I command that these things
Of which I speak
Will come to be
Behold the power of the night
Shine that we may see the light
Curse the filthy hypocrites
Crawl into their beds at night
Ooze from slimy depths below
Scream into their frozen brains
Behold the prince of darkness here♫
Doom Song, Plasmatics

Mindful of the gravesludges long tentacles, gripping his rapier in one hand and clutching his quicken metamagic rod in the other, he swiftly casts mirror image.
Images: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Inspire Courage: +3 competence bonus to attack/damage rolls; +3 morale bonus to saves vs charm/fear effects.
Discordant Voice: allies within 30 feet of you deal an extra 1d6 points of sonic damage with successful weapon attacks. This damage stacks with other energy damage a weapon might deal. Projectile weapons bestow this extra damage on their ammunition, but the extra damage is dealt only if the projectile hits a target within 30 feet of you.
Immediate action to cast Saving finale if Jack or someone else fails a save. Lingering performance maintains bardic goodies for 2 additional rounds.

Sweet!

Just reported 5 successes from my table, too.

But for reals - silence means:

- No Inspire Courage from Jack
- No Inspire Greatness from Arnaut
- No Discordant Weapon damage
- No verbal communication within or from side to side
- No deterrent to keep the oozes from attacking the beautiful folks in the back

True - within the area of effect, which Jack intends to dismiss as soon as everyone - who wants to - passes through the wall of sound.

Is there something else (besides avoiding the loss of a few hitpoints) that Jack wants to accomplish?

I was considering Jack's available options and thought I'd select the best option for the team and for Jack. I'd planned to fire off a deafening bolt spell through the temporary gap. Charging into melee combat didn't seem like the best choice given the odds at present against so many foes.