We are trying to save our people. If you have time, I'll tell you the story.
Zharis proceeds to tell the basic facts, and answer any questions if they have time to get into more detail... the more allies they can get out here the better, and ones that can apparently just swim through the sun would be an enormous help.
She also politely asks him about himself and his people.
Diplomacy:1d20 + 19 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 19 + (2) = 36
Also remember this from "Expert Negotiator": "If a creature’s initial attitude toward you would be unfriendly, indifferent, or friendly, you instead treat its attitude as one category higher."
Zharis will send off the newly edited adventure to her agent and to her father so they can get things going. If she dies on this one, at least her fans will get one last look.
It was the best longarm we had in loot.
(Or at least the highest level. I don't know longarms well.)
_____
Personal purchases:
I bought the following Aeon stones
Clear Spindle -- No need for food
Turquoise Cube -- retroactive +1 if you miss a roll by one (once a day)
Bright Yellow Cabochon -- +4 decipher old writing / can cast comprehend languages once a day
Kehtarite Oval -- +4 circumstance bonus to saving throws against the burning condition, automatically extinguish nonmagical fires near you.
Viridian Balbis -- +10 to any movement speed you have
Dark Blue Rhomboid -- +2 insight bonus to Perception and Sense Motive skill checks
(and already had this one)
Iridescent Spindle -- No need to breathe
I'm here, but my stuff is not updated. It will be on the weekend though. Just too slammed by work to get it done before that, sorry. I need to finish updating the loot sheet, selling stuff, and buying gear. The ship should be good to go though. Sorry I am behind.
Third time is a charm, with total cost to party $21,000.
... then we divide the rest.
I've been working on the ship. Changed a couple of things, added in some long range sensors so we can see what is going on, and some security so people can't break in. Not sure if we're done, but late for work, so will look at it again later.
Zharis asks their allies if there is anyone who can cure the maladies of her friends who seem to be cursed in some way, and she turns their prisoners over to their justice as well, if they agree to a trial at which the wronged brother can testify.
If necessary, she will use her persuasive abilities to encourage them to partake in a trial so that their society can see justice done rather than a summary execution.
She records the whole thing if it happens, of course, and spends times editing her footage into a documentary, then sends it to her father for distribution, and looks into local distribution as well, getting her lawyer involved in the rights issues for this part of space.
Sorry for missing my turn. The person who worked for me moved on and haven't found a replacement yet.
Zharis can SEE! She grins, making sure the camera is catching the action, and jump jets to a better vantage point. Up on top of whatever that is... a barrier?
Zharis doesn't want to damage the resonator, so she pulls out her Resonant Dirge pistol (antibiological... only harms living targets), and fires at the dragon, hoping that it will work against the dragon.
The thought does not cross her mind that she is equally ineffective as she was when she was blind... she's got too good a self image for that kind of negativity.
Zharis stays where she is, and starts talking, inspiring her fellows with highlights of their journey so far, what they have overcome, and what they have accomplished... singling out each of her companions and something they have done that was fabulous and heroic. She can't see the camera, but she acts for it anyway, pulling in the audience and making them feel amazing about themselves and their chances.
Sorry I don't have time to write something amazing here, but imagine the "band of brothers" speech from Henry V, except Zharis would consider them her littermates, facing dragons together makes them so.
Inspiring Oration--all allies within 60 feet get back 36 Stamina Points [2x level (20) + cha mod (6) + 1x level (10)]
Inspiring Oration details:
All of these abilities are being used to some extent.
Inspiring Boost (Ex) (Improvisation) [As a standard action, you can signal an ally within 30 feet who has taken damage from any attack made by a significant enemy at any point after your last turn ended. That ally regains a number of Stamina Points (up to his maximum) equal to twice your envoy level + your Charisma modifier; at 15th level, this increases to three times your envoy level + your Charisma modifier. Once an ally has benefited from your inspiring boost, that ally can’t gain the benefits of your inspiring boost again until he takes a 10-minute rest to recover Stamina Points. At 6th level, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to add your envoy level to the number of Stamina Points regained.]
Inspiring Oration (Ex) (Improvisation) [You can use inspiring boost as a full action. If you do, all allies within 60 feet of you regain a number of Stamina Points equal to twice your envoy level + your Charisma modifier (up to their maximum); at 15th level, this increases to three times your envoy level + your Charisma modifier. Once an ally has benefited from your inspiring boost or inspiring oration, that ally can’t gain the benefits of either improvisation again until they recover Stamina Points following a 10-minute rest. As with the inspiring boost envoy improvisation, you can spend 1 Resolve Point to add your envoy level to the number of Stamina Points regained. You must have the inspiring boost improvisation to select this improvisation.]
Signature Support (Enhanced, Ex) [At 2nd level, choose one of the following envoy improvisations: clever feint, dispiriting taunt, get ‘em, or inspiring boost. If you do not have that improvisation already, you gain it. If you do have it, you can instead gain a different improvisation for which you qualify. At 6th level, you can use the chosen improvisation as though you had spent 1 Resolve Point without having to spend a Resolve Point. You can do this once per day for every 6 envoy levels you have.]
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
If we want to save the elves, we need to do something to break the enchantment. I have been as persuasive as it is possible for me to be, which is very, and it doesn't work. If we can save them, I would like to... and it might help us later if we meet more elves. Not sure it is possible though, if they are enchanted as deeply as the bard. He was under a geas or something, wasn't he? What do you guys want to do here? try to disarm them and tie them up and then go kill the dragon, hoping that will break the enchantment? ... At least we know the dragon is home now. :)
We want to help.
Azen glances at her friends, hoping they can do something to help, then steps forward and kisses the elf she has been talking to, knowing that more talking won't do any good, but perhaps a different kind of distraction could help, if it was mentally engaging enough. She hopes it will give her team time to take some action.
This isn't meant to make anyone uncomfortable, or even be romantic at all. Seriously, just trying to find a way to distract the mind control long enough for us to solve this without killing them.
Zharis jump jets up the stairs with her trusty drone camera following her like an adoring winged puppy, and suddenly, when she catches sight of the dragon, she can't see anymore. She plows into a wall, >BAM< bouncing off in an unknown direction, and falls to the floor. She sits up woozily, but isn't sure what direction she is facing anymore, or whether she is in imminent danger or not. She says through her suit com "Everyone okay?", but otherwise stays put, hoping that the effect will wear off.
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
Sense Motive:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Azen can sense that the elf is fighting some kind of external control, which she isn't sure she can help with, since she doesn't know how it works, but she decides to address it, since it will alert her friends, and hopefully help the elves as well... if that is possible.
Friend elf, I can sense that you are fighting some kind of external control. If that is something that we can help you with, please allow us to. We would not wish any sort of slavery upon anyone.
She continues quickly after this offer, trying to give the elf something else to focus on in order to keep himself under control if he can.
We are willing to negotiate in good faith with the elves, and if the trolls are unpredictable, we may have to deal with that threat separately. Was it the trolls that recently wiped out a village of lizard folk?
Zharis tries to finish Gorchak off with her claws, but as she goes to extend her claws into his throat, the wildness suddenly wears off, she remembers who she is and that her fans are watching, and that even though Gorchak is pure evil, she probably shouldn't murder his helpless body on camera.
Shakily, she sits down on the floor, trying to calm down.
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
I think we are willing to negotiate peace between our peoples, as long as it is a benefit to both sides. We want our people to be safe and to respect our neighbors. Hostilities hurt everyone. What group, or groups do you represent? The elves, or others as well, since you seem to be working with ... allies that you normally would not? If we are trampling on your boundaries, I don't know about it. I would love to learn more about the problem, and we can talk about your concerns. Perhaps we should have that meal after all? There must be a way to work out an agreement that both our groups would find acceptable.
Zharis moves down the stairs enough to see Gorchak in the elevator, trying to get away.
Instead of attacking with a gun, she uses her jump jets to jump straight into the elevator with him, landing above him and grabbing onto his hair and screeching and spitting like her ancient ancestors. Felt good to go a little wild, and the cameras would eat it up.
The landing on his head thing is just flavor. Technically, it is just a double move, not an attack or grapple or anything, and just trying to provoke maybe a little bit of emotion for the camera. Just want to get into the elevator to make sure he doesn't get away from me. (If the elevator isn't high enough to have me come in the door above him, please roll for me whatever is necessary. My acrobatics is +15, but not sure if that is the right thing to roll, or if it is needed.)
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
Has it bothered your settlement down here? I've heard tales that it is hurting people, and is a danger to the area. Do you think that's true?
Azen tries to be as sincere as she can be... these elves seem to be thinking for themselves, as far as she can tell, but that bard in the town was under an enchantment and didn't have much choice, so maybe these are too. She wants to find out if they are enchanted, and is bending over backwards to help them have the chance to prove they aren't evil.
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
Azen keeps her hands off her weapons and speaks in a soothing tone.
I'm Azen. The trolls attacked us, and we were making sure there was no further danger . . . but wait. Their post? Were they working for you, then? If so, we must apologize for killing them. We thought they were endangering the wildlife, not safely leashed. I assure you, we mean you no harm. There is no need to threaten us. If you were attacked by trolls in a forest, would you not do the same?
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
If we really think they are going to be on our side, maybe Celebeth and I can talk to them rather than attacking them in the first place. Should we wait until they come out, and try?
Thank you, that should be fine. We will wait here.
Xylian was working on the resonator without touching it, so Zharis looked over at him to see if he was making any progress. The jig would be up as soon as they found the commissar's body... well, unless everyone was gullible enough to think it was some other group. :)
She wonders how much time they have. The giant might not get past Gorchak, but would they investigate, or come back up immediately? Would they message ahead, or just come? She gets her comm out and messages Amhesha
>Sorry about the Pahtra thing. I was just trying to extend the bluff. Anyway, if I can distract the giant, see if you can keep the elevator occupied. We don't want to disable it permanently, but if you could call it to this level and then keep it here, that might prevent us having to fight a larger battle.<
She also messages Theo to be ready to take down the giant if anything negative happens.
...I'll sing something while we wait.
She then starts singing the theme song from As the Black Hole Turns ... the 6 minute intro version that they put on the platinum album. She punctuates the exciting parts with a token spell, minor starbursts, trying to entertain/distract the remaining giant. She stays well away from the resonator, unless the giant gets ancy. If they giant does anything negative, she punctuates with an invisibility spell instead, so that she can approach the resonator unscathed.
Profession Actor:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
...and just in case I need another bluff, because the whole performance is meant to deceive (but I mean, acting is friendly deception by its very nature anyway):
She doesn't know how much time Xylian needs to complete his examination, but she is attempting to get him as much time as she can before things go sideways.
bullseye shot would normally not work on a second arrow, but since this is just a crit confirm, and thus theoretically the same shot, it should... right?
Zharis steps out of the lift and after they are addressed, she responds in Ignan.
Will do. My companions don't speak Ignan though, so let me translate that for them first. Xylian there is going to take some surface readings. He's a science type, and the Commissar promised he could study it, but it shouldn't take long. Then we'll get to work.
If they seem to be going along with it, Zharis will turn and start translating Ignan into Pahtra for Amhesha, overly slowly, adding unnecessary explanations and drawing things out a lot. Then she'll switch to Common and do the same thing for a different party member. Then, if Xylian is still going, she'll switch to the pretend-cyborg language from As The Black Hole Turns and translate into that, along with random commentary from the show.
Oooh, that's a really low roll for me. Might not make it.
The guy might know who we are, but the intention is to delay him so that we can get into position, and so I can get close enough to attack... hopefully it will confuse him at least a little.
Zarena explains that one set of crossbow bolts is slightly magically enhanced, that the jade belt grants a boost to the wearer's constitution, and that the white stones are temporary protections to vital organs, but only work for a week and can't absorb a lot of damage.
I can't tell on the rest of them, sorry, but I can try again later perhaps. It's not always easy to concentrate for long periods of time with this sort of thing. I either get an idea within the first few minutes or not at all. You have to let go and come back later with a fresh perspective.
If Zarena dies here, which very easily might happen, you can just adopt the cub (I named it Sitka, but you can change it if you want). If not, we can work it out in character, even having a conversation with the wolves maybe, and Sitka can opt to travel with you because he doesn't like snakes or something. :)
Standing high on the wall, Zharis hears Xylian's compliment, but can't quite believe it. Maybe there was an opposite to Tourette's syndrome where you got nicer in times of stress?
Strange the things that run through your mind during a battle. Zharis shakes off the distraction and shoots again at Blue.
Zharis feels edgy standing all in the same place cramped together in a lift, especially against enemies apt to use fire, so she takes one step out, and then triggers her jump jets to jump to move to the right and perch on the wall or ceiling, depending on how high the ceiling is. From her new, improved vantage point she feels somewhat less vulnerable, and starts shooting, choosing blue as her target since the others might be protecting that one for a reason. She starts out with her disintegrator to see if it does some damage or not.
Hmm. The critical on this gun says "Demoralize" ... but intimidate is not one of my specialties, unfortunately, and with a negative 5 I'm not sure I could do any good there. Fun to get a crit though. :)
Zarena moves Verity from her wrist to her shoulder, and then steps forward to talk to the hobgoblin, hoping that it will give time for someone to circle around and block his escape, as well as time for the non-combatants and the fighters to arrange themselves for maximum protection. Allowing this one to leave and bring word of their presence would be disastrous.
She adopts the bearing of a noble servant,
Greetings Fahrak. I am Zarena, Speaker-to-Snakes, also ally to the Children of Stone. These the Children have invited to dine, and to serve those below, in exchange for protection. I am sent to lead them to the divine caverns.
Hoping that Fahrak will get the message that these hapless villagers are meant for a troglodyte stewpot, Zarena pauses, letting her Aasimar nature work its magic and convince him to believe her.
Bluff:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Note: Leveling up now, and that roll represents the level-up, just in case you see this before my post in the discussion area is complete.
I just meant that we should encourage the refugees to get ready as soon as possible, and go with them, but be ready to protect them and obscure our back trail. We should definitely stay for the night.
Responding to Rehjaer, Zharis echoes the same sentiments as Amhesha.
You're so deluded. You realize that the efreet are turning your people into literal zombie slaves, right? If you approve of what is happening to your people out there, then you have no honor or ethical center in your life at all. If you really want to be an efreet slave, I think we have one of their slave collars around here somewhere. Happy to let you have it so you can be burned to ash for disobedience like the last person who wore it. Who is feeding you this information about a golden age? You sincerely believe those lies?
Rolling diplomacy to try to convince him of the truth and hope that he will realize he is fighting for the wrong side... might be hopeless, but it's an attempt to save him. Using these abilities if applicable: Diplomatic Nuance (When you attempt a Diplomacy check to change a creature’s attitude, the creature’s attitude worsens only if you fail the check by 10 or more.) and Expert Negotiator (If a creature’s initial attitude toward you would be unfriendly, indifferent, or friendly, you instead treat its attitude as one category higher. When you fail a Diplomacy check to change the attitude of a hostile creature by 10 or less, you can attempt to change its attitude again.)
Ability Increases (wow, should have done this sooner): Strength, Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma
+1 Envoy improvisation:
Doooom! (Ex)
When you use this ability, choose either a 120-foot line, a 60-foot cone, or a 20-foot radius burst within 60 feet of you. As a standard action, you fearsomely foretell the devastation that your next attack will inflict on creatures in the area, convincing them to scatter. Attempt a Bluff or Intimidate check, applying the result to each enemy in the area; the DC equals either 10 + the creature’s total Sense Motive skill bonus, or 15 + 1-1/2 × the creature’s CR, whichever is greater. Unless you are wielding a weapon-like object, using a supernatural ability with a fearsome appearance (like token spell or activating a solarian’s stellar attunement), or leveraging some other obvious prop to make your threats, you take a –4 penalty to the skill check.
Each creature against which your check succeeds must do one of the following on its next turn: fight defensively, use the full defense action, move out of the area, or move to an area that grants them cover against your attacks. Whether your check succeeds or not, you cannot affect that creature with this improvisation again for 24 hours. This is a fear effect.
+1 Inspiring Combo:
At 10th level, as a full action, you can instead make either two attacks and use an envoy improvisation, or one attack and use two different envoy improvisations. You take a –4 penalty to your attack rolls until the end of the turn, and you treat your envoy level as 4 lower for the purpose of resolving the improvisations’ effects. If you use an improvisation that also allows you to make an attack, you increase the penalty to attack rolls to –6.
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
I just corrected my position. Instead of walking all that way to help Celebeth, I moved over just a little and am in range to help Rhiannon instead with the same spell.
I think the stale air probably means we are the first people who have been in here for a while... but I suppose the door opening could have set something off.
Zarena casts Detect Magic to see if there is a magical trap in the room. If no magic, then she'll cast Spark in there to make sure it isn't some combustible gas.
Sorry for missing stuff while I was out of town. Agree with the group that the story has flaws, but definitely not the GM's fault. :) You rock for running the game for us. :)
Greenbelt | Roll20 | NG Female Human Arrowsong Minstrel Bard 6 | HP 39/39 | CMB +6 / CMD +18 | AC 18 / T 13 / FF 15 | Fort +3 / Ref +8 / Will +5 | Initiative +3 | Bardic Performances 18/18 (Inspire Courage at +2) | Perception +9 | Spells 1L 4/4 2L 3/3
My mistake. Azen will wait until she can see something, of course. I guess I thought since the movement of the trolls was said to be obvious that there was some sort of moonlight or other way of seeing farther.
Dogmeat! Zharis says, letting an old, rude exclamation from her childhood escape her lips, before quickly recovering.
Tarnation! she starts again, so that she doesn't have to edit the line in post. It's made of polycarbon plate. No way are we breaking into that. We'll have to open it.
>Do we have any way to block a high frequency signal burst?< she sends over comms only.
Then she remembers the signal jammer that they found a while back, and she walks back to where Grunph is, and roots around in the null space chamber for it.
Note to party... close to zero confidence this will work, so be ready for... I have no idea what. Probably a battle, since we have a map and all?
After finding it and ensuring she knows how it works, she uses comms to tell people that she is going to try the signal blocker, but that she isn't sure if it will work, and to be ready for whatever they have planned to come after the signal is sent. She adds a note for Xylian that if he can disable it remotely that would be ideal, and thanks him for his help.
Xylian, if you want to go back to your observation point for this, you are welcome to. Didn't mean to put you in the middle of everything. But if you want to stay, feel free.
Pause here for replies to my message, any other suggestions, and to give time for Xylian to try something or to move back to his position. If none, then...
Then she addresses Grunph
Okay, you ready? Ours is pretty straightforward. You can see the readings and that she is in there.
I'll open this one, and you open that one, and then we'll see what we have to trade. I can't tell if our friend is really inside, so we have to hope for your sake that your bosses don't get you killed right here as it is opened. If it checks out, then this will be over quickly, but the opening sends a signal, so they could be targeting us with a guided missile or signaling backup or almost anything.
Theo goes with you to observe. You want one of your Azers over here to watch while I open this one?
After Grunph starts back she gives the signal jammer to Tulgram and tells him to trigger it as soon as he sees Grunph touch the tube to start opening it. She can only hope that the black market technology works.
As soon as the observer is in place, if they are going to send one, and Grunph is ready on his side, Zharis proceeds to open the stasis pod.
If nothing world-shaking is already happening once she gets it open, she scoops Nurleth up in her arms and jogs over to exchange her with, hopefully, Vessu's brother.
DM:
The Signal Jammer is on the Loot Sheet on the Keep/Storage tab, line 27. Says it is level 3. Sorry, not sure where we found it, and no idea if it will work, since level 3 might mean that it only affects low level tech? But anyway, seemed like the sort of thing that we would need, so trying it anyway.
@Zharis: From the last XP post a couple of weeks back, it looks like you can go ahead and level up to 10.
Yeah, I know. Just haven't gotten around to it yet, sorry. Let's play on and I'll fit it in when I can. Work is rough right now. ... I mean, not bad. I love my job. Just busy, and then I don't even want to look at a computer after for a while, so just have to find a space to fit it in when I am not brain dead.
I'll work harder on prioritizing it this week... but not today.
Disappointed at the lack of loot, Zharis consoles herself that at least they rescued some people who hadn't been turned to zombies, or brainwashed (or so she hopes), so the footage was going to look especially heroic.
