Zyphlryx Istraga's page

A fitting tribute, Doug.

Zyphlryx offers to serve Queen Qweenzeenk upon the kobold's triumphant return, but is rebuffed.

The next morning, Zyphlryx offers to serve Imperius as the new Kobold King, and is greeted with a prolonged speech that makes him immediately regret his decision. In fact, he slips off before the pontificating is half finished, making his way past the now-abandoned lumber fort and out of Darkmoon Vale entirely.

It is time to fix problems, he says aloud to no one at all, leaning on his dapper cane to no discernible effect and beginning to sing — poorly — a kobold tune from his youth:

Don't forget me when I'm gone
My Crown would break
I can only listen for so long
It's all I can take

This place makes my eyes burn, Zyphlryx laments. Even worse than when Tombzaad comes into a room.

He looks around for some unused blood and/or steel. Finding none, he coughs and moves toward the other doors.

How much gear does a ghost need? I mean, you can't take it with you... (Well, I guess maybe Broomzad can...)

Zyphlryx takes the time to transfer a rune to his shortbow, taking great pains to keep it from the Queen (and of course from Tombzaad). He also slyly snags the shiny bracelets, both for the bling and to keep others from deflecting his arrows when the time comes.

Zyphlryx follows behind as the kobold heroes make their way to Queen Qweenzeenk's throne room. He carries the weight of the very shiny bow gift to gift.

Look what we retrieved for you, Queen, and by we I mean me, because NO ONE ELSE HELPED fetch it.

Zyphlryx ponders a moment. What if...hear me out now...what if we lead the hammering anvil to the ghost dwarf and solve two problems at once?

Deception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 heh
Zyphlryx does a fairly unconvincing impersonation of Imperius as he tries to lead the thing down the hall toward the undead smithy.

Zyphlryx staggers to his feet and scrambles out the door, having enough semblance of mind to put up a disk of force shield and cower behind it.

Stand, Stride, Cast a Spell ◈. Will use it to block the first attack that would hit.

Devise a Stratagem: stabilize: 1d20 ⇒ 14 w00t!

Zyphlryx's brilliant ploy to avoid the rest of this encounter is successful.

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 welp

Mind if I just lie down here for a little bit...?

Zyphlryx pulls out an alchemist's fire and tries to deliver it to the clay thingie.

strike, I guess?: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 5 = 6 welp the sequel

Athletics to Escape, Interact to Draw, Strike.

What in the Nine Hells... Zyphlryx laments, swatting the air as it buzzes about. Moving in, he hurks up a line of electricity at the homonculus whatever-it-is-cos-Zyphlryx-surely-doesn't-know.

electricity: 1d4 ⇒ 2 DC 18 basic Refl
reset: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Stride, kobold breath ◈◈. Reset in 4 rounds, what the heck am I gonna do NOW?

Zyphlryx, happy to be following someone that's not Imperius for a change, nods. Do your stuff. And if it blows up in your face, it's Imperius' fault.

Z turns to Kadosh. Do your stuff. And if it blows up in your face, it's Imperius' fault.

Zyphlryx watches Kadosh run past with annoyance. Where are you going? The fight is THIS way! He shakes his head. Last time I give THAT one an advantage...can't use it when running away!

Zyphlryx moves forward and hurks up a line of electricity, streaking past Broomzad toward #1.

electricity: 1d4 ⇒ 3 DC 18 basic Refl
reset: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Stride, kobold breath ◈◈. Reset in 2 rounds.

One down, four to go.

Zyphlryx is annoyed that his companions are in the way for another Zyphlryx lightning hairball. (Well, mostly that Broomzad is in the way; he doesn't mind so much if Imperius gets accidentally zapped. "Accidentally.")

Nevertheless, he looks to plan an attack on #4...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 11

...and thinks, "meh, that'll do", like his patron saint Mediocrates.

pew: 11 + 4 + 4 = 19 now adding INT not DEX, because I'm an idiot
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1
plus Strategic Strike: 1d6 ⇒ 4 ALSO because I'm an idiot

Z will make #4 flat-footed to Kadosh until the start of my next turn, if the DaS hits.

Finally, he'll conjure up a shield of force to cower behind.

Devise a Stratagem ◈, Strike w/Strategic Strike, Cast a Spell ◈. AC now 19.

Working for the rest of one's unlife sounds like a raw deal, Zyphlryx says, taking the measure of #3...

DaS ◈: 1d20 ⇒ 11

...and finding his chances to be the Okayest.

free Recall Knowledge to Know Weakness (presumably Society): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 probably not a crit success, but if it is, he'll share with his allies — and with Imperius ;-) — to share the +1 circumstance bonus to their next attack roll vs. #3.

pew: 11 + 5 = 16
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1
He'll make #3 flat-footed to Kadosh until the start of my next turn, if the DaS hits.

Lastly, he'll conjure up a shield of force.

Devise a Stratagem ◈, Strike, Cast a Spell ◈. AC now 19.

Zyphlryx curses a kobold curse (ooh, what he just called Broomzad's mother!) and races to the fallen apparition, whipping up an elixir faster than anyone can see and dumping down what serves as Broomzad's gullet.

Stride, Quick Tincture ◈ to create a minor elixir of life, Interact action to administer.

DC 20 Refl: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Zyphlryx avoids the worst of the damage, but also decides that discretion might be the better part of valor. Maybe we should leave this fellow to his bellows? Z coughs out, eyeing the exit.

Delay until Broomzad at least departs, then follow. (And Imperius who may wanna change his actions, GM permitting.)

Check out the hawt ghost-on-ghost action!

Zyphlryx casts his shield cantrip, cowering behind it yet peeking out to watch the melee.

Zyphlryx moves in and takes a look at the dwarf. Recall Knowledge ◈, Arcana/Crafting/Occultism/Society +8, Nature +5

One action remaining, pending outcome of above.

Sure, what could possibly go wrong?

Go on, then, Zyphlryx says to Imperius after operating the mechanism to bring up the cauldron. Give it a try!

One of two things will happen: nothing, or else Imperius will plummet to the cave floor below. Either way it seems like a win.

Put that silver spoon back in your mouth, where it belongs, Zyphlryx grouses, moving cautiously into the room to assess things.

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Not great.

Instead, Z hurks up a hurks up a line of electricity, lancing past Pepin on its way to the erstwhile dwarf.

electricity: 1d4 ⇒ 1 LOL, DC 18 Refl
reset: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Devise a Stratagem ◈, kobold breath ◈◈.

Zyphlryx takes a look at his options for #1...
DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 18
...and likes his chances. He looses an arrow.

pew: 18 + 5 = 23
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1
plus Strategic Strike: 1d6 ⇒ 2
plus Deadly, if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 10

And another.

pew: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 5 = 20
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6
plus Deadly, if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 1

THAT'S how ya do it! Shared Stratagem with Broomzad.

He then conjures up a disc of force, and immediately cowers behind it. Cast shield.

Devise a Strategem ◈, Strike, Cast a Spell ◈.

We are not meat! Zyphlryx objects, before adding more quietly, Well, maybe Imperius is, with his royalness...

He sizes up #4...
DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 3
...but sees no road to success on that maneuver. Instead, he steps up behind Kadosh and focuses on #3.

pew: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 1
plus Deadly, if a crit: 1d10 ⇒ 7

Devise a Strategem, Step, Strike.

THIS BOW IS HEAVY, Zyphlryx laments. He laments even more when no one agrees to take it off his hands. Fine then, he thinks, I'll give it to Queen Qweenzeenk myself and make sure she knows it didn't come from anyone else because no one else helped.

Seems like a very nice gift for Auntie, Zyphlryx says reasonably.

If that doesn't move Imperius, Z will sigh audibly — LOUDLY — and move to retrieve the bow, muttering about having to do everything himself.

Zyphlryx's Investigator sense is tingling at the sight of the shiny longbow. Oh, so shiny.

If he notices anything untoward, he points it out.
If he doesn't, he encourages Imperius to go get the shiny longbow.

When you wake him up, Qropmudroonk the Younger blinks up at you. What… happened?

Somebody set up us the bomb, Zyphlryx says helpfully, but they're not breathing anymore, so it really doesn't matter anymore.

Zyphlryx hears something fall and is mildly disappointed that Imperius remains on his feet. Still, there's the pesky pinkskin in front of them that needs dispatching.

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 14

And Z thinks that might just do it. He draws his bow and lets the arrow fly...

14 + 5 = 19
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6
plus Strategic Strike: 1d6 ⇒ 4

If it drops the remaining one they can see, Zyphlryx moves as shown in the green arrows on the map.

Zyphlryx shakes his head at the bottleneck holding the pinkskins off — they really haven't a morsel of tactical sense, have they? — as he draws out his bow and sizes up #1.

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Alas, that plan of attack has no hope of success. Instead, he trains his focus on #3.

shortbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Devise a Stratagem ◈, Drop probing cane (free), Interact to Draw shortbow, Strike @ #3.

Zyphlryx sighs and follows Imperius, pondering how effective a kobold shield he'll be.

Put everyone on the map, feel free to move pogs about.

Zyphlryx sees Kadosh dodge aside with a mixture of relief and disappointment as he studies the situation from a "hit it" perspective...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 3

...and decides that's not going to work. Instead, he decides to improve his angle, springing from bed to bed.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Devise a Stratagem, Balance ◈ x2.

What the heck is a gelatinous cube? For that matter, what's gelatin...?

The proper question is, will it stop and eat Kadosh before it gets to him? Let's find out! He moves back against the wall while he hurks up a line of electricity, lancing bast Kadosh on its way to the suspended skeleton.

electricity: 1d4 ⇒ 3 DC 18 Refl

reset: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Stride, kobold breath ◈◈.

Fine with moving the rune. Z wouldn't use the pick. Speaking of which...

Zyphlryx ignores both Imperius' boasting, accurate though it may be, and Zaadragrank's pick as he asks, Don't suppose you have a monocle in that stack somewhere...?

Not only could it be, but it is! Zyphlryx says excitedly, moving a little fast to put the wolf head next to the ear and consequently sending Dilgax's head tumbling off the shelf along the floor toward Imperius.

You should have seen it! Kadosh slit its throat after Pepin made it throw up Imperius, who had been swallowed and was surely about to perish if we hadn't all moved too quickly for some reason!

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Zyphlryx begins his assistance, such as it is, by trying to pluck a few of the arrows out of Tombzaad's hide.

Zyphlryx is uncharacteristically silent as he slips away. That went well, he says to Kadosh.

Thoroughly plussed (as opposed to nonplussed), Zyphlryx waits a second, as if for dramatic effect, then continues. Ah, yes, almost forgot: we brought Tombzaad home.

Zyphlryx nods as Imperius speaks, then: Not only that, Your Auntieness, but we burned the loggers' fort, found some ancient ruins, and have determined that there is a potent necromantic device buried within!

Zyphlryx starts looking about for some oil or tar. Anything they can drop on the heads of the pinkskins outside.

What!? Where's Thuldrin? Why's there no one on the parapet? Let us in!

Not by the hairs on our chinny-chin-chin!

I endorse the undead approach, despite our dice.

Deception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Er, um, I mean...ooh, we are scary ghosts!

Hey, let him go! Not too quickly, though...

Zyphlryx takes stock of the situation...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 1

...and decides that's a hopeless option, so he hocks another electric loogie up onto GreyWolfPeltThing.

electricity: 1d4 ⇒ 4 30-foot line that misses everyone else, DC 17 basic Refl.

reset: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Devise a Stratagem, kobold breath ◈◈.

Of course he doesn't say "Boo", he's a friendly ghost!

Zyphlryx wonders how long they can wait to defeat the big wolf...long enough for him to swallow Imperius, maybe? Is that wrong?

Shaking off such pleasant thoughts, Z plots out a plan...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 4

...and sees no real opening for it. Instead, he moves forward and hurks up a gout of electricity! Use kobold breath ◈◈, 30-foot line that misses everyone else, DC 17 basic Refl.

electricity: 1d4 ⇒ 4

reset: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Stride, kobold breath ◈◈.

Zyphlryx thinks about the wolfs deal a moment — it would solve a number of different problems, I suppose, wouldn't it? — but then thinks better of it, rationalizing that the wolf would then want the rest, one by one. He looks for an opening on #1...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 15

...and thinks he sees one. He pulls out his bow and looses an arrow!
15 + 6 = 21
pew: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5

Devise a Stratagem, Interact to Draw, Strike.

Zyphlryx looks deep in thought, then suddenly brightens. Hey! I'll bet The Kobold Formerly Known as Broomzad has something to do with this necromantic sliver! He appears quite pleased with himself, as though he just solved the tribe's greatest mystery. And we should do something about both Graypelt and Greywolf, whoever they are. They've both demonstrated threats to the Truly Truescales!

Casting my vote for clearing out the rest of this level.

You fools! Stand aside!

Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
LMAO

LOL, "the Truly Truescales send their regards!"

Zyphlryx looks at the ring. Hey, I think that's the symbol of Tornag! he exclaims, mispronouncing the name he heard from Imperius.

Second vote for the palisade.

Zyphlryx looks for a vulnerable spot...
DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Yeah, that's not gonna work.

Instead he steps in and tries to trip the skelly.
Trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Devise a Stratagem, Step, Athletics to Trip.

We wouldn't be fighting these things at all if you hadn't opened the door! Zyphlryx says to Imperius, obviously projecting.

He looks for an opening on #1 this time...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Oh! OH! There it is! Just as it slashes at The Kobold Formerly Known as Broomzad...

He races in and takes a swing!

probing cane vs. #1: 18 + 5 = 23
bludgeoning: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (6) = 8

Devise a Stratagem, Stride, Strike.

Zyphlryx looks for an opening on #2...

DaS: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Knowing that there's nothing there, he turns his attention back to #1, and sees Kadosh creating a distraction

probing cane vs. #1, flat-footed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 6

After his swing, he conjures up a disc of force for protection. Cast shield, will use in the event of a crit. AC now 19.

Devise a Stratagem, Strike, verbal component to Cast a Spell.