Kadosh squints at the symbol, then at Imperius. Is he everburning torching me? he wonders. Making me think it's not Droskrag for some reason? But why?
"You mispronounced Droskrag! Very dangerous. He has a crag that blew up one time and everything! Now the entire area is pallid!"
"It's a demon symbol on that ring!" Kadosh exclaims.
Quick stats:
HP 84/84 AC 23 (25 with shield raised) Fort +12, Ref +10, Will +11; poison resistance 3 Hero points: 2 Focus Points: 1/1 Effects: Mithralline considers draining the giant's blood, but is pretty sure it's far too salty, and could destroy her kidneys. She settles for slashing him more with her scythe.
And if I'm harmed: Iron Command (reaction): Trigger: An enemy within 15 feet damages you.You put an impertinent foe who dared harm you in their proper place. You command your enemy to kneel before you in obedience. If they dare to refuse, they must pay the price in pain and anguish. The foe must choose one of the following options. * The enemy kneels, dropping prone as a free action. * The enemy refuses, and you deal 2d6 persistent mental damage to it. This damage increases to 3d6 at 9th level, 4d6 at 12th level, 5d6 at 16th level, and 6d6 at 19th level. In addition, your Strikes against the triggering creature deal 1 extra damage until the end of your next turn. You choose whether the damage type is evil or negative each time you use this reaction.
Nebbin growls -- for maybe the first time in his life --
Checking to make sure he's OK -- of course he is -- Kadosh spits on the dead pinkskin -- that's what it gets for killing what's-his-name! -- and looks around. He cocks his head in a gesture toward the nearest tower. Likely something interesting is in there, he tries to intimate to Imperius ... He'll probably try to lead us somewhere else, though...
Quick stats:
HP 26/26 AC 19 Fort +6, Ref +10, Will +5 Hero points: 1 Focus Points: 2/2 Quick snares prepped: alarm snare [x]; poison barbs snare [], deadweight snare [], battering snare [] Effects: Hunted prey (Kathill) Stepping to one side of the wannabe Hunger Games star, Kadosh sizes her up, shows her his teeth ... and then strikes with his fangwire! He slashes brutally across her neck, trying to end the fight before she can cry out.
"Fine. Go try to talk to it. Don't come crying to me, though, if it attacks you," Mithralline gracefully assents to her servant's request. Does she want to sleep with that one too?
Kadosh winces. This is why he should work alone. Are they trying to get him killed?!
"Shhhh!" Kadosh hisses, so stunned and irritated at Imperius' earlier yelling that he forgot to say anything. "Let me do it!" "Clearly, you need to jam it!"
Quick Stats:
HP 210/210 AC 37 (38-40, plus physical resistance 4, when inspired), sonic resistance 10 Fort +26, Ref +26, Will +27 (+1-3 to all with inspire defense) Hero points: 3 Focus Points: 3/3 Spells: 1st [x][][]; 2nd [][][]; 3rd [][][]; 4th [][][]; 5th [][][]; 6th [][][]; 7th [][][]; 8th [][][]; 9th [][] Effects: inspired (defense) Chkirri urges, putting the power of his bullhorn voice into the words.
1. Great creatures from beyond this world, or your comprehension, from the Dark Tapestry, beyond the stars. They are beyond your understanding, like you are beyond an ant's. 2. The star sickness, the seedborne consumption, has claimed many, and still they walk here, hoping to spread the glory of Xhamen-Dor. The fungus spreads, its rhizomes stretching throughout Neruzavin. Giant vermin and rift drakes pray on the few mortals who against all odds eke out a living in this city. 3. In Hastur's Realm, Carcosa. 4. Starflit hears nothing but laughter. There is no safety in Neruzavin. 5. The laughter drowns out an answers she may have heard to this question. 6. Hoshbagh the scavenger, “the screaming woman” Upianshe, “the scarred man” Aeptolinu and “the deep thinker” Olkoshim, and perhaps the three serpent sisters of the stars. 7. The scavenger may trade, but she doesn't remain in one place for long. 8. No answer emerges, just a chilling silence.
Why wouldn't it be possible? Burn 'em!
Dealing with a design deadline that I'm trying to get a project finished up by, plus just general heavy workload at work, so will reply ASAP. Probably tomorrow, since I want to make sure I'm giving you good answers to your questions!
I'll be out of town Sunday through Friday. Back Saturday, though not quite sure how long it will take me to catch up with my games.
Kadosh sighs as he realizes Zyphlryx may be as difficult to work with as Imperius. "The tatzlywyrm goes THROUGH the hole, not around it," he instructs, only to look down and realize he was so distracted he did a poor job himself. Did he plan that? He looks around to see what the other kobolds are doing and if anyone noticed.
Rova glances up at the cockatrice and then down to the crushed gravel beneath her feet. Yes, that all tracks for a doppelganger. Clever; very, very clever. She shakes her head at the offer of a drink, edging back to make sure he doesn't get too close. Of course his home is his mortuary. He's even more clever than I realized before! "Of course," she says in a flat tone. "That makes all the sense in the world."
Recalling suddenly that such creatures can read minds (and even insert their thoughts into other people's heads!), she tries to clear her brain. Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed. Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed. Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed. We're smarter than you are! Marshmallows. Stay. Men. Puffed.
As they prepare to head to Vandy's, Rova makes sure her filcher's fork is in its hip sheath and that she can pull it easily. "We need to be careful," she whispers to the others. "I heard that he's a doppelganger, which makes sense. Of course they'd go after a mortician or someone else who knows what's coming. We shouldn't let him know that we know, but just be ready in case he attacks!"
Kadosh hisses in drastic alarm, eyes widening as he ducks like a cowardly pinkskin -- or genius kobold -- behind Imperius! he screams, looking for some holy water or something else in one of his pouches. Ghost trap. Must build a ghost trap!
Quick stats:
HP 7/15 AC 18 Fort +4, Ref +7, Will +5 Effects: Daehalya gasps at the sudden violence, and the respite from death. In the north, death was often a solitary, quieter affair, and she's surprised that she's not more immured to it. Unwilling to see any of her other companions fall, she quickly dashes around the tree and brings her staff down on the remaining gorgas. As she does, the color suddenly leaches out of her body, seeming to rush toward her staff, where it emerges in a burst of dawn-like light. In the meantime, her bleached body looks like it was carved from ice for a moment before all the color rushes back.
I don't worry about the icons unless it's something wonky. I think everything Ezgara does is wonky. :)
I'm going to hold off, see what Treasure Vault brings, assuming you don't mind...
Kadosh looks toward Imperius, thinking two problems could be solved with one kobold.
Who said it was entertaining?! Are you laughing at me?!
"What, you ain't dreamed of her yourself then?" one asks. "No, just because Mother Grim Moon sees them in their dreams, that don't mean that they dream, Oaag. I told you, they ain't got big enough heads for dreams. What with all the nighthorses they probably got in there, about being stepped on, account of them being so little and all." They go back and forth for a little longer, but eventually it becomes clear that Mother Grim Moon is in fact the leader of their group of Shatter Smile giants who's in a camp about two days away. And that they've been told to look for you, because she wants to talk to you.
"Oy, what was it she said we was looking for, Lurrohak? Five shorties, right?" "Yeah, that's right. A proper pack of 'em, it were, Oaag." "Right. There are five of you, yeah?" Lurrohak looks you over, counting on his fingers. "Yeah, the one girl one, what likes to dress all in black, an old one that might not smell so good, one who's a bit of a nutter, one who talks a lot and --" "The charred one!" Lurrohak interjects. "All burned up nice and proper." He squints as he looks over you. "I don't think this is them. None of them are proper burnt up. I mean, maybe we burn one of 'em, and then we can bring 'em back and show her what we found." "No, you idiot," Oaag replies. "She didn't say charred true. Chartreuse. He's green. And that one there looks plenty green. About to sick up like he as a scorpion guy 'oo saw us comin' for 'im. "Oy, you sick?" he asks Kyffin. "There's a nice rock there you can yak behind. Feel much better then."
Seeing nothing from the sky, you carefully land and approach the two giants, who seem somewhat startled at your appearance. They look you up and down, one of them squinting, before talking to each other. "Are these the ones she wants?" one asks. "I think so. But they all kind of look alike. I don't know how you're supposed to tell what they really look like when they're so small. It'd be easier if they were bigger!" "Yeah, but how many of them could there be?" The second one shrugs and turns back to the five of you. "Oy! You lot! You're the ones we're looking for, right?"
Status:
HP 20/54 AC 20 (22 with shield raised) Fort +11, Ref +9, Will +10 Hero points: 1 Focus Points: 1/1 Effects: Blinded 1 minute Mithralline snarls, dashing into the cloud -- only to be blinded and nearly burned to death. She immediately dashes back out, skin peeling and unable to see.
I love Rova and want to continue. I’m torn with my animal companion. I feel like Thkrull is a ton of fun — but I hate that his support mechanic is so mediocre (even though I wrote it; I still feel like it’s better than the canon version though.)
Loot list, up to this post
New loot to consider
Crooked Coffin Brewery and Tavern
Taviah's cottage
-- Whew, and that's everything! I don't have time right now to total up value, etc., but folks should claim what they want. We should make sure we have +1 striking fundamental runes on our main weapons. Right now, we have a +1 striking dagger that I don't think was claimed; I think Aily and Mithralline both have +1 runes on our primary weapons. (Mith would also like the handwraps, since they're good for her fangs.) -- Mithralline would also like to upgrade her armor. If we can afford it, I'd like to get a lifting belt (that'll improve her Athletics, which helps her Grapple/Drink Blood), and boots of bounding (to boost her Speed).
"Yesss!" Kadosh hisses, glad that his traps will dispose of the stupid pinkskins. Then he realizes he needs to get them much closer, because the stupid pinkskins aren't likely to come out into the darkness (so maybe they're not that stupid, because he plans to kill them in the dark).
Kadosh watches for a second as the pinkskin bleeds out, then immediately starts looking for more. Where there's one pinkskin, there's four. And where there's four, there may be many more!
Status:
HP 54/54 AC 20 (22 with shield raised) Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8 Hero points: 2 Effects: Mithralline snarls and, raising her shield, leaps to attack. Boring conversation anyway!"
"If they've got a f$!#ing map, we need one too!" Royken tells Vivielle. "We can't go in blind, like a f&#*ing halfling wandering into a red dragon's den."
Kadosh carefully looks again, to see if the pinkskins are huddled beneath the dam in a way that they could turn it against them.
Kadosh slinks out of the underbrush. "I can scout out ahead, if you want" and stay away from the noise you make. He fades into the underbrush as he puts a little distance between himself and the others.
Kadosh snarls (but only to himself). Clearly a trap! They're even using fish as bait. But we're on the hook now! He slinks out, getting his gear, ready to go. As soon as they leave the warren proper, he mutters to his companions, "You all know this is a trap, right? Be prepared for anything!" He starts slinking from shadow to shadow, though that's little changed from how he behaved in the kobold warren, and only made slightly difficult by the lack of shadows due to the sun being hidden by the cave ceilings above them and the lack of any torches because the kobolds can all see in the dark. He wonders if Pepin will light a fire soon. Not only will that give Kadosh some shadows to hide in, but it will let attract attention to the chef as the obvious target.
Quick stats:
HP 54/54 AC 20 (22 with shield raised) Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8 Hero points: 2 Effects: Mithralline growls as she sees l'Azee just lying on the floor. I have told you not to just trail off in the middle of saying something! It's rude and annoying! People will spend too much time wondering what it was going to be, instead of thinking what they can do to serve me! Since her maid is too far away to chastise, the vampire tyrant vents her fury on the undead creature, chopping viciously into it.
Kadosh hisses as Imperius directs attention toward him. FOOL! "Yes, of course, it would be my pleasure" to bring you a refill with an enema!, he says, giving an obsequious smile. Nothing to see here. No threat, no danger. Until the jaws close...
Kadosh flinches as the summons comes, glancing at Zaadragrank to see if the queen really wanted him, or if she truly were summoning Kadosh. Once, it's clear he was indeed intended to serve, he slinks out of the cavern, hastily putting his tools into their proper pouches. Why has she summoned me? Did she discover the needle in her throne? Surely she knows to look, but best to be ready against any who would usurp her place. It likely wouldn't kill -- she was clearly alive if she was summoning him -- mostly because he didn't have time to get a strong enough poison yet. He would have to do better next time. Surely Queen Qweenzeenk would be canny enough this time to look before she sat. That was Kadosh's motto, after all. Look before you sit. Or leap. Or get up in the morning. Or just about anything. Danger lurks everywhere, and if not for Kadosh, it would get into the Truly True Truescales' caverns. Finally, he arrives, looking around, hoping he can find a place in the shadows where no one would notice him. Sadly, Imperius wasn't here. He was good for making sure Kadosh wasn't noticed, with his golden scales and bright clothing and being loud and in front of everything.
OK, I had time to reread Book 5, so I'm ready whenever everyone else is. Again, no rush on my part. If we want to restart in a week -- once the holidays are good and over -- I'm fine with that.
Yay! I was super excited to return to the Ardis Scholars' story; can't wait until everyone gets to play this.
"Right. We're leaving right away! We just have to go that way," Nebbin says, moving to follow through the door to the northeast .
Like her part-sister/part-henchwoman, Mithralline Cort has visions of hacking through waves of fae, blood and corpses everywhere. She smiles. Those stupid fairies would learn the same lessons she had to learn. Her lip does curl at the thought of cold iron. She remembers how that used to hurt. The cage ... no, never again with that!
Grams frowns in concentration. "I think you're right, Haggra. The portal's here. And that seems like an awfully useful coincidence, especially if Zykyryz brought us up here just for the joke. I don't think there's any reason to assume whatever is happening won't have affected the first student at Scorpia's Grotto, so the Stele seems likely to be more useful."
Quick stats:
HP 26/42 AC 19 (21 with shield raised) Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8 Hero points: 2 Focus Point: 0/1 Effects: Wounded 1 With her shield up, Mithralline again dashes forward in an inhuman burst of speed, leaping on the hag. She again waves her blade, hoping to attract the hag's attention to allow her minions to take it down.
|
