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We gather here today to honour the memory of Jerald the Fey Sorcerer at a youthful level 2. Struck down before his time after becoming a bit too curious about the unpaid grave-diggers who then kicked him into a hole, pounded him into the corpse below and replaced his innards with demon worm. While he still walks among us, reminding us of dear memories such as the time he taunted a bandit into beating him (including shocking their friend into fried steak), we must remember that his soul has departed leaving his body a skin sack for demon slugs to sleep in. So we, alas, bury a bag of bricks in his honour as his soul has surely reached a more holy place than here.
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Today, we gather to honor the great Dwaven Liberator and follower of Calistra, Agna at level 2. Heading into the Hawfton Mill knowing that there was an angry wasp swarm ready to protect its "home". She went in bravely to confront a beast that her and her deity consider sacred, while the rest of her party tried to take care of it from range. However the wasp swarm pierced through her armor and she could not shake them away. After escaping death once, she tried to swing with all her might to get rid of this swarm but once again fell to the swarm and its poison.
Agna was a story teller, only when forced to and was okay at it. But was very much the muscle of the Wayward Wonders. She was very much head first and while being the muscle, has seen many close calls but still valiant despite Nemmia and her plans to rid the town Abberton.
As we say one final remembrance to the Dwarven Liberator Agna, we wish that Calistra has a peaceful afterlife for you, and hopefully she keeps the wasps away from you.
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Rogatien was a widely traveled bard, so he had some world-gained smarts. Joining a circus seemed like a good idea, but what the heck happened to the ringleader? Multiple serpent strikes on both calves is very odd. So after a rough performance (Those drunken idiots! Who let them bring beer into the big top?), some circus folk came back from cutting wood for the fire saying they had seen some more snakes in the forest.
The bard knew that going into the dark woods while everyone was tired, having used up a lot of resources, was a bad idea. He told everyone as much. First, a trap took down the front-line fighter, then after firing a bow at a strange creature by the river, things went even more quickly downstream. One critical hit by an acid arrow spell later and that was enough for the first-level bard.
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Name of PC: Flipflops the Clown
Class/Level: Gnome bard 1
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Woodchoppers alerted him to a possible danger in the woods
Story: Killed by a giant viper after casting guidance on the rogue instead of soothe on a fallen party member, despite having half the party down.
Name of PC: Oswin the runaway child star
Class/Level: Human abjurer 1
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Woodchoppers alerted her to a possible danger in the woods
Story: She was killed by a giant viper after failing to stay in the back row.
Name of PC: Rengard the Animal Tamer
Class/Level: Dwarf barbarian 1
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Woodchoppers alerted her to a possible danger in the woods
Story: He was killed by a giant viper after a lucky crit and a decision not to rage.
Name of PC: Stanely
Class/Level: Goblin rogue 1
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Woodchoppers alerted her to a possible danger in the woods
Story: The last to die by a giant viper. He stood fast, refusing to run away even though the viper had drawn much blood and had not yet itself bled.
Rather than have a full on TPK that happened in large part only because I was rolling high, I had the snakes not eat the bodies and simply slither back into the woods after defeating the threat that had surprised them (one of the players, something of an animal expert, kept saying it was physically impossible for vipers to eat the characters anyways; so I'm like "sure."). Axel, who had alerted them in the first place, returned to find them and brought them back into the camp.
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We offer our goodbyes to Manadrel Veil, known to his travelling companions as Roadkill, an elven sorcerer whose life was unfairly snuffed out at a young level 10. His companions fondly remember first coming upon him as floatsam gently knocking against the hull while his soon-to-be friends were travelling to the Swardlands from Escadar by boat. Every day since then he would share his warmth with the world, as he would respond to bandits, wildlife and distressed fey by flying 60ft up and covering the land below in fireballs. He was known to leave an impression, as his fellow travellers can not wipe the memory of him stinking of embalming fluid, sleeping with his eyes open and dislocating his jaw to swallow a cooked non-skinned rabbit whole, as much as they wish they could forget.
Unfortunately, as all things must come to an end, Veil offered to save his allies from an oversized bald rat by collapsing the rock underneath it with a fireball before it could attack his limping friends. As the ledge collapsed, the rat and rock came tumbling down upon him crushing both together. As the gods speaketh: Rocks fall, a character must die. In this case, Manadrel died so his friends may live. He will be gone, but thanks to his sleeping and eating habits will surely not be forgotten. May his body decompose so his body may join with the world, regardless of the embalming fluid aura of his body.
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Name of PC: Cyrex
Class/Level: Giant Instinct Barbarian 6
Adventure: Legacy of the Lost God
Catalyst: Blinded by demon-calling Xulgath
Story: Speared to the wall by a Gluttondark Babau after being blinded by a Xulgath Demon-caller and being pulverized by Xulgath Spinesnappers. He died bravely continuing to battle while blind to the bitter end. Unfortunately, a restore senses spell was not available to save him from this painful death.
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We gather among this sacred burial site to say farewell to Tavia who escaped the mortal coil at level 12 to frolic in the gardens of Nirvana. A bardic champion in the sacred name of Shelyn, she brought together the circus of Wayward Wonders and helped bring more performers into the fold, including some even Shelyn could not have predicted. It was then she helped guide them towards a more humanistic path that for one xulgath follower involved teaching him to bath, play drums and not cook meat to charcoal on camp-fires in enclosed spaces. Surrounded by less confident adventurers, Tavia similarly guided them through the methodology of diplomacy, Veil spells and face palms.
However, alas, the life of those enamoured by art, forgiveness and xulgath rehabilitation is a dangerous one and she finally succumbed to wounds after being swallowed by a giant skeleton who, without a stomach, still somehow consumed her whole. We can only suspect her fellow travellers were so overcome with grief as to misremember her demise details. It is on this grave her devout xulgath follower finally swore off his demonic god and sought to be a soldier for Shelyn and the voiceless dwarf of clay offered a single clay Lyre on Tavia's resting place. May her soul find peace, and her light-hearted cheeky paintings of misfortune of her allies be shared with the world.
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Today we offer thoughts to Jeremy, the last remaining member of the original party who strolled into the town of Abberton and first discovered a subterranean race was trying to spell doom to the surface dwellers. He has come a long way, from diving head-first into Black Puddings and allowing the circus to get burgled because the thief told him to go away in strong words all the way to level 15. We hope he rests easy now, since Jeremy spent his adventuring life as a fighter diving head first into fights with complete disregard to tactics, opposing force and even his own life.
This death wish came to ahead when, clutched within the maw of a transplanar being in the black irradiated desert below, he opted to trip and attack it instead of trying to escape. This was when the sinister being tried to suck his soul out like a child with a straw and cup of shaved ice and, as though his death wish had decided it was time, Jeremy was offered two bouts of “snake eyes” as Nivi would put it. While his companions are keen to bring him back from the boneyard, his soul’s reluctance to return to an existence he seemed to want an end to and questions of if his soul hasn’t been absolutely destroyed by the consumption of his essence do rest upon them like a dark cloud upon this funeral. We will none-the-less keep Jeremy's chalice of wine prepared for his returning, or merely respected as a symbol of his life if he isn’t.
Name of PC: Barbatos the (new) Circus Bear
Class/Level: Animal Companion 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Master failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Defeated by Horba, the chef. Rose again as a ghoul.
Name of PC: Flipflops the Clown
Class/Level: Gnome bard 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Captured and tortured to death by one of the wrecker demons at the hermitage. (Technically died in combat, but was spared at player's request.)
Name of PC: Oswin the Runaway Child Star
Class/Level: Human abjurer 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Face bitten off by wrecker demon. Rose again as a ghast.
Name of PC: Rengard the Animal Tamer
Class/Level: Dwarf barbarian 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Added to Horba's stew.
Name of PC: Stanley the Aerialist
Class/Level: Goblin rogue 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Stung to death by Horba's imps. Rose again as a ghoul.
After several back to back encounters with retainers, priests, ghouls, and other dark things, the party opted to hide in the nearby shed to rest for the night rather than leave the area entirely. The remaining denizens of the hermitage, soon realizing that their comrades had been brutally murdered, mounted a search of the hermitage for the intruders. I gave the party an hour to patch themselves up before the shed came under siege by the search party, which counted among their number Horba, and his three imps, and the one remaining wrecker demon which he enlisted for aid.
The siege did not last long after the young abjurer, inexplicably, decided to lift the bar off the barn doors and let the wrecker demon and Horba inside. The three imps took care of the goblin rogue, who opted to hide on the roof in plain sight to keep watch.
After the TPK we had a post mortem session, in which many of the mistakes came to light:
- I forgot to award extra Hero Points during the game.
- I probably should not have added the wrecker demon to the Horba encounter.
- The PCs never left the area despite being on their last legs.
- The PCs split the party with the rogue on the roof and everyone else inside.
- The PCs neglected to focus fire, instead having everyone tackle a single target. The NPCs did not do the same, using flanking and gang up tactics.
- The abjurer all but invited the bad guys inside the shed.
- The PCs fought statically, never moving, allowing their adversaries to get full rounds over and over again
Everyone except the bard player opted to make new characters. The bard ended up getting captured and tortured nearly to death. When circus act "team B" (aasimar human cleric, catfolk champion, hobgoblin alchemist, and tengu swashbuckler) showed up to rescue their fellow circus members, they found that their circus bear (the barbarian's animal companion) and the goblin rogue had succumbed to ghoul fever while their circus wizard--a young abjurer--had succumbed to ghast fever. Everyone else, save the bard, were found chopped up and thrown into Horba's stew. They found (and rescued) the bard in the library, barely alive, hanging from a chandelier with a broken arm, broken leg, nose chewed off, and one of his eyes torn out (replaced by his red clown nose ball). They surmised from the clown-shoe blood patterns in the room that he had been forced to dance for the wrecker demon's entertainment while being gruesomely beaten. When he couldn't dance anymore, he was beaten even more and tossed into the ceiling rafters only to get tangled/impaled on the chandelier.
Damn. That is so evil Ravingdork.
Name of PC: Barbatos the (new) Circus Bear
Class/Level: Animal Companion 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Master failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Defeated by Horba, the chef. Rose again as a ghoul.Name of PC: Flipflops the Clown
Class/Level: Gnome bard 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Captured and tortured to death by one of the wrecker demons at the hermitage. (Technically died in combat, but was spared at player's request.)Name of PC: Oswin the Runaway Child Star
Class/Level: Human abjurer 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Face bitten off by wrecker demon. Rose again as a ghast.Name of PC: Rengard the Animal Tamer
Class/Level: Dwarf barbarian 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Added to Horba's stew.Name of PC: Stanley the Aerialist
Class/Level: Goblin rogue 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Failed to leave the Hermitage when low on hit points and resources
Story: Stung to death by Horba's imps. Rose again as a ghoul.After several back to back encounters with retainers, priests, ghouls, and other dark things, the party opted to hide in the nearby shed to rest for the night rather than leave the area entirely. The remaining denizens of the hermitage, soon realizing that their comrades had been brutally murdered, mounted a search of the hermitage for the intruders. I gave the party an hour to patch themselves up before the shed came under siege by the search party, which counted among their number Horba, and his three imps, and the one remaining wrecker demon which he enlisted for aid.
The...
I feel like there may have been a missed opportunity to let the players take over their ghoul versions and go on a rampage against the Hermitage. It probably wouldn't last long but it might have been fun.
I feel like there may have been a missed opportunity to let the players take over their ghoul versions and go on a rampage against the Hermitage. It probably wouldn't last long but it might have been fun.
Darn! Really wished I had thought of that!
Name of PC: ? [wasn't my char]
Class/Level: Cleric
Adventure: Extinction Curse
Catalyst: Sawmill
Story: Some of the party was working to get the source of the swarm, while the swarm was menacing the rest of party. Our cleric went down, and the only character with Medicine was working on attacking the source. The source was dealt with, but one round too late for the cleric.
We later realized we either did not have a healing potion, or did not know we had it. Either way, it was sad.
/cevah
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Name of PC: Tolius Viben
Class/Level: Swashbuckler 4
Adventure: The Show Must Go On!
Catalyst: Channel Smite is a hell of a drug
Story: Ashagith and her warriors were swiftly defeated, but not before alarming the rest of the Xulgaths with the gong. Three rounds later, the reinforcing warriors showed up to turn the tides. However, they came down the stairs in perfect AoE formation and two rounds later, only one warrior remained. The sole survivor bravely ran back to his master above. The party gave chase and were met by the big bad. Tolius, as the first of the party up the stairs, attempted to trip the fleeing Xulgath, but wound up tripping over his own feet. Cavnakash, having buffed himself in his first round, walked over to the prone swashbuckler and delivered a mighty channel smite, dealing almost max damage, dropping the unfortunate gnome to dying. The rest of the party arrives and begins to spread out. Tolius fails his first recovery check and advances to dying 2. Cavnakash dropped his Death Knell, which Tolius initially critically failed. He used his last remaining hero point to reroll the save, but failed once again.
Cavnakash went on to bring our Battle Oracle and Monkey Goblin Bard to dying, but was slain by our Leshy Druid's produce flame, after a hero point was able to turn a miss into a hit.
Tolius will be remembered by the town of Abberton this Sunday, and is survived by his fellow circus performers, and especially Bardolph who had begun performing again with the charismatic gnome.
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Total Party RIP:
Name of PC: Nikasil Torres
Class/Level: Champion 1
Name of PC: Rikkle
Class/Level: Rogue 1
Name of PC: Jairus
Class/Level: Alchemist 1
Name of PC: Soari
Class/Level: Ranger 1
Adventure: The Show Must Go On!
Catalyst: Being attacked by a certain gnome while exhausted from dancing.
Story: Well, they triggered Nemia's assault before getting a good rest in. I did give them time to make one round of medicine checks before she attacked, and I'm sure things would have turned out differently if not for that Nat 1 on the treat wound roll. Nikasil never escaped her initial entangling vines, and his high AC did little to stave off the rat swarm that nibbled him to death. The others fell one by one to Nemia's sickle. A few key NPCs soon joined them in the grave.
Catalyst: Being attacked by a certain gnome while exhausted from dancing.
What do you mean by exhausted from dancing? And Gnome?
What do you mean by exhausted from dancing? And Gnome?
Shoot, I mixed up my short ancestries. Halfling! Right after the grigs.
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Name of PC: Hardbread
Class/Level: Barbarian(Fury) 3
Adventure: The Show Must Go On
Catalyst: Temple of Gozreh
Story: Hardbread had been doing the majority of tanking as usual, and had suffered two wounds for his efforts, party barges into library and roll initiative. He is currently low on Hp as the Druid complains she doesn’t want to heal or ‘waste slots’, as she says frequently. He rolls well but doesn’t go first. A book is hurled with critical efficiency and dies from it.
Gaul Hardbread died like he lived, pathetic and alone never reaching his potential and killed by a thrown book.
So he died because the party did not do enough healing before what was probably one hard fight, and then he took damage from a book that wasn't in the room?
Not really the player fault...
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So he died because the party did not do enough healing before what was probably one hard fight, and then he took damage from a book that wasn't in the room?
Not really the player fault...
I was the character. Library implies books. I still find it amusing even if it was gm fiat with a book that only did a d4 of damage. May or may not have been a temple (unsure of name) its where you find a wolf, that area, different room though. It was several months ago. Currently in book 3 now. Druid has since left game though.
Ops, i read the circumstances wrong, though the fight was the one in the temple.
But yes, you suffered a little from GM fiat and a lot from the party not helping each other, one treat wounds would at least remove the wounded condition....
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Ops, i read the circumstances wrong, though the fight was the one in the temple.
But yes, you suffered a little from GM fiat and a lot from the party not helping each other, one treat wounds would at least remove the wounded condition....
For sure yet that player ended up being a problem and almost broke up the group (sudden dental appts on Saturdays, vacation announced night before sessions) I’m ok with that but I also work 60-70 hours a week and this is my relax time. Ended up reforming using free archetype as a party of 3 now and deep into book 3 now.
Nice all ended well, the party i Gming is going for the last chapter of book 2.
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Name of PC: Dwunli
Class/Level: Dawrf Rogue 8
Adventure: Legacy Of The Lost God
Catalyst: Cat lady with a whip
Story: End of book 2, the final showdown with Mistress Dusklight, Dwunli was stupefied 2 since the encounter with the Lamias, enter Mistress Dusklight, and the not so nice Phantasmal Killer, being stupefied was bad for this, so bad that poor Dwunli perished on the spot, irony was the bleeding he gave her was killing her more that the efforts of his companions, they were suffering a lot from Black Cat Curse. In the end she was beaten, and Dwunli come back to life,lucky there was a handy whip that costs a lot, and he returned in one piece, with just a insane fear from catfolk.
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This is amazing. I want to read more of Riobux's, but my GM is intervening on grounds of spoilers for anything after Book 2.
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Total Party Kill
Name of PCs: Ravillia Alurith Nikoslava, Uuki OohAahAahTingTangWallaWallaBingBang, Sokkit Decko, and Darmak Kegshield
Classes/Level: Oracle of Battle, Bard, Rogue, Fighter, all 12
Adventure: Siege of the Dinosaurs
Catalyst: Consumption
Story:
Having recently saved the Densirt family from certain death, the humble performers were asked to look in on the folks at Fortune's Hall. Upon arrival, the party had decided to check building exterior and surrounding structures before entering the Hall. Ravi and Darmak went to scout the stable, while Uuki and Sokkit checked the main building and the area around the pond, respectively. Darmak mistakenly awoke the Starved Staff, who swallowed the dwarven fighter after mere moments. Ravi began blasting while the other two arrived on-scene. After another few moments, Ravi, too was consumed. As both were specialized into heavier weapons, neither were able to deal sufficient piercing/slashing damage to rupture the undead's leathery innards. The only potential saving grace was the Air Bubble granted to Ravi by Drecko as she was consumed.
Uuki was the third to be swallowed whole, attempting to deal as much damage as possible before being taken. Drecko, the only one able to reliably overcome the monster's resistance to piercing and slashing weapons, was the last to be swallowed, as his raptor companion could only watch.
With the the whole party consumed, unable to free themselves, and continuously taking damage from their starvation aura as well as the beast's grinding innards, desperation came to the party. Darmak surrendered his last round of air to heal Ravi, Uuki gave his last breath to Soothe Ravi as well.
With the support of the whole party on her side and her Orcish Ferocity expended, Ravi bet it on all Searing Light. With the roll of a one, the light was extinguished; the whole party consumed.
Having eaten mightily of the party, the spirits of the Starving Staff were able to rest, dispersing the undead creature.
Drecko's faithful companion was able to escape and make the long journey back to town. It's only a matter of time before The Professor becomes worried at the disappearance of the circus's star performers and sends out a search party...
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Total Party Kill
Name of PCs: Ravillia Alurith Nikoslava, Uuki OohAahAahTingTangWallaWallaBingBang, Sokkit Decko, and Darmak Kegshield
Classes/Level: Oracle of Battle, Bard, Rogue, Fighter, all 12
Adventure: Siege of the Dinosaurs
Catalyst: Consumption
Story:Having recently saved the Densirt family from certain death, the humble performers were asked to look in on the folks at Fortune's Hall. Upon arrival, the party had decided to check building exterior and surrounding structures before entering the Hall. Ravi and Darmak went to scout the stable, while Uuki and Sokkit checked the main building and the area around the pond, respectively. Darmak mistakenly awoke the Starved Staff, who swallowed the dwarven fighter after mere moments. Ravi began blasting while the other two arrived on-scene. After another few moments, Ravi, too was consumed. As both were specialized into heavier weapons, neither were able to deal sufficient piercing/slashing damage to rupture the undead's leathery innards. The only potential saving grace was the Air Bubble granted to Ravi by Drecko as she was consumed.
Uuki was the third to be swallowed whole, attempting to deal as much damage as possible before being taken. Drecko, the only one able to reliably overcome the monster's resistance to piercing and slashing weapons, was the last to be swallowed, as his raptor companion could only watch.
With the the whole party consumed, unable to free themselves, and continuously taking damage from their starvation aura as well as the beast's grinding innards, desperation came to the party. Darmak surrendered his last round of air to heal Ravi, Uuki gave his last breath to Soothe Ravi as well.
With the support of the whole party on her side and her Orcish Ferocity expended, Ravi bet it on all Searing Light. With the roll of a one, the light was extinguished; the whole party consumed.
Having eaten mightily of the party, the spirits of the Starving Staff were able to rest, dispersing the undead creature.Drecko's faithful companion...
Why did you swallow the whole party? The monster has Swallow Whole with the maximum size Large, one could assume he could have space inside to swallow 2 medium creatures, but the whole party?
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With a lack of direction, I defaulted to the 3.5 idea that a large creature takes up roughly 4x the space as a medium one. So when something could swallow one large creature, it could instead swallow 4 medium ones.
When I looked, I was somewhat surprised to find that PF1 lacked similar guidance, at least that I could find easily.
With a lack of direction, I defaulted to the 3.5 idea that a large creature takes up roughly 4x the space as a medium one. So when something could swallow one large creature, it could instead swallow 4 medium ones.
When I looked, I was somewhat surprised to find that PF1 lacked similar guidance, at least that I could find easily.
I understand the assumption, hope that they made a new party. Mine is now in the begginning of Book 5
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Goliathus
7th level Champion
Died valiantly in the Moonstone Hall defending his animal companion.
Caught between a Vrock and a hard place.
Tonight we say farewell to Inigo Montoya, level 14 catfolk swashbuckler, who died valiantly in the Battle of Willowside. As pterosaur bombers rained fire on the circus tent and the Banyan Boys led the combined forces of Willowside and the Circus of Wayward Wonders to stave off the initial forays against the town, Inigo and his companions flew out (literally) to confront their most terrifying foe yet. Zarashthal Headtaker, determined to destroy the magnificent canvas temple that Willowside clearly built to house the aeon orb artifact unearthed from beneath the city, led the assault atop his monstrous demon bat.
Inigo, as bold and flashy as ever, took the fight directly to the enemy, tumbling through the air with darting blade. He was supported by the Druid’s roc, bardic spells, and the ranger’s long-range fires. He bravely drew the bat’s focus away from the effective archer. But with two magic rapiers and one paw glued to the bat, Inigo was at last stuck in a fight he couldn’t leap away from. Even as his friends finally slew the fell beast, Inigo succumbed to the acid eating away at his unconscious body.
This cat, however, may indeed have nine lives. Tiratelle, the lovely sea elf ship captain who adventured with Inigo in the backstory past, conspired with the circus oracle to bring Inigo back from the dead. Such power required the destruction of her diamond keepsake from those happy days. Thus, Inigo returned to life confronted by a furious elf demanding he put a diamond on her finger or go adventuring with her again to replace the treasure. So as the party prepares to descend into the Darklands, Inigo departs, searching for more Kortos ruins to pay off his benefactor.
Tonight we say farewell to Inigo Montoya, level 14 catfolk swashbuckler, who died valiantly in the Battle of Willowside. As pterosaur bombers rained fire on the circus tent and the Banyan Boys led the combined forces of Willowside and the Circus of Wayward Wonders to stave off the initial forays against the town, Inigo and his companions flew out (literally) to confront their most terrifying foe yet. Zarashthal Headtaker, determined to destroy the magnificent canvas temple that Willowside clearly built to house the aeon orb artifact unearthed from beneath the city, led the assault atop his monstrous demon bat.
Inigo, as bold and flashy as ever, took the fight directly to the enemy, tumbling through the air with darting blade. He was supported by the Druid’s roc, bardic spells, and the ranger’s long-range fires. He bravely drew the bat’s focus away from the effective archer. But with two magic rapiers and one paw glued to the bat, Inigo was at last stuck in a fight he couldn’t leap away from. Even as his friends finally slew the fell beast, Inigo succumbed to the acid eating away at his unconscious body.
This cat, however, may indeed have nine lives. Tiratelle, the lovely sea elf ship captain who adventured with Inigo in the backstory past, conspired with the circus oracle to bring Inigo back from the dead. Such power required the destruction of her diamond keepsake from those happy days. Thus, Inigo returned to life confronted by a furious elf demanding he put a diamond on her finger or go adventuring with her again to replace the treasure. So as the party prepares to descend into the Darklands, Inigo departs, searching for more Kortos ruins to pay off his benefactor.
Clearly lots of changes to the plot, any reason why such a massive strike against the city?
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Clearly lots of changes to the plot, any reason why such a massive strike against the city?
My players thought the final chapter was building up to an assault on Willowside and were clearly excited by the prospect. They enjoyed coming up with battle plans for the circus members and Willowside residents that tied in with the town defense skill challenges from earlier in the book. So I moved the final boss fight to just outside Willowside with the circus as the main target to heighten the tension. In part I was inspired by the Witch King of Angmar and his own flying mount vs. Theoden, Eowyn, and Merry. A crucial boss fight in the middle of the larger battle around them. After they won, I kept the fight going for a couple rounds, adding in xulgath, dinosaurs, the Banyans, and troops supporting them all. The troops experiment wasn’t perfect, but it scratched the itch for a large battle scene. They’ve been good sports, going along with the AP as written, and this was a chance to shape it to be the story they wanted to tell with a simple reskin.
It also turned out to be a fun way to reward them for all the allies and circus members they had recruited, who either took the field or had narrative roles in the big fight.
Despite the PC death, that sounded like a whole of fun!!! Awesome!
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Name of PC: Dekkur
Class/Level: Champion 17
Name of PC: Jon Dis
Class/Level: Magus 17
Name of PC: Red Rhino
Class/Level: Monk 17
Name of PC: Dingo Dray
Class/Level: Ranger 17
Adventure: Lord of the Black Sands
Catalyst: Cursed Mirror
Story: Fearless Dekkur entered into a room full of mirrors, unaware that one of them was not merely as it appeared. Failing a reflex save, he was sucked into the cursed Imperious Darkside Mirror. Initiative was rolled. It was immediately obvious that Dekkur was no longer the jovial orc the party had come to know. Red Rhino swiftly entered the room to subdue this unknown assailant. However his dice were just as unkind. Sucked into the mirror and replaced with a superior, evil clone.
The more cautious magus and ranger were no match for their corrupted former allies and were swiftly dispatched.
Wishing to bring additional mirror duplicated into the world, Mirror Dekkur and Mirror Rhino placed the unconscious bodies of Jon and Dingo before the mirror and brought their Mirror counterparts into the world.
Mirror Dekkur, being unsatisfied with the association took the name Rekkur and abandoned his counterpart's faith in Milani for a goddless approach to the world, and thus was a new 17th level Fighter brought into the world. The rest of the group remained relatively unchanged, save a small number of feat choices and a newfound desire for vengeance at the Drow who had sought harm to those weaklings they shared a form with.
Name of PC: Rekkur
Class/Level: Fighter 17
Adventure: Lord of the Black Sands
Catalyst: Bounded Servitude
After barely dispatching the Skulltaker and making a lot of noise, the evil party continued upwards in search of vengeance. The wise Marilith Elshekor set up a blade barrier at the top of the stairs. Dexterous Rhino tested the barrier and was found wanting, eating a big failed save. The Shraen Graveknights at the top of the stairs, past the barrier, also got a flurry of opportunity attacks, ratcheting up the damage on Rhino. To his credit, Rhino landed a big shove, pushing one of the grave knights through the barrier. Elshekor, still testing the might of her quarry, went for a Defensive Assault, landing two blows. The rest of the party rushed up the stairs and engaged with the graveknight. Rhino dealt decent damage to the graveknight at the top of the stairs, and shoved a second knight through the barrier. Elshekor landed a devastating critical hit Focused Assault, dropping the monk with a triumphant shout of "Nine hundred fifty five!"
The grave knights were exceptionally accurate in their attacks, weakening Dingo, and the party was unable to handle successive Devastating Blasts. Rhino stabilized at 0hp, but it was not to be. A Weapon Storm from Elshekor brought down Dingo with a mighty "Nine hundred fifty six!", and being unconscious caused Rhino to receive a critical failure. Jon and Rekkur bested the first of the graveknights. Dingo stabilized at 0hp when a second Weapon Storm further weakened the standing combatants while slaying Rhino. Jon and Rekkur topple the remaining graveknight. Elshekor, sensing blood in the water, passed through her own blade barrier, sustaining a mighty wound, before felling Jon Dis with a second critical hit Focused Assault, further incrementing Elshekor's kill count.
Rekkur's burning desire for vengeance and new-found freedom were insufficient to best the mighty Marilith who slew the remaining combatant after continued, blistering attacks. Bringing her debt to a count of 958/1000 foes bested on Dyzalin's behalf, Elshekor wonders who next will test her might.