039. The Temple of Bahamut

[Corwin]

[19:59] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(27)>?2(20)>Erad(15)>Helena=?3(13)>?1(10)>T>Inari(5)>Rock(3)>Wagon(0).'
[20:01] <@Kotono> Inari closes in, but can't manage to land a decisive blow. Between wagon and movement she has to balance more than attack, as meanwhile Rock turns around. In one savage leap he hurls out of the wagon, sprinting towards the assassins. His skin becomes stonier, claws elongating as he leaps at the the killer.
[20:01] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 (+2 charge, +2 rage, -4 PA) also add Rock's HP to topic, it's 84/84 before the boost rage gives him, which puts him at 96/96.
[20:02] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=20]
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 (+2 charge, +2 rage, -4 PA) also add Rock's HP to topic, it's 84/84 before the boost rage gives him, which puts him at 96/96. crit?
[20:02] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=9]
[20:02] <@Kotono> roll 2d6+28
[20:02] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 36 > [d6=5,3]
[20:04] <@Kotono> The assassin's chest catches Rock's claw, a wet tear as part of it ripped away. Said killer stumbles back with a shriek of pain, as meanwhile the wagon races on. It races ahead 100ft, only Annerose still in it. OOC: Annerose, you're up.
[20:05] <@Kotono> OOC: Inari as well, my fault.
[20:05] * Annerose tries to grab hold of the mind of the fastest of the assassins, seeking to put it in a fugue state!
[20:06] <Annerose> OOC: Hold Monster Will DC21 on ?2
[20:06] <@Kotono> OOC: That's also not the closest. 2 acted first and dispelled the sleet storm. 1 is the one that closed in.
[20:07] <Annerose> OOC: Right. ?3 it is. It stopped 30ft away? I'm still in range.
[20:08] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay then.
[20:08] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+9
[20:08] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 19 > [d20=10]
[20:08] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(27)>?2(20)>Erad(15)>Helena=?3(13, held)>?1(10)>T>Inari(5)>Rock(3)>Wagon(0).'
[20:09] * Annerose disembarks from the carriage, then, since Helena leapt off already.
[20:09] <@Kotono> The assassin goes stone still, paralyzed by Annerose's long range magic. The second assassin meanwhile pauses, before chanting and casting once more. Suddenly, reality seems to slow around Rock, T and Helena. OOC: Will saves for all of them.
[20:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 (+3 inspiration, 5/6 left) T
[20:10] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 20 > [d20=14]
[20:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+3 Helena
[20:10] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 > [d20=9]
[20:10] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 Rock
[20:10] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 14 > [d20=4]
[20:10] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(27)>?2(20)>Erad(15)>Helena(slowed)=?3(13, held)>?1(10)>T>Inari(5)>Rock(3 slowed)>Wagon(0).'
[20:11] <@Kotono> Helena and Rock are suddenly moving in slow motion, as if caught in molasses. As they move...OOC: Erad. You're 160ft above them.
[20:12] <@Erad> Erad will move down towards the one who seems to keep casting spells! OOC: 140 down towards number 2.
[20:14] <@Kotono> Erad's only 20ft above that one now, who looks up to see the dragonman coming. Meanwhile, Helena slooowly swings at the held and bleeding assassin, trying to finish him off shield first.
[20:15] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+9 (-1 slow)
[20:15] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 12 > [d20=3]
[20:16] <@Kotono> OOC: +4 for helpless and his AC is shot, so hit.
[20:16] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+5
[20:16] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 11 > [d6=6]
[20:16] * Kotono changes topic to 'Annerose(27)>?2(20)>Erad(15)>Helena(slowed)>?1(10)>T>Inari(5)>Rock(3 slowed)>Wagon(0).'
[20:18] <@Kotono> A shield catches the assassin right in the head, a loud, wet crack as skull and brain give way, hitting the ground before the assassin's body. Meanwhile the first assassin gestures, a cone of cracklign electricity springing from him, going at the three heroes before him. OOC: Ref for the NPCs.
[20:18] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+8 4/6 inspiration T
[20:18] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 14 > [d20=6]
[20:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+4 Helena evasion
[20:19] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 9 > [d20=5]
[20:19] <@Kotono> OOC: -1 from slow already factored in
[20:19] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 Rock (-1 slow)
[20:19] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 21 > [d20=19]
[20:19] <@Kotono> roll 5d8 electricity damage, T full, Helena full, Rock half
[20:19] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 29 > [d8=8,8,7,1,5]
[20:19] <@Kotono> OOC: Non lethal to Rock since it doesn't beat troll regen.
[20:21] <@Kotono> Electricity crackles amid the party. T's caught dead on, his dagger drawing it in. He writhes and screams, as Helena just shudders as if in a seizure. Little fires burst on her legs and in her hair, blood coming from her mouth. Rock just grunts and barely even notices, albeit in slow motion. OOC: Inari.
[20:29] <@Inari> "This was very poorly thought out..." Inari mutters, annoyed at the battle having moved so far away from her. She throws some foxfire at a random assassin before going to stop the horses.
[20:29] <@Inari> roll 1d3 target
[20:29] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 1 > [d3=1]
[20:29] <@Inari> roll 1d20+8 ranged touch
[20:29] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 25 > [d20=17]
[20:29] <@Inari> roll 6d6 fire
[20:29] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 16 > [d6=4,3,1,4,2,2]
[20:29] <@Inari> roll 1d4 recharge
[20:29] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 1 > [d4=1]
[20:31] <@Kotono> The first assassin is scorched in the distance, hit by a long range beam of foxfire. As his black uniform burns...OOC: Rock.
[20:32] <@Kotono> Rock slooowly lumbers forward 5ft, managing to make a slow and awkward swipe at the 1stkiller, Erad just abovehim.
[20:32] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+10 (+2 rage, -1 slow, -2 PA)
[20:32] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 29 > [d20=19]
[20:32] <@Kotono> roll 1d6+12
[20:32] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 13 > [d6=1]
[20:33] <@Kotono> It's still enough to tear a nasty rip into him, tossing blood and arm flesh about as his claw strikes. Meanwhile, the wagon continues to run ahead, going another 50ft before slowing and stopping. OOC: Annerose.
[20:35] * Annerose hurries towards her friends as she calls out, "Helena, get back here behind me!" Meanwhile, her magic reaches out to try and break the curse upon the others!
[20:35] <Annerose> roll 1d20+7 dispel on the slow
[20:35] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 9 > [d20=2]
[20:40] <@Kotono> But the slow is tenacious, the magic not unweaving around them. She closes in, as the second assassin steps back and gestures, before vanishing from sight altogether, gone. OOC: Erad.

[20:42] <@Erad> An invisibility spell, perhaps? Well, all he can do is look for signs that the person is till there, like footprints left in the mud or something!
[20:42] <@Kotono> OOC: Perception.
[20:43] <@Erad> roll 1d20+13
[20:43] <Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=3]
[20:44] <@Kotono> Erad can indeed see mudprints, going off road. The assassin's somewhere around there - but he can't pinpoint a square to attack. He could guess, but his odds would be low.
[20:44] <@Erad> OOC: Can I use detect evil?
[20:45] <@Kotono> OOC: Yes, but it would take your action for the round.
[20:45] <@Erad> OOC: Okay. Well I can always do it later, I suppose.
[20:46] <@Erad> "You're not going to get away that easily, you really ought to just give up." Erad says aloud before he flies over to try and strike the still-visible attacker, his hands dripping acid as he moves to do so!
[20:46] <@Erad> roll 1d20+9+5 smiting evil as well
[20:46] <Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=13]
[20:46] <@Kotono> OOC: Ker-hit. Smite does apply.
[20:48] <@Erad> roll 2d8+7+2d6+1d6 first is acid and the second is good-aligned if it matters
[20:48] <Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 19 > [d8=3,1][d6=5,1,2]
[20:52] <@Kotono> The strike hits the assassin right in the back. He stumbles forward as flesh sizzles and breaks. Meanwhile, Helena tkaes the chance ot withdraw away and off the roads, falling to one knee once off of it. She promptly faceplants into the mud, groaning softly. OOC: Getting distance, since sh ecan't do much else slowed and doesn't want to be in melee range with 3 hp. 1? is up.
[20:53] <@Kotono> Surrounded and in trouble, the first assassin simply commits, taking swings at Erad and Rock.
[20:53] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+11 vs Erad
[20:53] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 23 > [d20=12]
[20:53] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+6 Rock
[20:53] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=12]
[20:53] <@Kotono> OOC: AC?
[20:53] <@Erad> OOC: AC 20
[20:53] <@Kotono> roll 2d4+6 Erad
[20:53] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 13 > [d4=4,3]
[20:53] <@Kotono> roll 2d4+6 Rock
[20:53] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 9 > [d4=1,2]
[20:53] <@Kotono> OOC: Nonlethal for Rock, you can generally assume that unless it's fire or acid.
[20:54] <@Kotono> A flurry of blows, trading back and forth. While Erad gets a bloody gash across his shoulder, he's still up and not seriously wounded. OOC: T.
[20:56] <@Kotono> T hurries over to Helena, fishing out that little sketch of Inari, "Healing!" OOC: 3/6, using his 1st daily use of turning. Doesn't get the others or the last assassins since she retreated back.
[20:56] <@Kotono> roll 3d6 Helena healing
[20:56] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 9 > [d6=4,3,2]
[20:58] <@Kotono> Helena's injuries somewhat mend, bleeding slowing and some of the burns on her going a lighter shade of red. OOC: Inari.
[20:59] <@Inari> Jumping off the wagon, Inari starts moving back towards the melee, flinging out another orb of foxfire at the last black-clad scythe wielder that she can see!
[20:59] <@Inari> roll 1d20+8 ranged touch
[20:59] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 28 > [d20=20]
[20:59] <@Inari> roll 1d20+8 ranged touch crit?
[20:59] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 26 > [d20=18]
[20:59] <@Inari> roll 12d6 fire
[20:59] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 39 > [d6=4,4,4,5,2,2,3,2,1,5,5,2]
[20:59] <@Kotono> OOC: Well finally some luck with that.
[21:02] <@Kotono> The beam of fire hits the assassin dead on. For a moment nothing happens - until he turns red and redder, until he bursts like na overcooked sausage.  Bits of him are all over, burning away into ash.  OOC: Free act.
[21:02] <@Kotono> "Inari," T calls sharply, "Over here, Helena's in a bad way!"
[21:03] <@Inari> "I'm coming!" Inari shouts, running over!
[21:03] <@Erad> "The other one cast invisibility, I'm going to find him." Erad calls out to the others as he turns and heads back where he saw the footsteps to cast detect evil. Surely the assassin ran off, but maybe he's still close enough...
[21:03] * Annerose comes to stand protectively over T and Helena, ready to intercept any assassins!
[21:03] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, lemme move you to #evil for now, Erad.

[Corwin]

#ed

> OOC: Make a perception check.
<Erad> roll 1d20+13
<Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 31 > [d20=18]
> Erad is able to detect evil, about 60ft away. But as he closes in, he sees it - a door appears in front of it. A door of swirling stars and blackness, which opens and then closes a moment later. Once it does, it vanishes and the evil is gone.
<Erad> Erad decides to at least take a look from up in the air  -- he'll fly in the same direction he saw the door and continue on, just in case the mage reappears. Those sorts of spells can't last forever, can they? He'll also heal his wounds while he flies along. OOC: Using Lay on hands to cover the damage I've taken.
> OOC: Okay. Make a perception check.
<Erad> roll 1d20+13
<Serith> Erad roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=5]
> No good. No sign of evil after a few minutes of searching. Odds are the assassin's gotten away now, hidden or otherwise out of easy reach.
<Erad> Erad harrumphs before he turns to head back to the others. Although, as he's flying back... OOC: Would Erad be familiar with the Shrouders?
> OOC: K:L check.
<Erad> OOC: I do not have that unless I could use a K:H check! :D
> OOC: No such luck, so no.
<Erad> OOC: Okay.

[Corwin]

#d

[21:04] <@Inari> Reaching the group, Inari casts mass lesser vigor on T and Helena before following up with a cure serious wounds to patch over Helena's worst wounds!
[21:05] <@Inari> roll 3d8+6 healz +32hp over 16 rounds past that
[21:05] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 17 > [d8=1,8,2]
[21:06] <@Kotono> Helena is burnt and twitches, but Inari's magic stops that. She sits up, caked in mud - which freezes to her armor, quickly becoming a thick layer of dirt. "Ugh..." she whimpers.
[21:07] <@Inari> With Helena out of danger Inari next goes to encourage Rock for helping them. A feeling of being appreciated can make all the difference! "Good job, Rock!" she beams at the troll. "You really helped us out there!"
[21:07] <@Kotono> Rock meanwhile grabs a fried leg of assassin and takes it up to his mouth, only pausin gas Inari goes to him. "Food attack. Usually attack food."
[21:08] <@Kotono> "You'll live," T says, getting up. He looks around an shakes his head, "No one thought of knocking one out to get information from them? Then again, 'nari's fires seem to be explosive today."
[21:10] <Annerose> "Maybe they still have something on them explaining affiliation, if not their reasons," Annerose muses, moving over to freeze any fires and search the corpses.
[21:10] <@Kotono> "A-a-annerose?" Helena says, still looking dazed, "Help me out of this armor? Need to be warm." Meanwhile Annerose searches the fallen. OOC: Loot post.
[21:11] <Annerose> Bringing the scroll with her to examine it later, Annerose helps Helena.
[21:12] <@Inari> "You better not eat that," Inari says, shaking her head at Rock. "It upsets other humans to see their own kind being eaten, even if these weren't good for much else. Leave it to feed the plants, then you can eat whatever animal feeds on the plants instead. It's a way of cleansing it!"
[21:15] <@Kotono> OOC: Diplo, Inari.
[21:15] <@Inari> roll 1d20+18
[21:15] <Serith> Inari roll for Serith < 33 > [d20=15]
[21:18] <@Kotono> WIth help, Helena goes to the privacy of the wagon to warm up and change. Meanwhile, Rock just gives Inari a look, "But food. Food here. Eat."
[21:20] <Annerose> Once she's helped Helena, Annerose will look at the magical signatures on the remains, to see what can be handled safely.
[21:21] <@Inari> "People aren't food," Inari shakes her head. "You can hurt and kill people if they try to do the same to you, but you can't eat them. It's about respect to others like them," she gestures towards the other humans present. "If you saw them trying to eat a troll like you, wouldn't it bother you?
[21:21] <@Kotono> The scythes, the vial and the scroll are magical. OOC: Roll spellcraft and post the results.
[21:22] <Annerose> roll 3#1d20+12 in that order
[21:22] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 31, 23, 25 >
[21:24] <@Kotono> OOC: Need another roll, since it's two scythes that are magical.
[21:24] <Annerose> roll 1d20+12 second scythe
[21:24] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 27 > [d20=15]
[21:28] <@Kotono> OOC: Post.

[Corwin]

[21:28] <@Kotono> Erad thus returns, finding the party recovering and preparing. Rock shrugs, a big thing tha tmakes his body shake. "Eating trolls yuck. Makes sick and sicker."
[21:29] <@Erad> "T," Erad starts as he returns to the others. "I think we're beyond the possibility of this being random. Does anything about these assassins ring a bell for you?"
[21:30] <@Inari> "Well, if something stands on two legs with two arms and two legs, two eyes, and two ears, like a troll... best just to not eat it in case it'll make you sick as well," Inari suggests helpfully.
[21:31] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+14 (+6 inspiration, K:L used for the day)
[21:31] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=2]
[21:32] <@Kotono> "I'm not sure," T rubs his chin thoughtfully, "See, this magic makes me rule out the most likely group. Is'nt their style. Gimme some time in Misty Harbor to ask question sand I can work with it."
[21:33] <@Inari> "Here, we'll leave them by the side of the road for the animals," Inari goes on, starting to kick and roll the corpses off the road. "People eat animals and animals eat people. It's best that way."
[21:35] <@Kotono> Rock looks unhappy, but he doesn't stop Inari, either.
[21:36] <@Inari> "Don't worry, we'll get you something good to eat by dinnertime," Inari consoles Rock, helping Annerose with gathering up the magical loot and heading back to the wagon once that's done.
[21:39] <@Kotono> OOC: Ready to continue on, y'all?
[21:39] <@Erad> OOC: yar
[21:39] <@Inari> ooc: y
[21:48] <@Kotono> Due to the interruption and all the attendant slowdown, the party doesn't reach Misty Harbor by nightfall. Which comes early, as fog rolls in to darken the end of the day. Thus setting up a camp is unavoidable. But fortunately this is without incident and the night passes. The next morning is still foggy, but on the party goes. AFter a few hours of travle, you can see a shadow ahead in the slowly
[21:48] <@Kotono> thinning morning mist.  A great, looming shadow of a city, indistinct and ghostly.
[21:49] <@Erad> "It's been quite the trip to get here." Erad remarks. "And it may be even more of one to get inside."
[21:50] <@Inari> "So what are we going to do now that we're here?" Inari asks, peering first at the hazy outline of the city before looking at Annerose.
[21:51] <@Kotono> T stretches, "First thing we get a good inn and set up there. Preferably one that has good locks and defensible rooms, jus tin case."
[21:51] <Annerose> "Not it we act like we belong and don't even bother asking permission," Annerose voices in response to Erad. "Pretty much this, Inari. Helena and I can pass for Aurilites, and no one will try to stop us from going in."
[21:51] <@Kotono> "I want a good bath," Helena pipes up, "And yes, a solid bluff should work. Right?"
[21:52] <@Erad> "I'm sorry you have to continue to play a role like that, Annerose." Erad says. "Hopefully you won't have to much longer."
[21:53] <@Inari> "It's convenient when horrible people think we're like them and leave us be, but I worry what sort of reputation we're building with everyone else the more times we play that card," Inari says. "Maybe after we're done here we can go South and start cleaning up the mountains of their kind?"
[21:53] <Annerose> "Yes, well. I tell myself it's better than having to fight and kill people who would try to stop me, and it's even true."
[21:55] <@Erad> Erad nods to Annerose, then to Inari. "Well, it's clear someone knows the truth about us and keeps trying to send people to kill us... you'd think they'd learn the lesson eventually."
[21:57] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay, so how are you going on ahead?
[22:00] <@Erad> OOC: It sounds like Annerose and Helena pass as Aurilites and the rest of us just keep quiet.
[22:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:00] <@Kotono> OOC: Where are they on the wagon?
[22:01] <Annerose> OOC: I'll be looking out the window with disinterest. If anyone else shows a religious symbol of some sort, they'll cover it.
[22:02] <@Kotono> OOC: Okay.
[22:03] <@Kotono> Soon the mist parts further. Ahead is a massive, ancient wall of stone.It's a few dozen feet tall, defensibile and mighty. An iron portcullis blocks the way ahead, a dozen soldiers standing on guard. As you come within 50ft. "Halt!" They call, "Identify yourselves!"
[22:06] * Annerose looks outside with disinterest, before asking T loudly enough that it might be carried across, "Who is stopping my carriage?"
[22:07] <@Kotono> "Guards, ma'am," He answers, not missing a beat. "There's a lot of them.
[22:07] <@Kotono> "
[22:09] <Annerose> "Tell them to let me pass, then. I hate being out in this heat."
[22:12] <@Kotono> T nods, "My Lady demands to be allowed to pass. She finds this head troubling."
[22:12] <@Kotono> *heat
[22:13] <@Kotono> Half of the soldiers approach, surrounding the wagon and looking it over. The one at Annerose's window takes a look at her, "You are?"
[22:18] <Annerose> "Annerose," she says, moving in such a way as to get Auril's unholy symbol to shift visibly upon her chest. The briefest incline of her head indicates Helena, whom she introduces as, "My attendant." Returning her attention to the soldier by the window, she asks without much in the way of intonation, "May we proceed?"
[22:19] <@Kotono> OOC: Make a bluff check here.
[22:20] <@Kotono> Helena just gives the guards a bored look, waving a hand at them, as if to shoo them away.
[22:20] <@Kotono> roll 1d20+2 aiding
[22:20] <Serith> Kotono roll for Serith < 18 > [d20=16]
[22:20] <Annerose> OOC: Can I just look scary instead?
[22:20] <@Kotono> OOC: You could try that route, but you'd have to try and do something like that real quick.
[22:21] <Annerose> roll 1d20+6 let's try lying first
[22:21] <Serith> Annerose roll for Serith < 16 > [d20=10]
[22:21] <Annerose> OOC: +2 from aiding
[22:21] <@Kotono> There's a few moments before the guard steps back and nods, "Alright then. Proceed."
[22:22] * Annerose leans back in the carriage after gesturing for T to handle everything else.
[22:23] <@Kotono> Thus, the party heads into Misty Harbor...OOC: We'll pause there and resume next time, since it's time and that's a good pause point.