Reciprocal Tax Evasion

[TheOasysMaster]

Is that counting the +18 hp from the rage?

Yeah, I'm using RAGING Maki's character sheet.
And it's got more HPs than Maki at this point...

[Human Paragon 3]

But does Eduardo hit?

characters

[TheOasysMaster]

The gargoyle doesn't look at all please to find Eduardo's axe lodged in it's chest. As the druid tears the blade from the wound, the gargoyle attempts to bite him. Twisting away from the stinking maw of broken fangs, Eduardo avoids a swinging claw.

Are Maki and Shud taking actions?

The Dire Wolf continues to twist and turn its head, gnawing on the zombie's neck and throat.

[Misaat]

Maki strats to swing his blade wildly ALMOST BLINDLY AT THE CREATURE IN FRONT OF HIM!

"WHY WONT YOU JUST DIE!!"

Spoiler

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Attack 1:(1d20+15)[19]

Damage 1:(2d4+24)[31]

Attack 2:(1d20+15)[30]

Damage 2:(2d4+24)[28]

Attack 3:(1d20+10)[26]

Damage 3:(2d4+24)[28]

Im using power attack grabbing the falchion with both hands so -5 to attack +10 to damage

[TheOasysMaster]

The barbarian's first attack bounces off the creature's horn , chipping it. Unfazed, Maki slams the blade twice into the gargoyle's chest, the blade ringing as it cuts through bone and hits the floor.
With a shudder, the zombie gargoyle goes still.

[TheOasysMaster]

The threat subdued, Pharrisia releases her hold on the corpse and reverts back to her original form...
Shudu and Eduardo notices the vampire quickly wipes away any traces of blood from her mouth, and holds her hands away from her body as she replaces her gloves.
She eyes the barbarian, exhausted and fatigued from his rage, and then looks at Eduardo, smiling.
"I don't suppose you've heard of Aesop's tale of 'The Man and The Viper'?"

[Misaat]

Deactivating the boots of speed.

After watching the gargoyle stay still Maki drops his falchion into the ground and lifts it with all his strength throwing it straight into the pit below.

"RAAAAH"

After that he rests sitting on the floor exhausted and hurt...

Rage ended

"Hope that's the end of it..."

[TheOasysMaster]

Each of you take 1000 XP.

Well done. You guys had less people, and defeated it much faster...

[Misaat]

Well done. You guys had less people, and defeated it much faster...

What happened to the creature when i throwed it into the pit?

characters

[TheOasysMaster]

Well, which one? An empty one? Or the one with the other zombie?

[Misaat]

Well, which one? An empty one? Or the one with the other zombie?

The one with the other because...well because **** that guy

characters

[TheOasysMaster]

The immense weight of the gargoyle's body silences the zombie dwarf as the corpse sinks on the spears, cracking and breaking them...

[Samfool]

Shudu chuckles to himself, jumping down from the ceiling onto the floor.

"Perhaps we should do something about this zombie-gargoyle? I don't want him walking out of this pit again.."

He takes back his axe from the druid.

"Should I take the liberty of hacking off his legs?"

Spoiler

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Could I crawl back out of the pit?
How about the gargoyle?

[TheOasysMaster]

"It's in their pretty deep... And it's wings are broken... Even if it does reanimate again... It won't be getting out easily."

[Human Paragon 3]

Eduardo stares back at the vampire, trying to read her demeanor. Did he detect an implied threat in her remark?

No, I've not heard the tale. Tell it to me.

Spoiler

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sense motive (d20+7)[15]

[Samfool]

"I have had enough of this talk. The vampire mistress is vengeful and wants to get through this tomb, same as all of us. I don't trust her any more than I trust any of you, so why continue asking these questions?" Shudu says, almost snapping at the master of death. He can see that he means every word he has just spoke, "Now lets get on with this. You can debate while we walk.."

[Human Paragon 3]

Unconcerned with Shudu's temper tantrum, Eduardo silently watches the vampire to see what she does.

I just have a weird feeling she's about to attack us. The narration specifically mentioned Maki's fatigue, and if I'm not mistaken, in Aesop's fable, the snake and kills the man because it's in its nature. However, if she's cool, then we'll go into the tomb. For what it's worth, I also want to get into the meat of the adventure. I'm just not sure this encounter is over...

[TheOasysMaster]

sense motive (d20+7)[15]

Eduardo senses that Pharrisia is teasing him; making a joke about their new-found "relationship"...
"A farmer picked up a viper that was half-dead from the cold. When the farmer had warmed the viper, the viper uncoiled and grabbed hold of the man's hand and with a fatal bite, he killed the man who had wanted to save him. As he was dying, the man spoke some words that are well worth remembering: 'Well, I got what I deserve for having shown kindness to a scoundrel!"
Eduardo realizes the situation they're in...
Maki, the heavy-weight is fatigued, and may not be as useful against her as he was against the gargoyle...
Leaving Shudu and Eduardo alone...
...and it would be well within her nature...
The Vampire smiles, enjoying the druid's predicament...
"Here... Your scythe?"
She holds out Pax for him to take.
"Shudu is right... You can trust me as long as you trust in vengeance-in the mean time, keep my secret and I'll ensure you unlock ALL the secrets of the Tomb!"

Spoiler

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I just have a weird feeling she's about to attack us. The narration specifically mentioned Maki's fatigue, and if I'm not mistaken, in Aesop's fable, the snake and kills the man because it's in its nature. However, if she's cool, then we'll go into the tomb. For what it's worth, I also want to get into the meat of the adventure. I'm just not sure this encounter is over...

Good call! Take 250 XP for knowledge!

[Human Paragon 3]

Eduardo smiles.

An apt tale, indeed. Good. Good. Let's go.

He takes his scythe, turns, and walks to the end of the entrance room where the misty arch is waiting. As he walks he draws an ivory wand from the folds of his tunic.

Barbarian, come and I'll close your wounds.

The wand pulses with a pale glow as he waves it over the deep scratches on the barbarians chest and arms. They recede and heal.

Spoiler

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5 charges of the CLW wand.
(5d8+5)[26]

[TheOasysMaster]

The arch is filled with mist...
Within 5 feet of the entranceway, the base stones glow yellow on the left, orange on the right, and the keystone 7 feet above glows blue.
It repeats this combination.
Over and over.
Yellow. Orange. Blue.
Yellow. Orange. Blue.
Yellow. Orange. Blue.

[Human Paragon 3]

And what do we make of this then? Vampire, you're familiar with this device. If we simply enter, following the tracks of those that came before, will we end up where they now are?

[TheOasysMaster]

"Like I said, we Teleported in... I have no idea where this arch will take us... But WHEN we do meet them... You should introduce me as... Pharrah, your druid apprentice... It'll explain why I change into the form of a Dire Wolf... As for the arches... One arch was activated by pressing the stones... Another, all you had to do was go through it."

[Human Paragon 3]

I'll remember that... Eduardo smiles. Though I don't consider myself a druid any longer. As far as our situation goes, since there's no apparent way of telling what will happen if we manipulate the gems, we may as well just walk through the archway now. Wherever it's set to dump us is just as good as anywhere else as long as we have no information about the end point.

Do you agree?

[Samfool]

Shudu touches the archway lights, following the pattern from before..
Yellow. Orange. Blue.

"This means something.. I can feel it.." Shudu says, ignoring the stories and debate, trying to figure out the secrets of this archway. His eye caught the sight of the devil's mouth.

"What is that? It looks important.." he says, expressing interest, "Should we check it out?"

[TheOasysMaster]

Once Shudu presses the stones, the mists are dispelled, and a long corridor can be seen through them... It seems to go on, impossibly forever...

[Human Paragon 3]

Did you not search both portals before? You told me no way looked safer than the other. Yet, the ominous mouth of a devil is not a welcoming entry way. And its unnatural darkness does not ease my mind. Unless in this tomb the right move is to determine the rational approach and then do the opposite, I would say that this is not the way. Besides, Pharrah tells us the ones who came before are making their way through the tomb- and we know they used the archway.

EDIT: Oh my...

Eduardo looks down the pathway.

[TheOasysMaster]

It's...
...trippy...
The same corridor extends on, and on, and on, beyond the archway...
Impossibly forever...
...as if one were to enter, they would fall...
...impossibly forever.

The vampire snaps Eduardo out of his revarie, agreeing with his analysis of the Tomb and the devil, "Don't be an idiot-what good can possibly come of that terrible thing!"

[Human Paragon 3]

Spoiler

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Save vs. illusion?

[TheOasysMaster]

"It's not an Illusion... When you step through the Srch, you're Teleported! So no Saves necessary!"

[Human Paragon 3]

Eduardo blinks, not sure if he heard correctly.

Very well. My offer to step through first still stands. Gentlemen...

Eduardo breathes in, then out, then in, filling his lungs with air before stepping through the arch.