AVB - Ishmael Mk II

[planswalker]

You hear one last parting thought in your head, I informed them only that you were misguided in your faith and not worthy to proceed. Remember the answers to your dangerous questions.

"Don't worry, fix whatever it was that the big mojo angel said and I'm sure you'll be worthy next time."

[Monodominant]

Ishmael nods and heads out with the guard or on his own...

He will not risk trying to find the gardens here right now, its too soon to prowl around the temple.

[planswalker]

You are escorted outside the temple in the large courtyard behind the gates.

"Better luck next time." The guard says as he departs.

[Monodominant]

Suprised at how easy this... escape was Ishmael leaves quickly.

He goes around the temple trying to see if there is any other way to get inside the gardens if the gardens are even here...

[planswalker]

The rear of the temple wall has no obvious exits, but you do see one thing: there are small holes 6 inches across about every 50 feet along the base of the wall.

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the handiwork of one of the other pc's from before AVB died.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael heads to a potion store somewhere near and buys 2 potions of gaseous form.

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Can you activate magic items while you are gaseous? For example can I activate my ring of invisibility while gaseous to become an invisible gas?

[planswalker]

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no you may not

You buy them for standard price.

[Monodominant]

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How about the other way around?

If I go invisible (via ring) and then become gaseous?

Ishmael takes the potions after thanking the man. He returns to a dark alley and changes to mundane artisans clothes after destroying the monks outfit and then goes back to the temple.

[planswalker]

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you'll lose the invisibility when the ring becomes gaseous.

You arrive outside the temple.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael downs the first potion realising there is little he can do to be an invisible gas...

He then goes down the holes to figure out where they lead since whoever made them must have also wanted to infiltrate this place.

His target are the gardens but if he has time he will also check out some of the other holes.

[planswalker]

In the tunnels it is an orderly criss-cross of these narrow tunnels that lead to virtually every room in the temple. However, these tunnels only extend through stone walls. There is indeed one that leads to the gardens. That one has an exit behind the trunk of a tree.

[Monodominant]

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Was this before I joined? I cant recall someone going around ruining walls and making holes... I think Ninethepuma wanted to do something like that but abandonded the idea in the end...

The gas-Ishmael slowly pools up from the trunk surveying the area around him but not cancelling the spell yet.

So... sense any of your treats here?

[planswalker]

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Actually, it was Bear, my previous pc. He spent a few weeks spying on the Church of Pelor before dying to a slew of bad luck in a random encounter. He took a small snake form to spy on him.

Instead of him answering you, your sense of hunger pulls you to the center of the garden. You can feel the presence of dark, smoky souls.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael goes invisible and also sticks close to the ground using the best of his abilities.

Its one thing to infiltrate the church as a believer, its another to do it as an obvious threat here to cause issues to the temple.

[planswalker]

You are now invisible, close to the ground, and effectively undetectable for most intents and purposes. Are you going to be doing something or just crouching there?

[Monodominant]

Ishmael approaches towards the center of where his hunger leads him.

Lets just be careful eh? No need to rush like a hungry child running to his sweets!

[planswalker]

The sweets bite back. Be careful.

As you approach, you sense a stirring of these spirits.

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roll for initiative

[Monodominant]

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(1d20+8)[10]

Some more characters.

[planswalker]

A dark, shadowy shape gets the jump on you, but you manage to dodge aside through pure instinct.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael growls and draws his ghost strike dagger as fast as he can before turning to face the shade.

What now? do I just kill it? Its in spirit form so can we just... well consume it like this?

[planswalker]

you will want to weaken its hold on its form first, but yes.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael strikes against the spirit that attacked him with ferocity. Not knowing how capable this creature is he activates his bracers to land an extra blow.

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Full attack using the ghost strike dagger +2 (and merciful but undead are immune to subdual...)

Attack 1

(1d20+14)[19] - crit confirm (1d20+14)[15] (ghost strike allows for crits and sneaks against undead)
damage (1d4+8)[10] - crit damage (1d4+8)[12]

Attack 2 (blinding strike)
(1d20+14)[29] - crit confirm (1d20+14)[24] (ghost strike allows for crits and sneaks against undead)
damage (1d4+8)[9] - crit damage (1d4+8)[12]

Attack 3
(1d20+9)[18] - crit confirm (1d20+9)[29] (ghost strike allows for crits and sneaks against undead)
damage (1d4+8)[9] - crit damage (1d4+8)[12]

[planswalker]

You strike the creature multiple times and nearly destroy it straight out.

it assaults you with a thin, wispy limb, as you deftly dodge aside.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael smiles confidently as he manages to avoid being hit.

Is it done yet? I feel it weaken! Much more and I might well... kill it for real!

[planswalker]

Yes it is vulnerable. If you drain it now, it will not be able to resist.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael extends his senses the way he has been taught to do with normal souls and attempts to try and draw in the dark soul.

[planswalker]

You devour the soul just as you had practiced with the living. Except this time, it is MUCH easier. It slides down your metaphysical gullet smoothly and quickly, almost as if it was already in your mouth when you noticed it. You feel a dark sense of hatred from this soul, and brief images of violence, darkness, and pain before it is devoured.

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20 soul points.

btw, how long has it been since you last fed again? I'm afraid I have quite forgotten.

[Monodominant]

Well that was simple enough... thinks Ishmael.

Are there more of them?

In case the answer is yes he advances towards the next one.

By the way, can you understand whats keeping them here? Why dont these spirits just leave? Also I really wonder why they keep them here...

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Well the night I met with Jezleen I had fed to maximum in order to unlock the next ability. Subsequently I didnt feed for almost 2 full days so I am down around 45-48 soul points but I think my pool had 'increased' as well.

[planswalker]

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okay, knowing that, you're at 98/120 soul points.

if you go over by at least 50, you'll unlock another soul-eater ability, with a couple options to you.

Indeed, the dark, heady aroma of unbonded souls is only intesifying if anything. This time, you see it as four of them approach you.

Someone or something has bound them here with magics. Unless they have something that also feeds upon spirits they like a captive audience for, it's likely to use as a weapon.

[Monodominant]

Ishmael frowns.

Four of them... I guess our advantage here is that they cant leave... our disadvantage that my proper weapon doesnt have the enchantment to harm them and thus I rely on the dagger...

Still I wonder if there is a way for me to get the best of them.

Not knowing if he is able to hide from them with mundane means Ishmael uses a nearby shadow to hide so that he can suprise them and wound them deeply.

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According to ghost strike I can sneak attack ghosts/undead... but not sure if invisibility works against spirits...

What works for sure is hiding and along with Hide in Plain sight and Darkstalker I should be able to hide from them...

so here goes:

hide (1d20+29)[31]
MS (1d20+27)[37]