Peril and Fame (IC)

[Othniel]

The Azure Ghost

"Oh, very well. We'll do it the safe way," Ghost groused, a note of mirth in his voice to show he really wasn't complaining. He followed Varsq's motions, though he avoided standing next to one of the undead. "You know, your critters are ugly and they smell, but I must say they are handy."

[zabbarot]

Shimura

"Don't insult a man's craft. They might be undead, but they are a work of love," Shimura said to Ghost. "That ruby would fetch a good price at market if he can knock it loose, Varg." So far this trip was reminding him of his days on caravans. He mostly kept to the back to guard the rear since it seemed like the dangers ahead of them were outside his wheelhouse for now. Until they were actually in a fight it was likely for the best.

[Tychris1]

Varsq

The glamered ratfolk shot the Azure Ghost a glare as he commented on his family, every fiber in his body tensing slightly as he had to repeatedly mentally remind himself not to blast him full of negative energy and have his mob of undead pin him down to draw and quarter him. He soon relaxed however at Shimura's rebuttal, a small smile growing across his face as he redirected Jeremy's efforts first on removing the gem and tossing it over before pulling the lever. "Thank you Shimura. Folks can't seem to appreciate others hard work. Took me a lot of time to find and make each of them, they've all got their own stories, and it's a point of pride for me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, you know."

[Jade_Tarem]

Elysia

The Thassilonian restrained herself from reminding Varsq that beauty was a measurable, drainable force. "I believe this place may have been called the Hall of Suckers when it was fully operational. I don't know it for a fact, but it seems like our kind of humor. I can't wait to see what the lever does."

[Nefarion Xid]

Then again, lightning would have also left the hallway caked in black residue.

Red lit circles marked with Thassilonian runes sprang to life in the room beyond. They crackled with electricity for a few seconds before disgorging a quartet of shaggy goat-headed monsters armed with jagged black halberds. As soon as they were fully corporeal, the statues blanketed the entire hall with exploding balls of lightning. Of course, this merely irritated the demons, causing them to bleat furiously and begin stalking off in search of something to kill while casting spells on themselves.

Spoiler: Everyone who isn't Shimura

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You recognize the monsters as Schir demons. Typically used as low level guards in the Abyss, Schir are immune to electricity (like all demons), can see invisibility, and coat their weapons with their own diseased saliva.

Spoiler: Varsq & Elysia

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You see the Schir cast Protection from Good and Expeditious Retreat.

Thanks to the interposing illusory wall, it seems that they haven't noticed you.

[Snowfire]

Aethra
The Friendly Merchant

There were complications at the Rat. Some sort of...it doesn't matter. What matters is that they had poison and it took. Aethra did her best to keep her voice pitched low, but also inject enough worry into it that it would be possible for others to hear her. "We need your skills, as quickly as they can be provided."

[Othniel]

The Azure Ghost

"That's the first dangerous thing I've seen thus far today," Ghost said. "So, do we want to fight them, or go around?" The mage loosened his curve blade in its sheath and checked his equipment. "If we fight them, let's try to make it unfair for them, hey?"

[Jade_Tarem]

Elysia

The magus scratched her head momentarily. "If you want unfair, we should just wait until they find something to fight and then jump them. If we get lucky, it'll be the Aspis crew and we can just kill everyone in the confusion."

[Tychris1]

Varsq

Pocketing the gem that Jeremy had pried free from the lever, Varsq laid back in relaxation before wistfully waving a hand in the general direction of the demons. "Whatever the good m'am decides on works for me. Though I might suggest waiting for their magical enhancements to fade. Unless you like fighting big burly extra fast good resistant goat men. Hey! Judgement free zone. Whatever you're into."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Irene

"No, I concur with Elysia and Varg. Waiting until the enchantments have worn off, and perhaps waiting for something else to come along and weaken them first, would be most prudent. Perhaps until then, we could examine the doors on the other side of the hallway?"

[Nefarion Xid]

Team Hollow Mountain

While discussing how they might easily dispatch the goat demons, said goat demons opened the door to the southern passage. Spying the party, they both took up a horrid bleating sort of noise, calling for their allies.

However, you have won initiative.

[Tychris1]

Varsq

Raising his eyes at the sudden appearance of the Goat Demons, Varsq pointed a finger accusingly at the closest one and squawked in abyssal "KILL IT!" Suddenly the lackadaisical undead, hunched over or simply limp without purpose snapped to attention, and they in one unified front swarmed backwards to mob the abyssal nuisances. Several of the Bloody Skeleton Goblins actually ran literally backwards, Jeremy crawling upside down as they circled around the front lining Humans and Necrocrafts in order to better distract and claw at the Goat Men.

Spoiler: Attacks!

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Necrocrafts Power Attack:
Hit:(1d20+7)[24]
Damage:(1d4+6)[7]
Hit:(1d20+6)[16]
Damage:(1d4+6)[7]

Bloody Skeleton:
Hit:(1d20+2)[5]
Damage:(1d4+2)[6]

[Jade_Tarem]

Elysia

Aggravated at the interruption, Elysia channeled power to Stormdancer, only to find her way blocked by a horde of the undead creature type's greatest hits.

That right there, that's why Bakrakhan didn't rely on the undead so much.

You hired him to do this! This exact thing that he's doing. Right now. Per your previous instructions.

Don't try bringing logic into this.

Still, the magus was not without options. She was always ready to be immensely aggravating. A few magic words and grime, grit, soot, and other disgusting residue peeled itself off the walls and out from between cracks in the floor, gathering in a ball over her hand. A flick of that hand sent it flying at the face of the nearest Schir.

Spoiler: OOC

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Swift action: Spend 1 arcane pool point to boost Stormdancer to a +3 Keen weapon.
Move Action: Move
Standard: Cast and fire Mudball!

Accounts for melee penalty.
Touch Attack: (1d20+5)[17]

[Othniel]

The Azure Ghost

Sighing inwardly, Ghost drew his blade and moved around the undead horde. Maybe he'd get to stab a demon in the back. That always made him feel better.

Spoiler: OOC

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Double move to U30 and drawing weapon.

[zabbarot]

Shimura drew his blade and moved towards the wall of undead. "Excuse me, coming through."

[Lord Of Mantas]

Irène

Dropping back into a combat stance, Irène summoned a spear of pure light from thin air and threw it at the nearest demon.

Spoiler: Actions

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Irène casts Spear of Purity at the closest demon.

Ranged Touch: (1d20+5)[7]
Caster Level Check: (1d20+6)[22]
Will Attack (unsuccesful halves damage): (1d20+8)[21]
Damage: (6d6)[16]

[Nefarion Xid]

Team Hollow Mountain

Blind and slightly injured, the first schir swung his halberd in a wide arc in front of him. Varsq's skeleton at least had enough instinct left to duck when something was swung at his head. The second moved to close ranks and brought his weapon down on the nearest skeleton, sending a chip of bone flying off its shoulder blade. He then followed up by comically attempting to impale Varsq's minion with his horns to no effect.

HS1 takes 4 damage.

[Lord Of Mantas]

Irene

Realizing that she would never be able to affect anything meaningfully behind Varg's horde of minions, Irene moved forward and around them, casting a spell upon her weapon.

Spoiler: Actions

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Move to X31, then cast Instrument of Agony upon her cold iron morningstar.

[Othniel]

The Azure Ghost

Ghost stepped closer to one of the creatures beset by the group's undead allies and set into it with his elven curve blade.

Spoiler: OOC

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5' Step to U29.
Swift Action to activate Arcane Strike for +2 damage.
Attacking with Vital Strike: (1d20+12)[20]
Damage: (2d10+6)[20] + (1d6)[1] Fire (ignore this if immune to fire)
Sneak Attack: (1d6)[5]

[BladeofObliviom]

Spoiler

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Aethra
The Friendly Merchant

There were complications at the Rat. Some sort of...it doesn't matter. What matters is that they had poison and it took. Aethra did her best to keep her voice pitched low, but also inject enough worry into it that it would be possible for others to hear her. "We need your skills, as quickly as they can be provided."

Aethra
The Friendly Merchant

"The Rat?! What in Hell is she playing at?" Alessandra said with what could only be described as a measured shout. Her face cycled through expressions before settling on simply placing her palms over it. Frustratedly she put her hands back down on the table, looking both ways conspiratorially before continuing. "Alright, I'll help, but only because I owe you. I'm not crazy enough to get into Szcarni politics. Do you know what kind of poison? I'll need to know what Doolun's cooked up to counteract it. And where to take the antidote, for that matter."

[Tychris1]

Varsq

Dusting himself off and picking himself up, the glamered ratfolk looked on the ensuing melee with a level of boredom, casually waving his hand to direct his undead minions into a proper battlefield setup. Two of the Bloody Goblins (Jeremy and Betty) began to jump and crawl with extra speed, dancing around the blind goat demon while the two Bloody Humans shifted into flanking positions.

Spoiler: Actions

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The two higher up Goblins perform total defense and move to their current positions, provoking attacks of opportunity. Everyone else five foot steps.

Necrocraft 1:
Claw:(1d20+9)[20]
Damage:(1d4+4)[6]
Claw:(1d20+9)[10]
Damage:(1d4+4)[6]
Claw:(1d20+9)[17]
Damage:(1d4+4)[5]
Claw:(1d20+9)[24]
Damage:(1d4+4)[6]
Bite:(1d20+4)[14]
Damage:(1d4+2)[6]

Necrocraft 2:
Claw:(1d20+9)[16]
Damage:(1d4+4)[5]
Claw:(1d20+9)[15]
Damage:(1d4+4)[6]
Claw:(1d20+9)[17]
Damage:(1d4+4)[7]
Claw:(1d20+9)[14]
Damage:(1d4+4)[5]

Human 1:
Claw:(1d20+4)[12]
Damage:(1d4+2)[6]
Claw:(1d20+4)[14]
Damage:(1d4+2)[4]

Human 2:
Claw:(1d20+4)[17]
Damage:(1d4+2)[4]
Claw:(1d20+4)[6]
Damage:(1d4+2)[5]

Left Goblin Aid Another AC Valamir:(1d20+2)[14]
Right Goblin Aid Another AC Necrocraft:(1d20+2)[18]

[Jade_Tarem]

Elysia

The Thassilonian stepped forward into the opening provided and began her rapid-stabbing kata - still hoping to conserve resources, she fueled it with an arcane marking spell, the symbol of Runic Wrath appearing on Stormdancer's haft.

Spoiler: OOC

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Spell Combat! Stormdancer is a +3 Keen Mithral weapon right now that counts as piercing, magic, silver, and cold iron for overcoming damage reduction. Crits on 15+.

Attack: (1d20+10)[12]
Damage: (1d6+5)[8]

Crit Confirm: (1d20+10)[29]
Damage: (1d6+5)[11]

Attack: (1d20+10)[14]
Damage: (1d6+5)[7]

Crit Confirm: (1d20+10)[28]
Damage: (1d6+5)[6]

[TheDarkDM]

Vai
Chapel of Sarenrae

Left alone in the abandoned chapel, Vai prepared for her long vigil. As Aethra and Alessandra planted their seed, her children would carry the message of her vulnerability across Underbridge. Her lieutenants had been instructed to reduce operations, as though bereft of her direction, and lights had been placed just so as to betray the Chapel as inhabited in the afternoon gloom. Soon her two co-conspirators would return, and they would begin their vigil. And after that, if all went according to plan, the Gallowed would come. And she would have her answers.

[Nefarion Xid]

Team Hollow Mountain

Shuffling past the shuffling undead legions, Shimura found an opening an managed to wound the first of the embattled Schirs. (14 damage)

An instant later, the doors slammed open as two more of the demons joined the melee, bellowing something about blood and thunder in their gravely Abyssal language. The third brought his halberd down on the nearest skeleton, shattering its skull and torso in one blow. The fourth missed the more canny goblin fighter.

The first Schir, heartened by the appearance of his kin, spun around and obliterated the skeleton in the corner, showering the room with ribs as he launched it overhead with his horns.

[Jade_Tarem]

Elysia

Elysia spun her weapon and tried again. "Hey! Quit screwing up our meatless meat shields!"

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Let's try this again:

Attack: (1d20+10)[20]
Damage: (1d6+5)[11]

Attack: (1d20+10)[11]
Damage: (1d6+5)[11]

[Tychris1]

Varsq

Leaning against his implanted voidstick, Varsq watched the ensuing carnage with a growing sense of interest as his boredom faded away. Dusting off his cap, he pointed two fingers at his Necrocrafts and shot bolts of dark energy to the both of them. In a moments notice Maximillian and Veronica suddenly flew into a berzerkers fury as Samson and Anthony were smashed into gooey blood chunks. For their part Jeremy, Larry, Christopher, and Betty shambled and jumped even more erratically becoming increasingly more difficult to hit. Varsq spat back at the bleating goat demons in Abyssal

"That's not how you break bones, this is how you break bones!

Spoiler: Attacks

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Cast Unliving Rage on both of my Necrocrafts.

Necrocraft 1:
Claw:(1d20+8)[22]
Damage:(1d4+5)[9]
Claw:(1d20+8)[27]
Damage:(1d4+5)[8]
Claw:(1d20+8)[15]
Damage:(1d4+5)[6]
Claw:(1d20+8)[24]
Damage:(1d4+5)[6]
Bite:(1d20+3)[6]
Damage:(1d6+2)[5]

Necrocraft 2:
Claw:(1d20+8)[24]
Damage:(1d4+5)[8]
Claw:(1d20+8)[9]
Damage:(1d4+5)[9]
Claw:(1d20+8)[13]
Damage:(1d4+5)[9]
Claw:(1d20+8)[9]
Damage:(1d4+5)[6]
Bite:(1d20+3)[16]
Damage:(1d6+2)[4]

Goblin 1: Aid Another AC For Necrocraft 1:(1d20+2)[7]

Goblin 2: Aid Another AC For Necrocraft 1:(1d20+2)[16]

Goblin 3: Total Defense and Move

Goblin 4: Aid Another AC For Valamir:(1d20+2)[9]

[Othniel]

Valamir

Silently cursing the presence of demons, Valamir sliced again at the same demon.

Spoiler: OOC

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Swift Action: Arcane Strike for +2 damage
Vital Strike Attack: (1d20+12)[20]
Damage: (2d10+6)[17] + (1d6)[5] fire
Sneak Attack: (1d6)[5]

[Lord Of Mantas]

Irene

Stepping forward, Irene swung her cold iron morningstar at the demon by Elysia and Shimura.

Spoiler: Actions

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Attack: (1d20+7)[14]
Damage: (1d8+3)[7]

If it hits, Instrument of Agony is activated:

Caster Level Check: (1d20+6)[11]
Will Save versus Instrument of Agony: DC 18
If the Demon fails, it is nauseated for (1d4+1)[2] rounds.
If not, it is sickened for 1 round.

[Nefarion Xid]

Team Hollow Mountain

See the map. Shimura did 14 damage and it was glorious.

Schir 3, stuck in his corner, flailed at Shimura who easily parried the clumsy overpowered strikes. Schir 4 meanwhile split a goblin skeleton in two from skull to pelvis and stepped forward, screaming in Abyssal, "I break your toys!"

[Jade_Tarem]

Elysia

Aww, they're exactly as articulate and caring as I remember!

Elysia stepped into the corner to surround the demon, and repeated her classical tactic.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Here we goooo~ooooo agaiiiiiiiiaaaiiiiiiin!

Attack: (1d20+12)[13]
Damage: (1d6+5)[7]

Attack: (1d20+12)[18]
Damage: (1d6+5)[7]