City of Sinister Delights IC 3

[AlanBruce]

@Jannalor: Anyone here is willing to do something for a buck.

Perhaps that is one of the biggest perks of being Dead: you do not suffer from the same emotions like greed that have overtaken this crumbling City.

The half orc listens to your request and takes the pouch, while his comrade tries to get a sneak peak at its contents and the bribed merc snarls at him, while pointing to the interior of the factory.

"You walk beside us. No looking anywhere else. Is that clear?"

The factory is loaded with crates. And although they have more elven snipers patrolling on top of them as they look down at you and don't take much care.

A few tables have body bags in them as Society members cut the bags open and check the bodies inside. The cartwheeled one is dropped onto a table as the man inside the bag begins shaking rapidly and you can hear one of the men call a nearby orc mercenary.

"Twitcher!""

It's a brutal falchion from the half orc that stops the twitching immediately, as your own escorts shove you to keep moving up a flight of stairs, not before the guard turns to look at you and extends his arms, asking you to mimic his gesture.

"Weapon check! Any daggers, crossbows, blades, maces, darts, explosives... put them on this table here and you can see the boss.""

Assuming you comply and leave any significant weapon they may deem a threat...

The half orc walks with you up a short flight of stairs as several lights are being turned on inside the factory, since night is falling and upon a nondescript wooden door with an old plaque that says "Manager". the half orc takes a deep breath and knocks lightly on it, as you hear a voice from the other side.


I told you I need them stiff..STIFF! Not lightly stiff. Not semi stiff...STIFF!! WHAT?!?!?!

The half orc turns the door knob and peeks inside, as a growling can be heard within the office, causing the merc to gulp.

"Uhh... boss? Someone here to see you. Some business proposal says he.""

...

....

....business proposal? Seriously? Let him in.

The half orc opens the door for you, but doesn't enter, as you find yourself in a very lavish room with a bear pelt as a rug and a large- too large, some may say- mahogany desk. And behind it, quickly shoving some gems into a drawer and closing it, you see him:

Wilian Shortankard, the Little Nightmare and leader of the Unlicensed Bakers’ Guild, who sits back on a large old leather chair as a massive man sized dog growls at you and sits beside him on the rug:

Spoiler: The Check

Show

Knowledge Arcana to ID it

Wilian smiles widely as he offers you a seat opposite the desk. A much simpler chair.

"It's hard to find business as of late. My employee says you have a proposal? I am old fashioned myself. Why don't we start with who the hell are you? Easy question, right?"

[AlanBruce]

@Elizabeth: You aren't going to abandon Celaena in this hell.

And this is proven true as you launch one of your darts at her arm, causing the bleeding to stop substantially, but this does not calm the elf.

"Elizabeth, listen to me: I don't think me being here is random. Not in this place. Look around you:

Those are eggs. This is a nest, Sister. .. and I think I'm their lunch once they hatch. As to who put me here? Not those hideous bug things. It was something else. something very fast and very big. Incredibly silent. Before I had a chance to react, I was impaled at least three times and drained of my most powerful spells and carried here. The creature didn't speak as he chained me to this place and then vanished into the shadows.

I don't know what it was, but it was abnormally strong and terrifying. However, that isn't what lurks here, Sister. Something has been around this area and those things we found? During the Bandersnatch fight? They are in this room, but I fear that...""

As you finish chanting one of your many protective spells, you feel a tap on your left shoulder as you look up at the ceiling and immediately know you are in trouble:

What the hell...urkkk!!

Spoiler: The Check

Show

Knowledge Dungeoneering (Trained) to ID it

What manner of disgusting creature has been set upon you now? This creature moves expertly on the ceiling, fifteen feet above you and his hand- more like a collection of barbed tentacles- wrap around your neck and begins lifting you up, squeezing the life out of you and severing the carotid artery. A precise and deadly strike from the shadows.

Spoiler: Surprise!!!!

Show

12 damage plus 11 SA damage plus Improved Grab DC 30. If the grapple is failed..

9 Constrict damage. Because it seizes its victim by the neck, a creature in the choker’s grasp cannot speak or cast spells with verbal components.

This thing is even stronger than the Bandersnatch! Oxygen is being cut off your head. Passing out...

You cannot allow this creature, who looks at you through utterly black eyes and grins with tiny sharp teeth to get away as Celaena struggles with her chains.

"Try and break free, Sister! I will do my best here. One of us is getting out...and it will be you!"

You have battled all of Cutter's creations so far and emerged victorious. No easy fights, mind you. None of them. Enough to scar anyone for life, but you have gotten this far. You will NOT be bested by this freak!

Map

Spoiler: Rusty couldn't…can you?

Show

Roll initiative

[Daishain]

Jannalor tilts his head a little, "Easy question, with an easy answer. My name is Jannalor, and suffice it to say, I represent a major power with an interest in eliminating the Crimson Heads, and preventing all possible return thereof. Dr Cutter, or whomever has taken up his mantle, is my quarry."

"It is my understanding that you, or others with the Society, are likely in the best position to provide the information and resources I require."

"If that is true, then the question would be what you would in turn require for that assistance."

[AlanBruce]

@Jannalor: Wilian Shortankard sits back and looks at the wolf beside him, who snarls in your direction.

"Jannalor of a major power... if I had a gold piece for every time I hear that opening line, I'd be King by now. You want to eliminate the Crimson Head menace? I'd ask why, but that's a pretty obvious answer, isn't it?

In my line of work- Waste Disposal & Resourcing- I have need of those poor saps that have, by matters of, uh.. force majeure, not with us alive. It's a regrettable job. It can get pretty ugly, but someone has to do it. I am a business man, Jannalor:

I need the bodies of the recently deceased to make a profit. The dead don't profit, but I can and in so doing, the many folk that work at my factory. You may have seen them on your way to my office. All of them look up to me for protection.

Can't profit from a Zed. The body decomposes incredibly fast and reanimates, making any... "resourceful extraction" moot. Now, I have a waiting list two miles long and that's money I am not getting in my pocket since this damn outbreak.""

The gnome takes out a couple of stress balls and squeezes them in his tiny hands.

"Did you know that when someone gets infected their body temperature rises? That's where the Crimson Head name comes from. All that blood boils up in their head, frying the brain... and that;'s as far as I got with my theory. Right now, I have a few in the freezer. Maybe low temperatures can reverse the effect? Of course, a cleric would be nice. This is clearly a disease. And a fast spreading one.

My men are tough, but all it takes is one single scratch or bite from those things and I have to put them down... until recently. Have a couple of orc sickles below. If you can find a solution to my problem, then perhaps I can help you, Jannalor.""

Wilian sits back on his executive chair, old and patched several times over as he plays with the stress balls in one hand.

"And you want to assist? Have I seen you before? Who do you represent? What faction in the Mercy do you answer to, unless...hehehehhehhehehee..Hahahahahahaaaa!!!

Don't tell me you're going solo around here, all vigilante style. You aren;t a lone vigilante, right? Because if that's the case, I have no time for heroes. It's Bloodbath City out in the streets and I sure as hell am not going to do business with a man who clearly has a death wish.""

[remetagross]

Sharkun tries to make out what the strange creatures are.
"People, there are four birdlike creatures that seem aggressive over there, can you see them? They are too far for us to attack them...we should not wait for them to rush us and move to the next flight of stairs. Let us remain close to each other."

Without losing sight of the creatures, Sharkun waits for the others to move to accompany them without separating.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Ready an action to take a move action to follow Travis and Raikou once they have both moved, placing himself between the mages and the birds.

[AlanBruce]

@Sharkun: Those are some nasty birds... or bird like creatures.

It is said that out in the jagged cliffs found in many stormy seas, half women half bird creatures exist known as Harpies. They are said to feast on man flesh, making them ver dangerous for sailors, since they can somehow lure their victims to jump of their ships and swim towards them to be devoured at their leisure.

That's bad. What has been done to these rapacious bird women is even worse.

They are no longer creatures of this world. These harpies have been exposed to mad experiments and have become pseudonatural mutants, making them even more dangerous.

As far as you can tell, a pseudonatural creature hails from that incomprehensible reality beyond all known afterlives called The Far Realms, where no man of sane mind would even consider going.

as such, they are not a part of this world and, if you have the right spell, you may even be able to send them back... assuming you can bypass their reasonably high resistance to magic.

If they have any other methods of attack at heir disposal, you may have to find out the hard way... unless you avoid them altogether, since, despite them flying, you have been able to react much faster than them.

The problem is getting in melee with them and cutting them down.

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Travis
Sharkun
Cutter siren x4
Rusty & Raikou

[Daishain]

"I am no hero, no vigilante. But I did not say I represented a faction in the Mercy."

Jannalor displays his holy symbol, "As to your need for a Cleric, I am one. I cannot and will not promise I can cure your men, I have not had the opportunity to treat someone in the early stages of the disease before. Further, any attempt will have to wait until tomorrow, for me to prepare the proper spells. But I am willing to try if that is your price."

[AlanBruce]

@Jannaolr: Wilian lot ks at your holy symbol and then at the hound next to him.

“You’re Jasidian... death keepers and what not. You do know there are no churches for your goddess here in this City, right? So let’s get a few things straight from what you told me:

You are affiliated to no one.

You cannot really offer any help to me and my business.

You have never dealt with an infected before to treat them.”

The gnome shrugs and places the stress balls on the table.

“So you basically came here to offer me NOTHING and ask...

What exactly did you want?”

[remetagross]

Upon sighting the creatures, pieces of knowledge come to Sharkun's mind.

"Hmm I think these creatures are some sort of distorted variants of harpies...I haven't faced any myself, but we have many stories about them in the Sea of Sands...the most threatening thing they can do, in case they are indeed such creatures, is a magical song that will draw us to them inexorably. In addition, I think they have some manner of spell resistance. Do you people have any means to cast a spell such as Resurgence, in order to allow one of us to fight off the effect of a magical song? At any rate, provided you can trick my wand into allowing it to work in the hands of a non-Paladin, I have a wand of Moment of Clarity on me, which does pretty much the same effect as Resurgence."

Taking one hand off the shaft of his guisarme, Sharkun indicates one of the wands at his belt, before solidly gripping his weapon two-handed again.

[AlanBruce]

Round 1

@Elizabeth: Whatever this thing is, it's too damn strong as you find yourself unable to even speak, since the damn thing has you gripped tightly by the throat.

It is then that the monster, extremely agile, sticks to the ceiling and squeezes your throat that much more, while using its other limb to claw at your ribs, a fatal strike from the shadows.

Spoiler: Suffer!

Show

16 damage plus 6 SA damage

Improved Grab DC 26 plus 9 constrict damage

Elizabeth watches you struggle as the creature grins and drips your blood on the floor, fighting against her chains and the monster looks at her, immediately casting some innate power as four copies of himself come into place, making it very difficult to pinpoint.

Spoiler: Quickness SLA

Show

Mirror Image

Map

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Experiment 003
Elizabeth
Celaena

[Daishain]

Jannalor states, "My specialty is ending undead, and those who make them, I have headed up efforts to bring down cabals that make the Crimson Heads look like children at play. The situation here is just unusual enough to force me to improvise, but the objective is still achievable. What I require is a good team, and information leading me to my target."

"You said it yourself, it is in your interest to see me succeed. Even if you cannot or will not aid me directly, it would be prudent to direct me to those who can and will."

"As to the matter of curing your men, I have been too busy destroying what they become after they die to mess with prevention. But it would cost you nothing for me to make the attempt, and I certainly do not see clerics lining up to help."

[dantiesilva]

Sister Elizbaeth falls unconscious before even being able to do anything, grabbed by the creature as it strangles the life out of her.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

As I am not conscious I am decently sure I can not use my free action to heal myself so -2hp

[kinem]

"If this delays them, let's try to dash our way to an exit of some sort in hopes of not having to resist so many songs. Sharky, protect Raikou from evil if you can" Travis suggests as he casts a spell hoping to stall some of the monsters.

ooc: Stinking cloud centered where the 3 more distant ones are; looks like it should be able to catch all 3. Fort neg DC 20.

He then moves 20' north-ish (or 30' if Raikou can keep up) and attempts to use his fingers to block his ears.

[AlanBruce]

@Travis: Time to brave a prison made for monsters... by becoming one.

It's a nauseating green cloud that envelops three of the winged fiends as you rush down the steps and move past an old rusted cell. Too fast to notice what's inside, but this place hasn't been cleaned in years.

@The Party: A grotesque laughter can be heard from the cloud as all three creatures fly out of it and one circles a little close to the group, but never that close- they have flight and will make sure to use it to their maximum advantage.

And then it begins ruffling its dark feathers as it begins chanting with a deep guttural sound, as it flaps its wings around in some rhythmic pattern, catching everyone in a mind numbing music that pierces your very brain, telling your body to act slow and stupidly.

Spoiler: Song of Incompetence

Show

Cutter's Sirens can use their music or poetics to cause its enemies to fail at any task.

All enemies gain a -3 penalty on all skill checks as long as he or she continues to hear the harpy’s music. The effect lasts as long as the harpy concentrates, up to a maximum of 2 minutes. A harpy can’t inspire competence in herself. Inspire incompetence is a mind-affecting ability.

All of the Harpy's songs ignores immunity to mind-affecting, but opponents which would normally be immune gain a +5 bonus on their saves against this ability. Otherwise, no save.

Another of these feathered ruffians soars above the pit and uses her bow as a mock harp, strumming it as she sneers at all of you, salivating between very human teeth.

The music produced from this one is different. It is causing your entire body to feel utterly sluggish. As if it weighed a ton!

Spoiler: Dirge of Damnation

Show

Cutter's Sirens use song or poetics to bring forth a feeling of hopelessness and failure on their opponents or those they have been tasked to guard in these cells.

All those that can hear the harpy receive a -3 penalty on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a -3 morale penalty on attack and weapon damage rolls. No save

@Sharkun: What the hell are these birds doing? Whatever it is, it's affecting your body and mind as another one of these creatures aims its bow at you and lets loose three arrows, striking you unerringly.

Spoiler: Arrow Volley

Show

1st Arrow: 5 damage

2nd Arrow: 9 damage

3rd Arrow: 8 damage

*Arrows strike as magic. Apply DR, if any.

@The Party: The last of grotesque quartet hovers further away from where Travis has headed and spreads her black wings as feeble arms begin motioning towards her in a pseudo seductive manner as the monster begins to emit some sort of whistling sound from membranes around its mouth.

Hell, not even using your fingers in your ears helps, as this horrible tune seeps directly into your mind!!!!

Spoiler: Cruel Captivation

Show

The most insidious ability of Cutter's sirens is this song. When it sings, all creatures within a 1050 ft. spread must succeed on a Will save or become captivated.

A creature that successfully saves cannot be affected again by the same Siren's song for 24 hours.

A captivated victim walks toward the monster, taking the most direct route available. If the path leads into a dangerous area (through flame, off a cliff, or the like), that creature gets a second saving throw.

Captivated creatures can take no actions other than to defend themselves. (Thus, a fighter cannot run away or attack but takes no defensive penalties.)

A victim within 5 feet of the Siren stands there and offers no resistance to the creature's attacks. The effect continues for as long as the siren sings and for 1 round thereafter.

A bard’s countersong ability allows the captivated creature to attempt a new Will save.

Apply penalties from Dirge of Damnation to the roll.

Both Rusty and Raikou smile like fools and trip over each other as they run as fast as possible towards the beautiful female, luring them in to a much deserved reward.

Map

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Travis
Cutter Siren x4
Rusty & Raikou
Sharkun

[Chimaera]

Rusty and Raikou lsiten to the cacophonic mess that the sirens start to sing and feel their heads starting to hurt when an angelical voice break that horrendous song and call for them.

"Come, my lovers", the radiant creature wave to then, "Come fast. Run to my arms!"

And ust like that Hannibal forget about Sasha and all other gitrls he loved or cared, his eye for the angel before him only. Both ignore any warning or red flags and run towards the northern most siren, intent on embracing their beloved one.

Spoiler: Action

Show

Dashing 40ft closer to the harpy at north.

[AlanBruce]

@Jannalor: Wilian Shortankard listens to your words and puts his hands together close to his mouth, all the while nodding to every word you say and then leaning over his enormous mahogany desk and mock pretending to write something down with a non existent open.

"Uh huh... so you need a team? Half orc enforcers perhaps? How many? Ten...no. Let's make it twenty. And you will need archers, of course. Perhaps a squad of twelve? They are pretty nimble. Oh! You need magic too, right? How many wizards do you want?""


The gnome sits back and shakes his head at you.

"So you come to my place of business. Boast of being some "Uber Undead Hunter", the likes none here have ever seen and want a team. Wake up and smell the sewer, kid:

You think my men can't kill the Zeds? Putting them down isn't the problem. The problem is that the dead are getting back up. Now you may be a Jasidian, what with your holy symbol and all, but that means exactly squat to me."

The gnome opens a drawer and takes out several holy symbols, of different faith sin the City.

"Hey look! I'm a Kordite...I'm super duper strong!""

"Look! I'm an Ehlonnian! I ride unicorns and fart rainbows!""

"Oh wait... now I'm a Cuthbertine! You are all under arrest because I am such a big arrogant a**hole!""

Wilian shoves the holy symbols in the drawer and closes it, while his canine friend looks at you and scratches himself from some nasty fleas.

"You have come here offering me exactly zero. You have wasted my time and that of my staff. On that note alone, I ought to have you disappear or sent to the Freeze Locker.

However, since you are so committed to ending the Crimson head problem, go check the Bitter Coffee. I heard they have some faction: The Syndicate of Swords. I am sure someone there will be able to point you in the right direction. as for me? So, since there is nothing else to discuss, I shall start by giving you a hint or clue, if you will as to where your next destination ought to be.""

Shortankard points behind you at the entrance.

"I can give you...*drum roll, please*...

The Door. Get out.""

[Daishain]

"The Bitter Coffee, the tavern? Never mind, I shall make inquiries. Good bye Wilian, I doubt we shall meet again."

Jannalor simply stands and exits. No point in wasting additional time here. He leaves the premises and makes for the Bitter Coffee. He'd never set foot in there before, no point, but it was difficult to spend time here without learning of the place.

[AlanBruce]

@Jannalor: Wilian takes out his stress balls as the hound next to him stops scratching and growls lowly as you get up.

"Unless Nana decided to open a franchise, yes. That's the one. Be safe out there- don't be a Dead Man Walking.

And come back when you have a real business proposal... damn amateurs.""

Little bastard. He and his cronies believe they are safe in this factory,. But truth is, you could blow up the entire place if you wanted. Burn that gnome down to a crisp and that flea ridden dog of his.

And if that doesn't work, those Crimson Heads will eventually overwhelm this place, trapping the guy in his office and no amount of stress balls will save his pathetic self. This plague is tricky. Not many people know about it and assume it's a mere fever or a scratch. Who talks about scratches anyways?

With the current climate of fear spreading through The Mercy, citizen's arrests are a thing. As are executions. The populace at large isn't informed of how this works and have become paranoid and retracted. It is said that a whole bunch of people were burned alive just for leaving The Mercy, a presumed infection seeping through the Wall.

So needless to say, walking around saying "I feel a bit under the weather this morning" is enough to warrant a swift death by panicked Mercyfolk.

As for the Bitter Coffee... that is one of the few places that survived the Great Fire fifteen or so years ago. The Mercy will never be the same after such a catastrophe. A tragically large number of people perished in a single night and the same can be said of many thriving businesses as you walk through the old cracked streets and look up at the old beaten down billboards, sprayed with lewd graffiti.

Once signs for prosperous houses of Commerce, this place has become one big hideout for all manner of undesirables, but this is where Wee Jas needs you now the most. Worse than a crew of undesirable people?

A pack of Ravenous undesirable undead running around, eating the unwary at night.

Nana Rose own and runs the Bitter Coffee. although you have never set foot in that place, it is not unknown for many to convene in that tavern and drink their sorrows and money away. In fact, those that have jobs in the City- honest jobs- come back here, since rent is dirt cheap, if not altogether free. And it's at the Bitter Coffee were many sit down for a pint or two or ten to forget the problems they are faced with on both sides of the Wall.

That isn't to say that the Bitter Coffee has not been subject to attempted extortion before. Greedy warlords have tried to take their cut from Nana before. Most notably one bad mother by the name of Sarjon.

That did not end well for him and his crew. Nana may not be a fighter, but she has gathered around her people who can. And a fool you'd have to be to go stirring up trouble at her pub, now considered a safe haven of sorts.

But the road there is a long one. Time is on your side and Nana's place is not going anywhere, as the first strs begin to flicker on the sky and the sun bathes all with a strong orange color before receding in the horizon.

It is at night when people here ought to be most careful. The muggings are bad already, but it is under the cover of night when those things are said to leave whatever bunker or abandoned building and hunt for prey to either devour or swell their ranks. People here have weapons... self made. A broom stick sharpened to fashion a spear is not truly a weapon. They break easily and those things are fast and have tough hides, despite being undead.

You can already see the flaming barrels cast shadows through the old alleys. Hobos hunker around these for warmth, drinking and cooking whatever they are fortunate to find, which usually involves anything that scurries on four legs.

The hobos pay no attention to you... as long as you don't try to take over their hard earned meals and drink, that is, But that's not a reason to give you concern:

Someone has been trailing you since you left Wilian's factory. Not sure at first, but a shadow through the rooftops...

Did that gnome send one of his snipers to take you out? Not an idea that can be scratched off, given his nature.

Spoiler: The Checks

Show

Spot & Listen

[AlanBruce]

@Sharkun: Damn mutant birds and their horrible songs!

If these are indeed like the ones you have heard in tales back home, someone made them far uglier and deadlier, as Rusty looks entirely lovestruck, moving as fast as his adamantine boots can take him towards the the source of his Eternal love:

A hideous black feathered horror that ought to never reproduce.

Raikou and Travis have fallen under this song as well. So much for mighty casters. Rusty is a warrior. Their minds aren't that well honed, but these two? They should know better, as you run towards both and try tugging at their arms and long sorcerous sleeves, but to no avail.

That monster is calling them in and who knows how you can stop them. Not when there are three more making sure the one singing can bring them all to her.


Round 2


@Travis: Is it possible? yes... it has to be:

Hannah! Your dear friend, devoted to helping The Mercy. She survived and has now come to soothe you of all the pain your body has suffered, as the young noble teacher extends her arms to you and smiles warmly.

Come, Travis. Let us leave this place. We shall build the school again and everyone will grow up to be a good outstanding citizen in the City. We will do it, my friend... together.


And so, you walk with a wide grin on your face. Bigger than in the last few weeks since you joined Seti and many others. No more pain. No more struggle...

This is where you belong. You always knew deep in your heart she was alive and this confirms it!


@Sharkun: That one damn Siren watches the others walk like love struck fools, but takes notice that you haven;t fallen to her sister's lure and so, unleashes yet another salvo of arrows on your back. If you won't fall to their tricks, the arrows ought to do it.

Spoiler: Arrow Volley

Show

1st Arrow: 9 damage

2nd Arrow: 8 damage

3rd Arrow: 4 damage

The other three monsters keep playing their music, be it to lure your companions closer to one, or to make sure they are so weak physically and mentally that, should they somehow escape their bewitching song, they can still be of little help against their aerial superiority.







Map

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Travis
Cutter Siren x4
Rusty & Raikou
Sharkun

[remetagross]

"A thousand curses! I'm the only one who remained clear-headed! And as a result they're firing at me of course..."
Sharkun turns around, trying to better face the creature peppering at him to avoid her next assault. He is relieved his crystal prevents some of the damage, and at the same time, he feels a divine fury filling his spirit.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Steely Resolve pool is filled, granting him +2 to attack and damage rolls.
Random granted maneuvers: 3 out of 5 from [White Raven Tactics (1), Charging Minotaur (2), Revitalizing Strike (3), Moutain Hammer (4), Tactical Strike (5).]. Rolling a number of d5; the first three different numbers that come out indicate which maneuvers are granted. (1d5)[2], (1d5)[2], (1d5)[3], (1d5)[3], (1d5)[3], (1d5)[5]

[Chimaera]

As Hannibal walks toward the beautiful creature before him, he listen to something: Alexia's laughter. She sure must be having fun watching a few of her minions bewitch and lure them to their deaths.

Also, he could almost hear a girl crying for his death. No! Can't have it.
And so, gathering all will power and deteermination, he break the creature's charm on him with a feral shout.

Spoiler: Iron Heart Surge

Show

Removing the effect of the beguiling song.

"Not quite my type", he says and spit in the ground looking defiantly to the harpy.

Raikou however, keep walking and... "Does the halfling have a boner? "
The stormcaster keep rushing toward the harpy just to get a mailed slap to the face, "Shake it off, Stormy! You're handsome and deserve something better than that freak", he says before adding, "Damn, you aint even drunk!"

Spoiler: AoO

Show

As Raikou keep dashing forward, Rusty will AoO the halfling hoping this might awake him or something.

(1d20+14)[17] dmg (1d3+6)[7]

EDIT: add +2 to the attack since IHS give me a small bonus for one round after.

However, the halfling is too well protected and agile, as he dodge the olidammaran's attack and keep running for his love.
"Oh, Lady Choralis! Finally!"

[remetagross]

Sharkun is relieved to see Hannibal snapping out of the song, but on the other hand, Raikou and Travis are going straight ahead towards an unknown end. Time to take care of the most urgent problem. The dwarf starts a clanging sprint to catch up with the small lizard troglodyte wizard, and prepares to sweep at his legs as soon as he makes a step forward.

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Full-round action: run straight up North. With heavy armor, Sharkun's run speed is x3 his normal land speed, so 60ft. Travis is now within his threatened area.
As soon as he moves, he will provoke an AoO (even a 5ft step, due to Thicket of Blades). Sharkun will use it to try and trip Travis. In order to gain an attack bonus on the roll, Sharkun will...identify Travis, as per Knowledge Devotion! What kind of creature he might be? We will soon discover :D that should be a trained Knowledge (local) roll. No Collector of Stories since skill tricks work 1/encounter. (1d20+4)[9]
Ok so that 9 means +1 to attack and damage rolls against Travis. Now, let us roll the attack of opportunity. Sharkun will use it to trip Travis with his guisarme. This will be a touch attack. In case it misses, Sharkun uses his Gloves of Fortunate Striking to reroll it. [roll]1d20+18[/roll] and potential reroll [roll]1d20+18[/roll]. Too bad Dragonskin does not give the [dragon] subtype or else I would have gotten another +1 for the racial hate desert dwarves have towards dragons :p
And now, provided one of the two attack rolls hit, the trip check. Travis, being Small because of Reduce Person, will have a -4 to his opposed check. Sharkun's check: [roll]1d20+4[/roll]

[AlanBruce]

@Rusty: As you walk like a fool towards your angelic savior, your mind tells you something is wrong.

That laughter... Alexia!

She is the one bewitching all of you through her minions. Can't have that, as your Olidammaran soul fights off the effect and you spit on the ground with disgust and look at the monstrous feathered fiends luring all of you to certain doom.

You may not be a caster, but a solid punch to Raikou and Travis' face ought to wake them up... if only to give all of you time enough to blast these things out of the sky.

Sadly, the little Stormcasters sports something more than an apparent sexual arousal beneath his robes... he has a bunch of spells on him, making your mailed punch obsolete as he continues walking like a fool towards the Siren.


@Sharkun & Rusty: It's Alexia's laughter that can be heard, but not to Travis and Raikou as the Crusader dwarf runs towards both casters, attempting to trip or somehow stop them...

And then something leaps from one of the cells, catching Sharkun dead in its tracks and interposing between him and his allies:

What the hell is this ugly son of a bitch?! It's fast and was clearly aware of your presence as it claws at you twice and attemp[t to hold you down in place.

Spoiler: Knowledge is Pain

Show

Knowledge Dungeoneering (Trained) to ID it

Sharkun takes:

1st Claw 12 damage

2nd Claw 15 damage plus improved Grab DC 10

@Rusty: It would seem Alexia is not going to make this easy for you, as both Travis and Raikou keep moving towards that feathered fiend and Sharkun is attacked by a new ugly down here, but he isn't the only one.

Two more crawl from the ledge not too far from you and move on all fours, stopping twenty feet away as they lash out, much like the Gammas in the Solarium.

Unlike the frogs, these tongues aren't made to snatch you, just kill. As one of them pierces your armor and drives through your shoulder, tearing armor, flesh and bone,

Spoiler: Tongue Lash Crit!

Show

9 damage

Round 3

Travis keeps moving forward, convinced that whatever happiness he has long sought has finally presented itself to him in this stank prison, getting dangerously close to the Siren.

Raikou is already well on his way too, as the Siren that focused on Sharkun..focuses on him again and fires on him again.

Spoiler: Arrow Volley

Show

1st Arrow: 9 damage


2nd Arrow: 8 damage


3rd Arrow: 8 damage

@Travis: At last... Hannah!

Your beautiful friend embraces you and golden wings surround you with a heavenly glow as she keeps singing with such melodious voice and carries you upwards:

My dearest friend,
You who traveled through Peril and Flame

Who has traversed the Devil's Hall

Fear not, Travis Wood...

For this is just another Fall!!!!

And so, Hannah lets go of you and everyone in the group not entranced watches Travis be dropped into the pit below by the Siren as the mage plummets to his apparent death!

Map

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Cutter Siren x4
Rusty & Raikou
Sharkun
Licker x3

@Travis: What beautiful sensation, as Hannah dances with you through the heavens and her sweet aroma invades your senses, as a fluffy sea of pillows awaits your majestic descent...

And then you crash.

Spoiler: Crash Landing

Show

22 falling damage

What in blazes happened? Those monsters... their song. Damn it! You were played like a fool! Who knows how much deeper you are in Specimen Storage, but you can't hear their music... or any of your companions for that matter.

This seems to be some sort of walkway you have fallen on. One with a charred dog carcass and a trail of fresh blood.

A fight took place here... and recently too.

Map






@Jannalor: The skies are already dark and nearly starless as you make your way to the Bitter Coffee when something strikes you... right on the mask.

A dart? It didn't even hurt. Any other person would've been hurt, but not you. Wait... this dart conveys a small rolled up note.

Spoiler: Message

Show

Jannalor of the Pale Hand,

We are aware of who you are and what you want to do. The Bitter Coffee will not shed any answers, but we can.

If interested, take a few steps forward and turn right at the next alley. Raise your right hand and make a peace sign so we know you are in accordance.

[Daishain]

Jannalor sighs, this was hardly becoming. He longed to return to real civilization, where he was treated with the respect he deserved. Somewhere he could openly wear the crimson robes of his office, and be recognized for his accomplishments.

Instead he's scurrying about in rags and dealing with people flicking darts into his face. The indignity of it all would be unbearable were he not here on matters of the utmost import.

Chances are relatively high this is some manner of trap of course. But even a trap may yield the information he seeks. And so the dead man turns into the alley, raising his hand in a gesture of peace to indicate his understanding.

[Chimaera]

Hannibal watch as Travis falls to some dark fate and works to keep his sotny face, least he laugh. Trying to avoid the same fate for Raikou, he move closer to the monster attacking Sharkun and hit him with his hammer.

"You go and stop that little perv, leave this guy for me, before he take flight lessons!".

Spoiler: Tactical Strike

Show

Moving 15ft up and making a tactical strike at the licker.
If the attack hit Sharkun can make a free 5ft step without provoking AoO.

(1d20+15)[35] dmg (1d12+12)[16] plus (2d6)[10]
(The 2d6 is from the maneuver)

[remetagross]

As soon as Sharkun has started to move, another monster jumps right on him and lashes out, wounding him. The dwarf manages to wrestle free of its grasp, but that, added with the arrows that haven't stopped in the meantime, starts to add up, and he is now bleeding from a multitude of small cuts. "Damn it more? And what are those new monsters?"
From the corner of the eye, he sees with a grim disappointment Travis falling to unknown depths. I have to prevent Raikou from falling too!

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Knowledge (Dungeoneering): (1d20+6)[11]

[remetagross]

Upon seeing Rusty moving up to him and utterly demolishing the monster, Sharkun grins widely at Rusty.
"No joking, you just got serious, didn't you! Now, don't rest, keep up the pressure! I take care of Raikou!"

He moves up to the halfling and, putting a hand on his shoulder, releases a Protection from Evil. "O Raikou, let your clouded mind be washed free of the ensnaring song of these monsters. We need you down here."

Spoiler: OOC

Show

Swift action: initiating White Raven Tactics on Rusty. His new initiative count is one below that of Sharkun, thus granting him a new turn right now.
Move action: go 20ft up North.
Standard action: cast Protection from Evil on Raikou. I hope this will allow him to be freed from the song. Regardless of if it does, he gains a +2 deflection bonus to AC and a +2 resistance bonus vs evil attacks for 9 minutes.

[AlanBruce]

@Rusty: And so, Travis is dropped.

Hopefully the guy cast some sort of flight spell or else, none of those protections on him may save him from whatever awaits below. But no time, as three new monsters enter the fray and you watch Sharkun get peppered by yet more arrows and claws from these hideous new creatures.

With Raikou still walking like a midget tripod towards the Siren, you bite through the pain inflicted by the monsters that just crawled from the ledge and grip your Hammer as you rush towards Sharkun's aid.

It's a house of monsters... but this time, you aren't going down. Time to kill ever last mother in this place!!!

The red creature is punched by Sharkun's elbow and is momentarily dazed. The dwarf paladin may not know what these creatures are. What they are immune to.

But as your Hammer casts a shadow over the monster and its brains splatter several feet away and its tongue is bit by its own jaws and flops around on its own volition, leaving a red stain with a million shards of bone on the ground, you get it:

They are allergic to Hammers.

The Sirens keep playing their music and the two remaining Lickers are yet to be disposed of. Without Travis to assist and Raikou still under their alluring song of death, you and Sharkun are the only ones that can clean up this whole damn place.

Alexia better be watching... she's next!

Map

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Cutter Siren x4
Rusty & Raikou
Sharkun
Licker x2

[AlanBruce]

@Sharkun: You were told that this place was dangerous, but they never really went into detail.

And yet, no matter how hurt you are by claws and arrows, you can still help the little halfling, that he may not share Travis'fate and still covered in Licker blood and brains, order Rusty to move forward, to be all he can be!

And all the while, you move up to the halfling and place your hand on his shoulder, asking Wee Jas to grant him if not complete immunity, at least a brief mental respite from that monster's song.

This should be enough to keep the little guy from walking like a fool.


@Raikou: Choralis' beautiful visage, as she extends her arms on the green plateau of the Ossian Way are suddenly shaken away as you watch that disgusting feathery freak, small wrinkly arms stretched in a mockery of an embrace as it sings to you, but that music is grating to your ears.

And where the hell is Travis? This isn't the Ossian Way... it's Alexia's domain, and you are surrounded by more monsters...great.

Map

Spoiler: Initiative

Show

Cutter Siren x4
Raikou
Sharkun
Rusty
Licker x2

[Chimaera]

Hannibal frown a little. He's the one giving orders usually, not the other way around... exceot for Ross and even so they developed some kind of horizontal hierarchy based on responsabilities, trust and respect. Something some would make good use to learn.

"Got ya", he says to Sharkun and charge to the ones grounded. He sure cant reach the fying harpies, but Alexia just gave him some distraction to play whack-a-mole with.

Spoiler: Charge Hammer

Show

PA of 4 against one of the lickers.

(1d20+13)[16] dmg (1d12+20)[29]