Life in Carp on the Wall passes slowly and quickly at the same time: a day can seem like weeks, and a week can seem like a few hours. With everybody keping busy with personal project, research, assisting the villagers, or simply enjoying a little well-deserved rest, time just goes by without anybody ven noticing.

By th eend o the week, Zhorr seems to become a little preoccupied. Apparently, just before the party arrived, he had sent somebody to check on a small disturbance in the nearby forest. This person has not been heard from since, and Zhorr is starting to wonder if he sent the poor guy to his death... Or if he stole the item he had loaned him to make his job easier.

On the evening of the eighth day, while the party is having dinner at Zhorr's manor in what is starting to become a tradition, the bells ring. A few seconds later, a rather shaken Uldus announces that Zhorr should come check on something... And fast.

Zhorr invites the party to accompany him, and standin in the middle of the hall they find Levithian, apparently quite exhausted, accompanied by three-vount-them-three of ugly chihuahuas standing on their hind legs... Which Lia promptly identifies as gremlins.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:16, Sun 07 May 2017.

Once Zhorr was present Lev sighed the biggest sigh of relief ever. Lev was still all scales and useless wings as he curled up in the corner. He was like a sky blue dragon, if you smushed three of them into one dragon that is... Three sets of barely functioning wings covered most of him up like a comfortable blanket. A reflective but otherwise featureless eye cracked open in a most sleepy effort. "You wanted one, there was four. Arbr is their leader and rather skilled. We kinda saved each other."

"I wrote everything down for you... The undead had been a nearly fatal mistake on my part. I also brought back your treasure intact."

He made a sleepy scratch scratch gesture at the others that was meant to be a wave. "Good morning... Or is it evening?" He still wasn't going to go into humanoid form around the fuzzy harbingers of misfortune.

Tessa, staying several steps away from the gremlins, added: "I thought he should see you immediately."

"And I didn't want those things in my inn" went unspoken, but was certainly understood.

It took Zhorr a moment before his mouth started working again: "I see... Thank you Tessa, Uldus, we'll take it from here. Levithian, if you would be amenable, for the time being I would have a room prepared for the four of you, and debrief you all in the morning."

Lia cleared her throat: "Dee? Did I just hear you invite three gremlins to take residence under our roof?"

Before Zhorr could answer, Arbr looked at Levithian and said: Exclamation bark. Expletive expletive, question bark.

Polite insult, implication of unnatural relationships with six-legged animals, question mark. Replied Zhorr with mild perplexity.

Suggestion of impure genealogy, a pox on the children's children until the seventh generation, invitation to perform anatomically unlikely acts on one's self. Added Lia.

At least, that's what the conversation sounded like to those who did not speak undercommon.

As it turned out, Arbr was asking about Levithian's promise, and Zhorr and Lia were offering reassurances. Undercommon really is a rather ugly language.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:47, Sun 07 May 2017.

Lev nodded, "I would be happy to sleep anywhere you want me to. Just so long as I can curl up and take a nap."

He gestured to the furry gremlins. "They didn't abandon me when the ghouls nearly got me. I'd be happy to stay with them, but at this point I cant promise I'll Gremlin sit them or anything. Too many things for them to be occupied by, and I am dead on my talons."

Leonia watches with interest. "Looks like another language that would be useful to learn. I assume you can teach when when we have the time, Zhorr?"

Zhorr nodded: "Of course. Undercommon really is rather useful... It's the lingua franca of many underground creatures, much like commom for surface dwellers." That said, he delivered a polite statement in undercommon to the gremlins.

It sounded like the kindest thing in the entire conversation so far... And, judging from the way the small ones whimpered, it probably wasn't.

Arbr, however, simply nodded. With a smile, Zhorr enchanted a copper piece with a light spell, and gave it to an Unseen Servant, instructing it to lead Lev and the gremlins to their room, and turned on the warm water in the tub.

A few minutes later, another Unseen Servant delivered a small kitchen cart with a nutritious dinner.

And then, at long last, Levithian could finally get some proper sleep.

---

Next post will brief you all on the next adventure. If you have something to ad, please go ahead and do so.

The night was surprisingly quiet, considering there were three gremlins in the house. Apparently Zhorr had impressed upon them the importance of good behavior.

Lev's debriefing took about an hour. Debriefing the Gremlins took the rest of the morning, and then some. Zhorr came back with Arbr in tow and a pensive look.

"I learned a number of interesting things from our new friends. I think I know where the mites came from now... But this is a conversation for another time."

He looked at Arbr, then back at the party and continued: "I have been talking to Arbr about the importance of integrity: I think we can work out something that will allow the gremlins to become productive members of our community."


The gremlin nodded and barked something that may have been an assent.
"However, I still don't have any test subjects for my research, and I specifically need some fey for their abilities."

With a gesture, he conjured an image of a map of the area: "There is a swamp a few days to the north, and bog nixies are reported to live there. Ideally I would like one of them alive, but I am probably going to need a few nixie hearts as well. I am not too keen about this, however: bog nixies can be rather vicious. After what happened with Levithian here, I am worried I might be sending people to their deaths."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:56, Thu 11 May 2017.

Indicating the stitched flesh on Levittown (as shown in the icon), Ask asks "isn't he already dead? Best-mannered zombie I've ever met, admittedly..."

Lev did indeed come down in his humanoid form. Now that he had slept he was in a far better mood than when he first showed up. He smiled at Zhorr, "Sorry, I always want to bring back friends rather than captives. Still, I am really happy you talked them into helping with the community."

He tilted his head side to side trying to think on any way to help with the trapping. "Could make a big water bell trap. Put their favorite food inside the bell that sits on the top of the water. There are little tubes running inside that they can fit through but a few brush bristles that make it so they cant go back out that way. A few live Nixies should give you the best resource for your time."

"I promise not to try to recruit them this time... And it was my fault we had a near miss, a dragon is normally immune to that kind of thing..."

Lev looked surprised at Leonia's comment. "I am a dragon thank you very much. Well... I am the result of the true leviathian's effort to make an avatar of its own flesh so it could try to get free, a failure clearly. Which is why I came in as my dragon self when I first saw you all. I look dead because I was made, not born."

Dakash was vindicated when he heard the man say 'he knew where the mites came from'. The warrior-priest had been certain they were not native to the area, and probably were not the wandering, nomadic type. He looked forward to hearing the answer to his unasked question.

Zhor seemed unconvinced: "Bog nixies are smart, cunning, and resistant to magic. They can also grant small wishes, and many people lost their lives trying to get their wish granted by a bog nixie. Which is why I want a few nixie hearts for spell research: reverse-engineering their ability would make for a very powerful spell."

Please post your shared consumables list for reference. You get a nice round 1000 gp to spend on common items (with the usual discount where applicable), and potions of lesser restoration and wands of cure light wounds tend to be useful under a number of circumstances. A wand of infernal healing is also an option. It heals more than cure light wounds, and it can be used by multiple arcanes (wizards, sorcerers, and summoners) without UMD, but, since the spell has the [evil] descriptor casting it (even with a wand) is a minor evil act. It's not the kind of thing that will shift your alignment any time soon, but make sure there are no paladins nearby or they might take offense. The only arcane in the party that can use the wand of CLW without UMD is Akane; conversely, she can't use infernal healing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Sun 14 May 2017.

Leonia looks equally surprised at Lev's comment. "Your...dragon form?" She turns to Zhorr and shields her mouth so Lev cannot see her lips move. She mouths the words 'Is he crazy or something?' All SHE had seen of Lev was a zombie body. Perhaps his brain was rotted as well.....

Zhor shrugged: "Levithian has some unusual abilities. Most things about Levithian are rather unusual, really. He's more akin to Aasimars or Tieflings than humans or dwarves." His chuckled: "Which seems rather common, these days. Back when I was a young adventurer, most of us where plain boring humans."

"Back in your day adventurers seeded the future of half breeds boss." Lev smiled ear to ear. He inclined his head in respect for Zhorr. The man was a prime example that power had no roots, any could be powerful.

Zhorr chuckled: "Some more literally than others. But I digress..."

"A lot." Promptly agreed Lia. "I have to go visit the farms, so I'll make this short: if you need any potions, let me know. If you need equipment, talk to Mandy. That is, Mandala, the shopkeeper. Weapons, talk to Elda. There may be unusual dangers on the way, so Akane will accompany you and keep an eye out for traps and things. She isn't a fighter, however, so keep that in mind. You leave in two days, so make sure to have everything you need before then."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:25, Mon 29 May 2017.

OOC: Add your consumables to the appropriate thread now, or forever keep your peace.

When Levithian had put forward his request for a very special wagon, Zhorr had scratched his head and promised he'd look into it. For the time being, however, they would have to make do with large backpacks and a nice ass. Noticing the confused looks, Zhorr had amended that particular expression to "a donkey of good breed".

After packing all of their equipment, old and new, in the brand new set or masterwork backpacks gifted by Zhorr and Lia, and loading anything they couldn't or wouldn't carry on the aforementioned quadruped, the party set out northbound, past the bridge and the border of Cheliash.

Akane had apparently chosen to wear a black leather catsuit. She said it went well with her whip, thematically. Her backpack had been specially crafted to fit with the rest of her ensemble.

Most everybody was convinced it was actually some kind of magic armor, and her smirk when the possibility had been raised had only made the suspicion stronger.

The trip would be relatively short, only a couple of days given good weather, but Zhorr had pointed out that hobgoblin raiding parties had been sighted in the area, and suggested the party pay special attention.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:35, Mon 12 June 2017.

Dakash was secretly very glad to be moving again. There was still a large portion of the world he hadn't seen in this lifetime, and he aimed to travel through much of it before his time in this mortal shell was complete.

Their patron's comment of the group's use of nice asses, combined with the cat suit donned by Akane, gave the warrior-priest pause, until Zhorr had explained himself. Fortunately, Dakash hadn't done or said anything monumentally stupid in the interim, so he was able to keep his thoughts to himself.

"Hobgoblins? Seems like the lord of the land might be better suited to hiring them as mercenaries, for the dual purpose of getting them to stop raiding, and sending them against tough opponents to whittle down their numbers. Isn't that what Asmodeus is all about: weakening potential enemies and threats?"

All too familiar with hobgoblin tactics and military acumen, Leonia sends Midnight aloft to scout from the air as they travel. She chats with Akane about the places each has visited in the past.


Leonia Perception +11
Midnight Perception +10
This message was last edited by the player at 15:24, Thu 01 June 2017.

Akane spends most of the day experimenting with her prestidigitation, trying to give some flavor (any flavor) to her wandermeal rations.

Munching on her latest batch, she replies: "Asmodean doesn't really 'hire' anybody: His contracts tend to go the other way around, and the services of His host are generally overpriced, if you get my drift. There are hobgoblin mercenaries in the service of some Chelian nobles, but they tend to be an experienced bunch. Guess how they gained that experience?"

She winks at Dakash: "No prize for guessing right. Not this time, at least."

From her conversation with Leonia, it transpires that Akane, like Lia, comes from a country far to the east, whose name is apparently somewhat impractical to pronounce.

As it turns out, she's not Lia's sister, even though she looks very much like a younger version of Zhorr's companion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:00, Thu 01 June 2017.

Lev tilts his head side to side, "Considering just how much I have seen in the way of divine efforts, just how active are the gods here?" He had heard of god like beings and servants of the gods running around, but with as thick as the religion in this place it seemed as if the gods showed up for afternoon tea. "Dinner with a draconic god would be nice but it seems as if the gods are directly pushing their agenda in the material more than the outter places. That or someone is running with that agenda."

Akane shrugs: "This is devil country. Asmodean himself does very little in terms of direct intervention. Why would he? All the nobility has sworn allegiance to Him, the entire country is quite literally going to Hell in a handbasket, minus a handbasket."

Without missing a step, she waves her hand over another bit of wandermeal, trying yet another flavor: "And this is before His minions even start collecting souls of their own: one minor devil corrupts one minor person, that person corrupts ten other people in the hopes of saving his soul, and in the process damns it even more. Now you have eleven corrupted people, and all it took was one minor devil offering one minor service."


She takes a bite, makes a face, and gives it yet another try: "And it's not like the gods can do much about it: the laws of the land are very strict, and not too tolerant of those who do not swear allegiance to Asmodean. Pretty much the only ones who have any hopes of countering Him and His host are the Paladins of Iomedea... And only because Asmodean specifically made an exception for her."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:07, Fri 02 June 2017.

Dakash crooks an eyebrow. "How can the gods be kept powerless in this? The laws of the land were made for mortals, weren't they? How can they bind the gods themselves? They didn't agree to any of this."

Akane similarly raises an eyebrow at Dakash: "And you think the people did? The laws of the land are imposed by those who have the power to do so, and those who have no power must either accept them, or flee... Or fight, and lose."

Another wave of her hand, another bite, another sad face, and then she continues: "What would you have the gods do? Declare war on Cheliash and its people? The good gods won't do it because it would mean the death of many innocents, the lawful gods won't do it because it paves the way to chaos, the neutral gods don't especially care one way or the other, that essentially leaves... Daemons and demons. I'll pass, thank you very much."
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:24, Sat 03 June 2017.

Lev looked confused, "Why would anyone sell themselves? You don't have a soul, you are a soul and you have a body. The idea of selling your eternity for something material is not a good trade unless you are getting something like immortality." He scratched his head, "I mean, speaking as someone who knows first hand you can survive with a sliver of soul but really? People have whole souls... a whole soul to themselves! How amazing would it be to set aside a little fund so you can be revived if you get stabbed to death."

"Life is too short, and your forever afterlife comes too soon to sell your soul."

Akane sighs: "Immortality is one of the standard offers, yes. Healing is also rather popular, either for the requeste or a loved one. And very often it's not an outright 'your soul for your baby's life' deal, either."

With a word of power, Akane summons the faint sound of a crying baby. She cups her hands, and clouds of colored smoke appear, creating a small scene that somewhat resembles a mother holding a small child. "Baby's sick, daddy's dead, mommy goes to the temple to pray. This is devil country, so there is really only one temple she can go to."

Another word of power, the sound changes to some kind of holy (or, most likely, unholy) hymn, the scene now features a praying cloudlet and a tall cloudlet with a strange hat. "Priestess takes notice, offers to help. Baby's saved, he goes on to become rich and powerful. And mommy goes on to sing all her praises to the Lord Asmodean."

Another word of power, and now the sound is a faint wailing, screaming, cursing, and so on. It's hard to tell exactly what the various cloudlets are doing... And that's probably a good thing. "Two centuries later, after a rich and full life, mommy is in Hell, and so is baby. And before each flaying, when the devils ask her if she still thinks she did the right thing, she always says yes."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:15, Sun 04 June 2017.

Dakash is clearly upset by this. His face turns a deeper shade of blue - almost purple. "But if the death of the father was directly caused by the interference or involvement of the evil deity or his minions, how is her request for aid voluntary? If they set her on the path to need help later...that is the lowest form of coercion. Did they expect her to travel to a nearby fief and pray to a different power?".

He smacks his fist into his other (open) hand.

"Regardless of law, that is the basest form of soul-slavery. I feel particularly incensed by this situation."

Akane shrugs noncommittally: "She could have gone to the temple of Iomedea... Not that anybody wants to be seen going to the temple of Iomedea. But she didn't get damned for accepting the help of Admodean: that is like using infernal healing - a minor evil act. It will barely make a stain on your soul, and an easy one to clean too. She was damned because she gave her mind and soul to Him after He healed her son. Freely and of her own volition, not as part of a bargain."

She pockets her wandermeal and intones: "The Lord's Truth is that all mortals belong in Hell. And if He can only convince you of it, you will. Welcome to devil country, where life suck, and then you die.. And death sucks even more."

Lev tilted his head side to side again. "So it is more of a consensus of reality ordeal. What idea you submit your will to is the idea that takes root in the material. THough I would call her a better person to most. Many have to be rewarded to follow a god, from an outside perspective it seems rare for even clerics to worship without the incentive of power."

"adventuring clerics seem to be the minor eception to the rule."

"How many people are willing to sacrifice for the will of a god? To love a divine being without condition. Though she suffers I would call her more holy than her god if what you say is true, as it seems he wants creation for himself."

"I cant help but wonder what he thinks of people like me. Unless I am killed by violence I will live. Most gods can die if you snuff them the right way but they are also immortal to time."

Leonia appears troubled. "You paint a bleak picture. If Asmodeus is the only source of healing magics allowed here, then he garners all the gratitude and prayer. But why do you say that no one wants to be seen at a temple to Iomedea? If Asmodeus allows her presence, then why would his worshippers feel less inclined to be so accepting?"

Glibly, the girl replies: "Oh, holy indeed... Though not quite as holy as her son, maybe. He made Grand Inquisitor at age thirty, youngest Grand Inquisitor in the history of Cheliash."

She seems to consider another smoke illusion, then gives up. "He led some of the bloodiest, most brutal repressions in the history of Cheliash, too. Archdevils got involved, archangels got involved... Legend has it, the Lord and the Lady had to personally work out an agreement on how to deal with the situation before it devolved into open war between their respective factions. That would be how mother and son both ended up in Hell, in case you're wondering."

Akane considers Levithian for a moment: "You are not technically a mortal, are you? As long as you don't mess with the divine order, the Lord has no strong feelings about you, one way or the other. Bring chaos to His land, however, and He will smite you like you've never been smitten before. Well, probably not Him personally, you know, he's very busy with his evil god stuff, but there are plenty of lower level devils who would gleefully do that for Him."

Turning to Leonia, she explains: "The Lady is pretty much the only god you are allowed to openly worship in Cheliash, other than the Lord. so naturally people don't trust her. With Asmodean you know where he stands, he wants to collect your soul and torture you for all eternity. What does Iomedea want? Nobody knows. She speaks of good and purity and generosity and other stuff that, if you lived in Cheliash long enough, you are way too jaded to believe can possibly be true. And Asmodean, who wants to collect your soul and torture it for all eternity, lets her servants preach openly, and you can worship her openly. People figure they may as well skip the middleman."

After a pause, she continues: "And of course, since people don't really trust the Lady, they also don't trust people who pray to her. So even if you do believe in all her talk of good and love, you don't want anybody else to know. And so people don't really want to be seen going to the temple of Iomedea. Of course, this is entirely accidental, and not in any way a sneaky plan of Asmodean's."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:01, Tue 06 June 2017.

Leonia shakes her head in denial. "You don't want others to think you believe in goodness in a land that doesn't penalize you for it? Why not? That makes no sense! Why are they being so stupid....? The only thing that causes Evil to triumph is for Good people to do nothing."

Lev bowed his head in understanding. He understand the list of events but it seemed massively short sighted that people would turn to gods when it came to their immortal souls. At least they HAD souls, but everyone seemed to have a very mortal view but they lose sight of the fact they are all immortal. The soul was something of endless value but far more resilient than any gave credit for.

More so when if they just found a mage of sufficient power they would be likely able to do many of the same 'wonders' as the minor devils managed all the damn time.

It was made worse by the fact that religion wasn't something left up to concept. People could visit the afterlife with the correct spells. Celestial beings could come and say hello if you really broke it down. It was a sad thing if the woman's child died, but it wasn't an evil thing. Bad things happen to both the good and the evil equally. In other realms it was likely that evil people got hung if they failed a detection test.

It took a long view of things it seemed, even Lev failed there... Lots to ponder on...

Dakash raises his hand several times to interject, but Leonia and Akane seem to have come up with an argument or comment that dismisses or nullifies  most of his initial thoughts.

Still, the concepts of Asmodean being a non-interfering evil ruler of his own mortal kingdom does not sit well with the warrior-priest, and he silently vows to have a speak with one of these Imodean clergy, before too long.

It's early afternoon when the group reaches a place that Akane promptly christens This Is An Ambush.

It's late afternoon by the time a most perplexed party gets past This Is An Ambush without being ambushed.

The actual ambush happens in the early evening, as the party is stopping to set up camp.

The small rocky formation next to the clearing turns out to be hollow, and hiding a small hobgoblin warband.

The leader jumps out first, a tall specimen sporting a fine chain shirt, rapier glistening in the dying sunlight.

His three henchmen, all wearing breastplates of obvious quality, follow suit. Two of them double-wield their weapons (one using two short swords, the other a scimitar and a short sword), while the third wields a morningstar, with a buckler in his off hand.

One thing is pretty obvious: they seem amazingly well-equipped for a group of bandits.

OOC: Low light conditions. Characters without darkvision or low-light vision get a 20% miss chance. Which means none of you, since Akane, Dakash, and Leonia all have low-light vision, and Aran and Lev both have Darkvision. Can't blame the hobgoblins, though: they expected a bunch of humans.

Roll Perception, Roll Init.

This message was last edited by the GM at 07:41, Thu 15 June 2017.

The moment she notices something moving abruptly, Leonia casts Mage Armor for protection.

Perception 15 on d20+11.
Initiative 13 on d20+4.

Familiar:
Perception :22
Initiative :21
This message was last edited by the player at 08:58, Mon 12 June 2017.

Dakash is similarly on his guard, noticing the subtle change in wind direction and ambient animal noises that heralds the coming of danger.

He is, however, of the race that pauses to reflect on the nature of the danger, and if it can be reasoned with or avoided, rather than simply ground into the earth by the bootheel.



08:59, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 28 using 1d20+8.  perception.
08:59, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 4 using 1d20+2.  initiative...cleric speeeed!

"Well, I am embarrased. It takes me a little bit to drop this form for my natural one... You know squeezing into tight spaces and all. Mind giving me about a sixty count?" He moved his hands in a clockwise motion as he was ready to start off with a mage armor spell

20:04, Today: Levithian rolled 13 using 1d20+2.  Do no evil. Init
20:03, Today: Levithian rolled 15 using 1d20.  See no evil. spot

OOC Order of Initiative:
19 Bargon +2/+2 (short swords)
17 Aktod +4 (rapier)
14 Drughing +0 (morningstar)
13 Leonia
13 Crevle +0/+0 (scimitar/short sword)
13 Levithian
 4 Dakash
 0 Akane
 0 Aran

The hobgoblins appear to be about half as surprised as their targets, as they realize that the group isn't a bunch of human smugglers caught flat-footed, but rather a fully alert adventuring party.

Their leader mutters a curse, then quickly casts a spell, before moving closer.

The one dual-wielding shortswords just simply yells something and charges at Levithian. Flat-footed and unarmored, Levithian cannot quite escape the wrath of the charging hobgoblin and gets hit by both weapons.

The morningstar-wielding hobgoblin also takes a moment to cast a spell, then moves closer to the other two.

The last hobgoblin starts... Let's call it singing, for lack of a better term... And also approaches his companions.

You may roll to identify the spells that have been cast (it doesn't take an action). I'm leaving Aran last so that he can opt to do something instead of leaving his character to GM control. Levithian, if you want you can change your action, since you've been wounded and all (casting mage armor now would require you to step away, cast defensively, or risk an AoO). Otherwise, I'll post the rest of the round (i.e., Akane's turn) and wait for Aran.

We can assume that Leonia took a step back before casting.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:57, Fri 16 June 2017.

Ooc: Leonia does indeed step back. Spellcraft rolls of 22,22,& 16. Oh, and Midnight has initiative of 19.

"Shield spell, Bless spell, and some sort of Bardic Performance" she says for the others to hear.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:58, Fri 16 June 2017.

Dakash had just begun to turn and ask the hobgoblins if they were, perhaps, emissaries of the lord of the land. Perhaps they were being sent to escort them to their next location in safety. Perhaps they were...but no, the swiftness of their attack pushed aside any notion of a peaceful resolve to this encounter.

"No! You fools!" The large blue man shouted as he instinctively rushed to interpose himself between Levithian and the onrushing attackers. As he moved, a wellspring of power seemed to pour out of the warpriest, surrounding and engulfing him in a faint shimmer of energy that covered his entire body. He drew his scimitar as he moved, his face a mask of anger at those who would strike his companion.

He was too late, of course, but that didn't stop him from reaching out and touching the injured wizard on the shoulder, granting a quick burst of healing magic to the man that helped to seal his wounds, then settling himself into a ready stance at the spellcaster's side

It seemed that they had awakened the bear.


So, here's the [hopefully legal] breakdown of my actions. :)

Move action: go to stand beside Levi.
Free Action: Draw scimitar as part of my move action.
Swift Action: cast Shield of Faith on myself.
Standard Action: use Fervor to heal Levi for 5 HP.

So, I've used 1 1st level spell and one of my 5 Fervors. I wasn't able to find if using one of my 4 Blessings per day counts as any type of action, or if I 'just do it'. If it doesn't take an action, I would use one of them to Empower the healing I did, bringing it from 5 to 8, please.

Lev raised his hand. "Fool's what? I am only acting in defense of being so brutally attacked by this lovely individual whom apparently has a desire for dragons blood of all things." Lev didn't want to die and the best way to do that was to do as he had done, be defensive.

5 ft step back, hold action to see the results of the conversation.

"Cute. Two can play this game, you know." With that, Akane takes a few steps forward, uncoiling her whip and cracking it with a set of rhytmic moves.

Introducing: "Dance-Fighting" (Bardic Performance: Inspire Courage, +1 Competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls),

(http://archives.erfworld.com/Book+1/140)

Lev, if you don't act now you will lose the turn...

In reply to Mysterious Ancient Wizard (msg # 42):

----
In response to all the confusion Lev opts for the only semi offensive ability he had outside of being in dragon mode. He, having took a step back, cast out his hand and poof a fearsome creature appeared behind the singing foe... A itty bitty, teeny tiny, little toad.

The toad then made an odd sound and snapped at the singers heels to no effect.


movement action: back 5 ft
standard action: to summon a poisonous toad.
Duration: 2 min

Today: Levithian rolled 5 using 1d20+3.  Battle toads?
This message was last edited by the player at 00:40, Sun 18 June 2017.

Aran takes a step away from combat and points at what looks like the hobgoblin priest, while loudly speaking a word of power. The creature's eyes cross in pain, and he has to take a moment to regain his bearings.Ear-piercing scream, enemy is shut down for one round and takes 3 points of damage. Aran is the first party member to draw blood.

The largest of the hoboblins replies in broken Common: "You money! You stuff! You live!"

Then he steps forward and double-attacks Levithian again. Rolls of 1 and 20.
Critical confirmation fails, but he did roll max damage. Levithian takes 7 points of damage (I forgot the raging song in the roll), and may want to summon his dragon half at some point.

Finally, he completes his with "You fight? You die!"

"Give us your money and all of your possessions, and you get to leave with your lives." Repeats, in a more formal manner, the leader, before also taking a shot at Levithian. I keep forgetting all manners of bonuses... This time it was the +1 from "bless". As it turns out, that makes the difference between a miss and a hit. Levihian takes 10 points of damage. Along with the previous 7, Lev is now down by 17hp. One could say he's bloodied. One could say he's very much bloodied. Drughing is down for this turn, so he cannot capitalize on it, but this would be a good time for Leonia to shut down the enemy "bard" before he can kill Lev.

The bad news is that, if Leonia target Crevle the "bard", she can only target Drughing along with him. The good news is that Leonia acts after Drughing, so she wouldn't be wasting a shutdown spell (such as colour spray).

Next is Leonia, then Crevle, then Lev and his toad, then Dakash, then Akane, then Aran.

"Or you could keep fighting. Then we take your money and equipment from your dead bodies." He smirks: "If you surrender, you can keep your clothes."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:41, Mon 19 June 2017.

Leonia mutters "right!" as she steps forward. Her hands flash as she mutters an arcane phrase and a cone of rainbow colors erupt from her hands to engulf the 'bard' and the only other one she can target, the downed priest.


Color Spray, WILL save DC 16.


A vivid cone of clashing colors springs forth from your hand, causing creatures to become stunned, perhaps also blinded, and possibly knocking them unconscious. Each creature within the cone is affected according to its HD.

2 HD or less: The creature is unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 rounds, then blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, and then stunned for 1 round. (Only living creatures are knocked unconscious.)

3 or 4 HD: The creature is blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds, then stunned for 1 round.

5 or more HD: The creature is stunned for 1 round.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:16, Mon 19 June 2017.

Lev, not wanting to die, does his best to disengage from his current foe and put as much distance between him and the impending death as he could.

Full action: Disengage and run for cover.

Summoned poison frong, aka the battle toad
20:20, Today: Levithian rolled 22 using 1d20+3 ((19)).
Damage: 1 pnt Physical
Damage: 1 pnt Smite evil!
Effect: Poison (Ex) Injury; save Fort DC 10; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Con damage; cure 1 save

Distressed at the tenacity of the bandits to continue their pursuit of the unarmored wizard, Dakash spins in place as they go around his defensive stance, wincing as their weapons connect with Levi.

"You have brought this upon yourself!" He swung his scimitar in a short arc a moment after a rainbow ribbon of energy flashed past his position. When the hobgoblin musician ceased his noisy activity, the warrior grinned for a moment and chuckled at his remaining foes.


14:06, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 5 using 1d6+2.  Damage, scimitar.
14:06, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 19 using 1d20+6.  Flank attack VS two-weapon target.

Rolled intimidate in case it's needed but I'm not trying to scare or run them off. Just normal banter with a foe.

RIBBIT

Iggy the Battle Toad plop-plop-plops right next to Drughing the hobgoblin Shaman and bites his neck, piercing an artery, and killing him on the spot.

RIBBIT

Dakash's scimitar nearly misses, but at the last moment with a twist of his wrist the warpriest forces the weapon into an opening, drawing blood from a deep gash.

Aran tries to follow up with a blob of acid, but his attack misses the mark.

Akane takes a few rhythmic steps to the side, and moves to flank the hobgoblin magus with her whip, while staying well out of range of his rapier. Her whip cracks, and a moment later the bandit leader is on the ground.

Bargon, finding himself the only one standing, and badly wounded, does the reasonable thing and surren... Ah, not the sharpest tool in the shed, it seems.

Instead, he growls at Dakash and tries to take him down with both of his swords. Both attacks are easily deflected.

The leader casts a spell.

Leonia fails to figure out the Leader's spell. But she succeeds in firing off an Acid Dart, using a pinch of brimstone to make the acid burn more.. She had aimed at the prone leader, but he disappeared on her. She turned her attack on the warrior with the two short swords instead.

Spellcraft 13 on d20+10.
Ranged Touch attack 15 on d20+7. Steady Hand reduces penalties for soft cover by one. Hits AC 16.
Acid Dart damage 6 on d6+4.

Leonia asks Midnight to scan from above to discern where an invisible foe is tramping about.....


23:18, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 26 using 1d20+10.  Midnight's Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:21, Mon 03 July 2017.

Things were happening very quickly for the usually ponderous warrior-priest. He wasn't being afforded the opportunity to stand back and assess the situation while the enemy's minions pounded ineffectually against his magic-bolstered armor, nor were they dropping their arms to surrender, as most intelligent types would in their situation.

"You have lost; your fellows fled or fallen. Give up already!" The man held out a blue-skinned hand and gestured at Bargon, who, to his credit, tried to cut his exposed arm while he summoned magical reserves of anger and concentrated them into the steel of the weapons the Hobgoblin was holding.


So, I get that he can make an AoO against me while I cast; I am not casting defensively. No movement.

MY AC: 21
HIS DC: 15 Reflex or take 2d4 damage and drop his primary weapon [weapon is dropped without damage if he successfully saves].

Bargon grunts and drops the short sword in his right hand just as it starts to turn red hot.

Plop. Plop. Plop. Iggy the Battle Toad slowly approaches the still-unconscious Crevle and looks at him intently.

RIBBIT

Step. Step. Whip.

Akane lashes at Bargon, trying to trip him like she did the leader.

Her whip fails to grab onto him, and the large hobgoblin is unhindered.

Aran, seeing that the creature is wounded but still dangerous, once again casts the spell that disabled the enemy healer at the beginning of the battle.

This time, however, the effect is not quite as strong, and Bargon, while grunting in pain, is still very much active.

Levithian takes a moment to consider his next action... And the large hobgoblin  takes advantage of it to rush Leonia with his remaining sword.

The magical field around her almost manages to deflect the impact... Alas, "almost" doesn't count. Leonia takes 6 points of damage.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Thu 06 July 2017.

Leonia steps 5' back from her foe. She takes advantage of the fact that he is off-balance following his charge at her....and nails him with one of her acid darts.


10:43, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 14 using 1d20+7.  Ranged Touch attack.
10:43, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 8 using 1d6+4.  Acid dart damage.

OOC: Bargon ought to be -2 AC for a charge maneuver...

Trying to get just a little further away Lev points his finger and cries out the magic word. "Bang!" And then the tiny beam of acid went flying off into the horizon as he missed so horridly the phrase 'couldn't hit the broad side of a barn' was changed 'he couldn't hit the broad side of a planet'

"If Iggy pulls this off I am going to learn how to make him a familiar."

Move: Move 5 ft away
Standard: Acid splash, missed horrifically.

Leonia's dart hits Bargon in the face, half-melting it and sending the large fighter down in a pool of blood, acid, and mud.

Iggy the battle toad nibbles at Crevle, who stirs and tries to move. Crevle is no longer unconscious, and therefore no longer helpless. He's still stunned and blinded.

As the hobgoblin falls to the acid dart, and the other flees the battle, a plan suddenly begins to form in his mind. He takes a look at the already-downed warrior, and then at the one burnt by the dart, and moves to place a hand on the former, shooing away the battle toad that seems intent on chewing a hole through the dying man's neck.


So it would be neat if I could save both, but only one is necessary. Stabilize on one and Fervor for d6 on the one burnt by acid (to mitigate some of the probable Charisma loss).

Leonia, knowing that a prisoner would be helpful, says "Lev, knock that one out", pointing at Crevie. Meanwhile, she concentrates, having Midnight follow the fleeing hobgoblin. Perhaps the familiar can discover the location of their camp. ...

Bargon stops bleeding as Dakash's spell takes effect. His body relaxes and he falls into a dreamless sleep.

Akane approaches the fallen Crevle. Her steps falls out of sync with the rest of the party, as she lets her battle dance expire. She lashes out with her whip at the hobgoblin, realizes that her direct hit had no effect, and smacks her forehead in realization.

A fair distance away, Aktod reappears, running for dear life. Midnight tries to follow him, but loses him in the nearby woods.

Next for the turn, in order: Leonia, Crevle (stunned), Levithian, Dakash, Akane, Aram.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:53, Wed 12 July 2017.

Leonia moves up to Crevie and cracks him across the skull with her quarterstaff.


10:06, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 14 using 1d20.  quarterstaff attack.
10:05, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 2 using 1d6-1.  quarterstaff damage.

Lev shrugged. "I've got jack for fighting outside of being able to run around in dragon form. And I cant do that unless I have a chance to change and shift." He pointed his finger again at the target Leonia indicated he should shoot.


19:36, Today: Levithian rolled 19 using 1d20+3 ((16)).

19:40, Today: Levithian rolled 1 using 1d3. cold damamge
If I understand it he is prone and blind? That should hit.

"What the-" Dakash can hardly believe his eyes. First a group of foolish ruffians thinks they can waylay him and his travelling companions as they cross the landscape, then, when his side obviously has the upper hand, they continue to punish the wretched, would-be bandits by trying to kill one while Dakash brings its fellow back from the brink of death.

"Have you no hearts? Enough already!" The big man rushes to interpose himself between the blind, defenseless hobgoblin and his own associates, leaving behind his scimitar but bringing up his shield to deflect any further staff or spell attacks, and holding out his open hand in a plea for the fighting to end.


Move and block. I'm no pacifist, obviously, but Sun Tzu knows there are many types of warriors, and not all of them need to be bloodthirsty. ;)

"Then punch him. I have little ability to do so. Levi is stronger than me and could probably knock him out. Besides, turning them over to the Hellknights as bandits...they will die anyways." Leonia responds.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:48, Fri 14 July 2017.

"I wouldn't be so sure." Replies Akane eyeing the hobgoblin critically: "That's some expensive gear, whoever sent him might have enough money to buy his freedom."

Pulling out a rope, she continues: "How about we tie him up?"

OOC: you are still on Initiative, since Crevle is only going to be stunned for so many rounds. If you agree to tie him up, he will be bound and helpless when he loses the stunned condition.

Dakash nods in the affirmative. Blinded did not mean deaf, and he did not want this idiot bandit to get the notion he would be better off running away right now.

Leonia agrees, and helps with tying him up, after stripping him of whatever equipment can be done quickly. She then strips the other two of gear, and looks it over with Detect Magic.

OOC: none of the equipment the hobgoblins' possession is magic, but the three breastplates look to be seriously high quality (Appraise DC 20).

Akane swiftly ties up the stunned hobgoblin, then puts a dagger to his throat and waits for the effects of the spell to pass.

Finally, the bandit blinks and seems to regain awareness.

"Please surrender now." Asks Akane politely, while applying a slight pressure to the dagger to bring her point home.

The bandit looks over at his fallen comrades, then sighs: "I surrender."

"Good." Removing the dagger she continues: "Don't try to escape. You wouldn't want to find out what happens to those who lie to me. What should we call you?"

He pauses for a secondm seemingly thinking. "Crevle. My... Companions. Dead?"

"Akane, nice to meet you. Your leader fled. The guy with the sword is wounded, but he will survive. The other one was not as lucky."

Crevle shakes his head. "Leader chief displeased be will. We have no shamen many. Now have plus less many we." Seeing the slightly stunned expression on Akane's face, he helpfully adds: "Shamen."

Akane blinks, then continues: "Right. Unfortunately there really was nothing we could do. Dangerous summon, he didn't stand a chance. What should we do with the body? Bring it back to... Where did you say you came from?"

Crevle looks surprised: "You it bring want we're village to? Back?"

Looking more and more like somebody who bit a lemon to find theat it was half rotten, Akane replies: "You're village... To your village! Yes. We will bring the body back to your village for the proper burial rites. Where was it again?"

Crevle shrugs: "I not. Son leader chief say we not. See know. Blinded cloth hat cap. Say not, see."

At this point Akane is openly holding the bridge of her nose, trying to stave of the impending headache. "So... Your leader was the only one who knew? But how would you go back if he couldn't take you?"

Crevle shrugs again: "Leader son leader chief. He back not, we."

Instead of trying to communicate in broken Common, Leonia switched to Orc.
"Where can we find your village? What landmarks or land features can you see from your village? And who gave you such nice armor and weapons?" She takes the time to mentally inventory what they captured.

Appraise 22 on d20+5.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:38, Fri 21 July 2017.

Crevle looks confusedly at Leonia: "Huh?" Then he adds something in, one assumes, goblin. If one speaks goblin, one better remind their GM :P

The three armors are Masterwork Agile Breastplates. 550 gp apiece.


That's a lot of dough, and definitely not the kind of gear one expects on a bunch of low-level bandits. Though... Explain the fact that their leader son leader chief was maybe.

...by which of course I mean, he did mention that their leader was the son of their chief (at least that's your best bet for a translation), so that might have something to do with that.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:12, Fri 21 July 2017.

"Right, no more traveling with two legs." Lev crouched down and started expanding. Scales, a tail, and wings sprouted from his form as he was entirely overtaken by a white scaled odd looking dragon form. Odd being that he had a number of sets of wings and his claws had webbing as if he was an aquatic dragon of some strange breed. The whole ordeal took about a minute.

He took a moment to shake like a dog, feeling a hell of a lot better now that he was not so close to being squished outright. Once he had fully changed he sat down and watched the exchange. He had no idea what was being said due to the goblin language. But he did assume that his presence would help any attempt to intimidate the bad guy.

Once it is clear the others have things well in hand, and that the two who *can* survive, will, Dakash moves to investigate the hiding spot of the would-be bandits. He is (as a non-dwarf) suitably impressed at the choice of location, and of the qualities the cave exhibits that lend itself to being ideal for ambushes. He wonders how much of it is natural and how much has been worked by hand over the years.

A trap door leads to a small underground room, which is apparently where the bandits lived. There is a good amount of supplies, some minor loot, presumably stolen from previous victims (coins, mostly copper and some silver, cheap bronze jewelry, a few common weapons, some clothes and travel supplies). Two items appear to be magic: a small brazier, and what looks like a large chamberpot.

He quietly hopes the last item is not actually a helmet that's been repurposed.

Leonia spots Lev in mid-transformation. Her string of Goblinspeak cuts off and she simply stares, drawing the attention of the hobgoblin as well, no doubt. She utters "he really is a dragon" in a,soft voice before remembering what she was attempting.  Refocused on the matter at hand, she asks Crevie "you had shiny toys to use. Who gave them to you?"

Now that he has somebody he can speak his own language with, Crevle seems a lot more coherent: "Aktod... That's our leader... He's the son of our chief. We were given good weapons, good armor, good magic, and we were supposed to bring back good loot, and prove to the entire village that Aktod would be a good leader. And now... Now Dru is dead, Bargon and I are prisoners, and Aktod is alone. No songs will be sung about our deeds."

He struggles uncomfortably against the restraints: "You don't really need to keep me tied up, you know. It's not like I have anywhere to go. I don't even know where my village is: Aktod insisted nobody except him knew. We were blindfolded for the entire journey. Just in case we were captured."

Looking at Levithian, he adds: "I didn't think I would be captured by a <***> though." OOC: Now that's a goblin word you don't know.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:56, Mon 24 July 2017.

As Levithian sat there the tip of his tail waved back and forth. He was never someone to have a lot of social power or grace so he was more than happy to let others do the talking. He did,
 however, perk up when it seemed like the bad guy was talking about him. "I am going to assume you are talking about Iggy the frog, or is there a chance for elaboration on the unknown word."

He frowned a little, still able to do so with a stiff upper lip, literally. "It's always a bet, taking away someones way home. They either fight harder to get home or they barely fight so they can survive and find their way home one day. Never a good option as you need to trust the people you run with. Sorry mate."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Fri 28 July 2017.

After a little back and forth with Leonia, Crevle explains that the word he used comes from ancient hobgoblin tales and legends. It can loosely be translated as "an avatar without a god", or "an avatar of itself".

Akane seems to find these stories interesting in their own right, and asks Leonia if she would be willing to act as an interpreter for some cultural exchange.

Bards.

Leonia agrees to the suggestion, if only to ease the boredom of further travel. "Did anyone take injury in that fight?" she asks.

"I was about to ask the same question" says the blue-skinned healer and warrior as he emerged from the hidden cleft. "I saw everyone was still mobile when we took the last of them, and felt the worst of the wounds had been addressed before I left." He eyed Lev for a moment, wondering if he should apologize for not tending the man's wounds immediately, or wait for a 'thank you' for the initial healing he had provided during the surprise assault.

Mending battle wounds was a thankless job.

Dakash goes on to give a detailed report on what he'd found below to the others.

Crevle sighs dejectedly and proceeds to explain (in goblin to Leonia, since explaining it in common probably wouldn't be very helpful) that the sphere and the chamberpot are utility magic items.

The magic sphere is effectively a small portable campfire: it can provide light much like a torch, and can be used to cook food. The main advantage compared to a campfire (or a campfire bead) is that it doesn't emit smoke and won't kill you if you use it inside a shlter. The main disadvantage is that you pretty much have to, since it won't warm you up as much as a proper campfire.

The chamberpot, as it turns out, is exactly what it looks like: a magic chamberpot. Dangerous substances inside the item while it is active will be destroyed or transformed into water, depending on the exact substance. The effect actually extends outward a small distance, meaning the chamberpot itself will always be clean after use, and so will the hands of anybody holding it while it is active.

Whoever designed it evidently had a lot of time and money on their hands. The fire sphere is worth 2000 gp, while the chamberpot is worth 1000 gp.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:25, Sat 29 July 2017.

"I wonder if this means they've recently waylaid a group of nobility?" Dakash gently sets down the two ensorcelled items he'd been examining. He gives a shrug, then turns to try and catch up on the portions of the conversation he'd missed while underground in the cave.

Lev had been very quiet after hearing that his own issue was common enough that there was a legend about it. Legends are things that are very visible at one point and time, from there they get carried by being told over and over. More than that he was brooding on the fact that there was something about him that could be identified by people who know such legends.

Now that was important!

He bumped the blue man with his own scaled shoulder. "Quick thinking in the fight. I would have been in the dirt if not for that."

He shrugged when questioned about wounds, "I still have a large gash across my chest under the scales. If I take it easy and be careful we could save the healing for a fight. I may be greedy for good food and coin but if there are better ways to spend magic I will only whimper a little."

"Sounds like this chief wasted no expense on a favored son. Both those items are extremely useful for an extended stay in an ambush blind. Making expensive armor for three of you as well....how could he hope to get returns enough to pay for the gold he laid out for equipment? How many caravans have you succeeded in ambushing?" she finally asks Crevie.

"They are... Traditional." Crevle explains. "The breastplates were created over the course of many generations, and are used by the chief's heir's warband when they set out for his initiation. Aktod's chainmail was the exception, made specifically for him: he's the first heir to learn magic, and couldn't use one of the normal brestplates."

"The fire sphere has been with the tribe for too many generations to count: the story says it comes from the frozen wastelands far to the south, where the sun turns dark and cold. Its ability to produce fire without also creating smoke makes it very useful while we are hiding. The magic chamberpot... That one's new. Not sure where the chief got it, but he said we needed it."

He thinks for a moment about her final question, and shakes his head. "Not many travelers around, these days. Something seems to have stirred the creatures of the wild, and the roads aren't safe anymore. We almost got surprised by a storm of stirges a few nights ago. Nasty creatures. We only stopped the one group of travelers... And they had very little money."
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:57, Sun 06 Aug 2017.

"...but they readily gave you what they had? So there was a group of people who *did* decide to brave the wilds, but not your banditry?" Dakash is at first leery of trusting anything these wandering rogues have to say, but as the conversation continues, he begins to accept more elements of their story.

"You are very fortunate, then, that you met ones such as us, who are less inclined to be the jury that sees you swing from the nearest tree" he says, reaching out and placing another soothing touch of healing magic on Levi. Not too much, mind you; Dakash had seen warriors who became dependent on the quick healing gifts offered by the gods, and then watched those same people rush headlong into the next battle, expecting to be brought back from the brink of death again. And again.

It didn't always work that way.

"I am curious if your leader is allied with someone that allows him the freedom to raid and plunder at will, rather than turn his tribe into a mercenary clan."


Heal 1 HP on the wizard. :)

Crevle shrugs: "I wouldn't know about readily, but... There were three of them: a girl, and two boys. One real weapon among them, a dagger, and one of middling quality at that. Not a piece of armor on the lot. And the grand total of their wealth amounted to a few coppers. And some half-rotten food. The girl was smart enough to surrender and give us the coppers and the dagger. In return they got safe passage, and could keep the rotten food, their clubs and stakes, their clothes and their lives. I liked her: when the boys tried to argue that they could 'take us', she slapped both of them upside the head. Pity that they are probably worg food by now."

"We are not bandits... Not as a tribe, at least: we usually work as mercenaries for a baron or another, occasionally a count. Most young ones are hired as soon as they become of age, since many of them don't make it back. Setting out as a warband to ambush caravans is a traditional form of initiation, though, and the chief's heir usually keeps the tradition alive. The noble houses know, and turn a blind eye... Sometimes they even hire a warband to seek out these mysterious renegade hobgoblin thieves. It's all a big joke to them."
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:06, Tue 08 Aug 2017.

"Worgs, you say? Perhaps you can tell us a bit more about the local wildlife while we discuss how best to get you home, and awayfrom the wretched way of life." Dakash wasn't naive, but he was curious if this talkative fellow really had his heart set on being a bandit, when there was a whole world of opportunities out there waiting to be had.

Turning to Akane and Aran, Leonia whispers "Well, he isn't snarling or being belligerent. Except for what they were planning, Crevie seems a decent sort. I can't see killing him out of hand. Do we have the funds to 'hire'  an additional guard or two"?

Akane wiggles her nose thinking - an unusual habit she occasionally displays: "We can't hire them unless we contact their village first: they get the lion's share of the money, and would consider them deserters if we just hired them without a proper contract."

"Village money unhappy not get." Crevle agrees promptly. "Message shrine leave temple devil. Contract."

Akane looks surprised: "Formally?" Then, looking annoyed, she restates in a proper sentence: "The temples of Asmodean act as formal intermediaries?"

Crevle replies with a "eh, sort of" gesture: "Message send village forward. Contract back. Contract god, cut part."

Akane shakes her head: "Why am I even surprised... You are, of course, right: he is... Among other things... The god of contracts, and His temples do like to get their slice of the pie. This just got either much easier or much harder."

Crevle shrugs and after thinking about Dakash's question for a moment says, once again in goblin: "I wouldn't worry too much about worgs: they speak better goblin than some people I know, and they are partial to horse meat, but you can bribe them with just about any kind of meat. They will leave you alone for a small amount, and for enough food they might actively help. For a while, at least. Stirges are worse: they cannot be reasoned with, and a swarm of them can wipe out a caravan. Then there are the various critters, plants, and creatures of the wild."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:42, Tue 15 Aug 2017.

Dakash can only shrug. Who knows if this is the type of mercenary who would steal from them if they left him on watch one night. Or worse, attempt to clear any smudge on his honor by killing them in their sleep. He needed to have an active reason for being a part of the group that went beyond money.

"So these contracts are binding. Do the...soldiers...ever get a say in what contracts are taken by the village? What if they are asked to do something against their wishes? Against their own good moral judgment? Is there a re-negotiation?"

Crevle frowns: "Re...? Chief chief. Chief say, gob... Thing? Do. Gob do."
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:55, Thu 17 Aug 2017.

Dakash got a bow of the head, help give is help well remembered no matter volume or effort.

The talk of a woman and two boys did cause Lev to beat his tail once to the ground. It was equivalent to someone gripping tightly to something as they grow angry. Everyone was having a nice conversation and being civil... Ish... So he wasn't going to interrupt things.

"At least you didn't kill them outright. I would be very cross with you if you harmed women and children."

In reply to Mysterious Ancient Wizard (msg # 86):

Leonia follows the discussion. " Much easier I can understand. Why is it much harder? As a member of a contract does the Asmodean Temple have a vested interest in NOT aiding our efforts?"

Akane looks around: "All of us who are 100% human, raise your hands. Come on, don't be shy... Nobody? Not a one? Well, then. Better hope you don't get hit by a blasphemy charge. I can wear my collar, and they should leave me alone, but you are easy pickings for a greedy guard. Or a bored one. Or both."

Dakash is, for once, at a loss for words. He asks several pointed questions about the system, which he'd heard of but never really paid much mind to - after all, he was only one man, and could not possibly put a dent in a system that had existed for generations.

Or...perhaps he could, since he could run right along side those generations, and perhaps be a stick in the spokes of the wheel that was the slavery cartel. It was food for thought.

"I admit I did not think to have something like this put into place before we left, but as I've come to know Leonis, so, too do I trust her. If it will help us pass through this land unmolested, then I will submit this body to her yoke." He dips his head, partly out of respect, and partly to hide his smile at his choice of words.

Akane thinks for a moment: "We would have to sell something first, the mark spells have some expensive material components, but it's certainly feasible, and a mark would make guards think twice before charging you: not knowing whose slave they are bothering is a rather effective deterrent. However, there is no way to remove a mark... Short of a a miracle or something equally powerful... And it does come with some strings attached."

Akane proceeds to explain the basics of a slave mark: it's a specialized spell that is put on the wearer's soul - the tattoo is essentially for the guards' benefit. The soul is marked - but emphatically not owned - by Asmodean Himself. It is not clear whether the mark breaks upon death, however, so that could pose a problem for Dakash.

Servants of Asmodean of sufficient power may ask to their god, via other specialized spells, to give them some information about the bearer of the mark - most commonly, their location.  It also makes the mark's bearer easier to scry upon by those who serve Asmodean.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:01, Sat 26 Aug 2017.

In reply to Mysterious Ancient Wizard (msg # 92):

"Easy pickings? Only if we submit rather than fight for our lives. But these two aren't worth the trouble. So, either let them go, or kill them. They are a complication we can do without" Leonia says.

Lev frowned at the talk of using the slavery mark. "Yeaaaa, it may be best to just let them go. I don't even think a spell that marks the soul could fully work on me. I would still cheer you on though."

"I would encourage us to let them go... I feel kinda bad if we just off a helpless foe no matter how hard they hit us or how much they poked up with sharp pointy things. Recruitment is my normal tacit but in this case I don't think that they would join up given what has been said so far." He smiled now, "Who knows, perhaps they will look back on the charity and try to pick up another profession. It's a long shot I know..."

"I cannot just kill a prisoner in my charge" he says emphatically. "Tie them, leave a weapon to allow them to reach home safely, and bind them by oath to not harm us or another innocent traveler again, and we can be on our way."

He gives a dark look at the two hobgoblins, crossing his arms over his muscled chest. "An you should be doubly thankful for my healing magics already" he says to the one burnt by acid.



I've got several harmless spells with little in the way of visible effect that I can cast, to make them think they are being put under a Geas or similar compulsion to not harm us or others. Not sure if a bluff is required, since it's all up to them how much they are in awe of magic in general, or how much they fear spellcasters (now).

"Leave them clubs if you must. All the metal goes with us to sell as spoils." Leonia says firmly.

With everybody agreed on letting the surviving would-be robbers go, except deprived of their possessions, the group finally begins to set up camp.

By this point, night has definitely fallen, and Crevle suggests that, if they want everybody to survive the night, the group should sleep inside the hobgoblins' refuge, lest they are awakened by some wandering critter gnawing at their toes.

There don't seem to be traps or secret passages, and there would be enough room for everybody to sleep with reasonable comfort.

Dakash seems relieved at the timely suggestion, then immediately scowls.

"You presume, then, to allow half of us to be caught unawares while the relief bandits show up tonight? Turning the tables would prove your mettle tenfold to your chief, wouldn't it! Perhaps being bound for the night will make any would-be revolt less appealing." He retrieves some rope in preparation for the task.

Leonia raises an eyebrow at Dakash's suggested logic. She sends a mental command to Midnight to get some sleep for now...the owl would be Leonia's extra eyes when she went into Meditation later that night.

Lev streached like some giant cat and then made a circle like a dog to lay down all curled up. His head, however, rested on his tail and was facing the way into the resting place. "If need be I can stay up in the dark of the night. I can see in the dark for a little ways. Nothing like some of the hawkeyed people out there but at least I can keep an eye out around the middle of the night." His near useless wings covered him like a big blanket and there was no indication he closed his eyes. But he was still there and awake if they had comment.

Aran was particularly not keen on letting the robbers go, and so removed himself from the 'Negotiations' as to ensure that his temper didn't get the best of him. By the time he returned, camp was already set up and he went to bed with little more fuss.

The hobgoblins are tied hand and foot - uncomfortable, to be sure, but not constrictive or dangerous. They are also not gagged, unless one gets vocal about 'their treatment' or voices thoughts of revenge at any point.

Once complete, Dakash prepares a simple meal for himself and beds down after a short evening prayer, and a smiling nod to his fellows, indicating he will be ready for his turn at watch when it arrives.

Careful medical examination reveals that Bargon, the bandit fighter, is going to be incapable of any strenuous effort for at least a couple of days: he's not fighting anyone, and a brief chat with Crevle has dissuaded him from picking verbal fights as well - not that his common would be up to the task.

Crevle, on his part, is very cooperative, offering ideas on how to tie him up. The result takes longer to tie and untie, making it harder to escape, and is more comfortable for the prisoner. His reply to the party's inquiries is that he's alive, unlike poor Drughing, and he would prefer for that state of things to continue. As far as he can tell, his best chance of survival is to wait for Aktod to return, which should happen in a few days, and not give the party any reason to change their minds.

The night goes by quietly, except for the occasional howling. In the morning, Crevle comments again on the pack of worgs that they spotted a while back and offers a piece of advice: worgs are intelligent and can speak, some of them are actually well versed in multple tongues.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:16, Mon 11 Sept 2017.

"Worgs, from what I hear, are tough opponents. Perhaps discourse and diplomacy are the way to handle such an encounter after all, especially against a pack" Leonia points out over breakfast.

"What situation, exactly?" Aran asks as he awakes.

"Are they terrorizing the locals or something like that? If we're going to be diplomatic, what do we have to offer them?"

Aran stood up as he talked, and looked through his things so he can make himself a suitable breakfast.

Lev did not move much from his spot curled up using his wings as a blanket. "Can't say that they may need anything at all. They may just be in a territory situation and want us to get out of their land. It's not entirely uncommon, though the sad part is normal para-prevention methods will not work on most of them." His tail waved back and forth at the tip as he pondered on measures that could hopefully keep the monsters off them.

"Are they cannibals?" The blue priest wonders aloud. "If we kill one or two will they eat the easy meal? Can they even be reasoned with? I'm not in the mood, frankly, to be browbeaten by two groups of thugs in one excursion from town."

Between Leonia, Levithian, Akane, and the ever-helpful Crevle, the group puts together a picture of worgs.

Worgs appear like very large wolves (large enough to act as mounts for a creature the size of a human child), and, like wolves, can hunt in packs. Worg mounts sometimes use goblins as riders - yes, the mount is using the rider, in this case, not the other way around.

Worgs have varied hunting habits, which include intelligent humanoids. A favored tactic for such situations is for a worg that spots a lonely traveler to call out in distress, usually in Common, from a hard to spot location. When the person approaches, the group attacks them.

Being intelligent, worgs are harder to ward against than animal threats. as they can understand that something is being done to keep them away, and will sometmies specifically go investigate the reason.

They can be negotiated with, usually for food, as they have few other needs. Worgs are generally considered evil, and aren't known to be especially bound to their word, so, rather than counting on their sense of honor, or innate goodness, a stick-and-carrot approach works best when trying to negotiate. Just make sure you have a big enough stick, and a sufficient amount of carrots.

A single worg is a fair match for a group of inexperienced adventurers: facing an entire pack could be very dangerous.

After the morning preparations, the group sets out to their destination, with Crevle, still tied, but expected to be able to set himself free within a few hours, bidding them farewell and wishing them luck as they leave.

Fully prepared to have to deal with worgs along the way, the party is more than a little surprised when, several hours later, they arrive at the edge of the swamp where they are expected to find a bog nixie.

"Maybe the worgs weren't hungry... Or maybe we just got lucky." Akane shrugs. "The stories have it one or more bog nixies haunt this swamp. We are supposed to collect at least one. They are said to be able to grant wishes, which means they probably have some other magic abilities. Also..." She opens her backpack and retrieves a small box full of a dark reddish powder.

"Cold iron weapon blanch. Put this on your weapon, heat it up on a fire for a few seconds, and it will go through fey skin like cold iron would. Only good for one hit, unfortunately. I have one dose each."

Aran grumbles as Akane talks about 'collecting' pixies. Other than that, he remains pretty silent, keeping an eye out for threats along the way.

Dakash takes the proffered blanch and adds it to the spikes on his morning star. It is a weapon few have seen him use, yet he keeps it hooked on his belt at all times when combat seems imminent, and hooked but hung upside-down on his pack when travelling the open road.

Once the procedure is complete, he performs a few cursory katas with the weapon, then returns to his daily routine of practicing slashes and parries with his favored weapon, the scimitar. He seems to believe that either the group will be met with violence before they encounter the nixies, or that their quarry will be able to summon something to guard them against such prepared attacks.

Either way, the warrior seems focused on their task, and speaks little during the next few hours.

Akane douses the fire, and the party ventures into the swamp. The ground quickly changes from dirt to mud, and the relatively open terrain with the occasional patch of trees turns into a verdant mass - or mess - covered by a green canopy.

Little light filters through the trees tops, and the further the group ventures in the more unusual sounds can be heard.

As a precaution,  Ael casts Prestidigitation.  She keeps the group clean of clinging missed and mud, and tries to impart a fey scent to party members.

As the party proceeds deeper ito the marsh, a number of strange plants begin to appear. Varying in shape and color, they don't much resemble anything that can be found in more civilized parts of the world.

The group keeps a keen eye out for threat, and soon a particular plant gets their attention. A mass of green tendrils with purple flowers coiled around a bunch of humanoid skeletons. As if the skeletons weren't enough of a warning, the flowers constantly release wisps of yellow vapor that scream "look at me, I'm dangerous".

Shortly after the party notices the plant, one of the least mangled bodies twitches, and slowly stands up. Multiple noises from all around let the heroes know that this... Zombie? Is not alone.

Nature to identify. Roll Init. Good luck.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:24, Thu 28 Sept 2017.

Leonia readies herself as her mind races to identify the genus of the plant.



12:24, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 14 using 1d20+4.  Initiative.
12:24, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 21 using 1d20+9.  knowledge Nature.
12:24, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 24 using 1d20+9.  Knowledge Religion.

Well, it certainly wasn't going to be edible, that much was sure. And it didn't seem to exude an aura of negative energy, which might account for an undead presence.

Still, corpses rising from the ground were something of a holy man's bread and butter, and if this was the task set before him, so be it. Quick as a flash, he stepped forward to shield his companions and engage the apparent enemy...but stopped short of the wispy vapors he saw.

Poison came in many forms, and was not to be trifled with.


23:39, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 20 using 1d20+2.  initiative.

23:37, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Know: nature.

"The zombies are plants,  not undead. Channeling will have no effect" Leonia cautions.

Lev sat there with his tail waving just a tiny bit. "Right... so they are a planty body snatcher... Do we resolve this situation or do we leave this for winter to resolve?" The last thing he wanted to do was get everyone involved in a fight they didn't want. And the price for failure looked like being a meat puppet.


17:05, Today: Levithian rolled 14 using 1d20+2.  Init.

Aran reacted as quickly as he could to the plants, moving his hands from his sides to his front and preparing to cast.

"Do they burn?" The Ifrit was only somewhat rhetorically - he didn't know anything about these creatures, but he found things that most things could be burned.

17:48, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 27 using 1d20+8.  Initiative.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:52, Sun 01 Oct 2017.

Order of initiative:
Dakash   20
zombie c 20
Akane    14
Leonia   14
Lev      14
zombie a 14
zombie b 14
zombie d 13
creeper  10
Aran      7

Aran rolled 27 on initiative, so he acts first... But loses the first round due to a poor perception roll. Since this is effectively the same as acting last on round one, I lowered his initiative by a nice round 20 to put him last.

Akane reaches for her whip: "These things don't seem very mobile... Do we fight or do we run?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:34, Mon 02 Oct 2017.

"Fire arrows might be the best" suggests the elf.

Hearing the stern warning of his learned traveling companion, the warrior pauses in his forward momentum and instead backs slightly away, choosing discretion over direct valor.

"Let's find out how mobile this thing is...if we don't need to cross it to find the fey, let's not."

He attempted to deter the nearest of the zombies from moving too close as he withdrew, hurling his scimitar at it with great speed and force, imbued with a shouted word of prayer to his deity. The spinning blade struck true, then promptly dislodged itself and flew back to his outstretched hand.



Used 1 of my blessings for the day to hurl the sword up to 30'.

18:41, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 26 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 20.  hurl scimitar 30' range, 1 Blessing used.
18:41, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 18 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 12.  crit confirm, if applicable.
18:44, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 4,5 using d8+2,d8 with rolls of 2,5.  damage (+ crit).
Back up 30', and away from the others (slightly), to draw the wounded zombie to me.

Like a dummy, I never actually changed by spell list like I said I would...so I didn't. Duh.

Criticals double all damage except precision damage (sneak attacks), so the total damage from Dakash's attack is 11 rather than 9.

The zombie grunts as Dakash's scimitar almost severs its head clean off, and staggers towards the priest with its hands extended.

As it does so, Dakash notices a really nice ring on one of said hands.

Akane moves closer to Dakash, frees her whip, and tries to use it on the zombie. The result is less than stellar, and the thing simply ignores her.

"If we're running, I'm not wasting a dance."
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:58, Wed 04 Oct 2017.

Ready to cover her mouth with a wet cloth in case of spore gas, Leonia fires off an acid dart at the zombie. The splash of liquid sizzles the plant-like flesh.


Ranged Touch attack 19 on d20+6.
Damage 7 on d6+3.

The head of the first zombie melts under Leonia's acid, and the creature falls down at Dakash's feet.

The three remaining shamblers seem to decide on one target each, and slowly approach Akane, Aran and Leonia, respectively. This seems to take them significant effort, however, and they can't quite manage to attack.

The plant's tendrils, on their side, extend in Levithian's general direction, and the creature slowly begins to make its way toward him. The misty vapors around it seem to intensify as it does so.

Aran's turn. Levithian can act at any point he sees fit, and that will be his new place in the order of initiative.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:13, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

With the creature right on top of him, Aran's options were limited. As it didn't look like he was being swarmed at the moment, he simply took a step back and raised his hands to to the side of his head and opened his mouth as if he were screaming.

Casting Ear-Piercing Scream on the attacking zombie. DC 16 Fort Save or it's Dazed. 2 Fire Damage.
11:53, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 2 using 1d6 with rolls of 2.  Ear-Piercing Scream.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:09, Fri 20 Oct 2017.

Leonia backpedals to stay away from the plant zombie. She fired another Acid dart to try to melt it away.

Ranged touch attack 16 on d20+6.
Acid dart damage 7 on d6+3.

Seeing that his comrades have a fair repertoire of ranged attacks at hand, Dakash nods his head at the whip-wielding woman, then immediately responds verbally. "I'm worried about that cloud of...spores? Poison? No need to become another victim here."

Matching actions with words, he backs away from the spreading combat scene, holding shield at the ready and preparing to hurl his scimitar at anything that gets too close to his allies.


Just another move away, since it seems we outpace the bad guys, and I'll ready an action in case the thing with the tentacle gets in a lucky swipe. I'll keep checking back every day in case I need to make a roll on that. :)

Leonia, Aran, and Akane can all only move a single step or else they'll trigger an AoO. Dakash could move farther but he's supposed to be the tank so I'm assuming he'll stay closer to the front line.

Akane takes a step back, moving right next to Dakash, then takes out her dagger and prepares to slice the zombie if and when it approaches.

Sure enough, the zombie moves to attack her, stepping into both her and Dakash's range. Akane curses mildly when her blade slides on the small metal plates of the zombie's armor. "Seriously? Turtleshell plating? Were you one of my countrymen, or did you just like eastern armor?"

Dakash, please roll for attack, 17 or better to hit. You also notice that not only does the armor look markedly different from those on the other zombies (they wear chainmails or breastplates, and this one is kikko armor), but it also seems remarkably  clean.

The other zombies also spring... Well, shuffle... Into action.

The first one, not seeming to mind the acid pouring down its body and eating at the flesh under its armor, takes a step towards Leonia, and slashes at her with a slightly rusty sword. The elf dodges, and can feel the air moved by the sword as the blade misses her by a hair.

The second zombie does the same with at Aran, except his sword is remarkably shinier and his aim remarkably worse than his comrade's: the shiny sword misses Aran by a whole arm's length. Maybe having its ears set on fire had spoiled its balance...
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:54, Mon 30 Oct 2017.

"BACK OFF!"
Aran yells at the creature that tried to slash at him before once more attempting to boil what's left of the creature's mind.


6 Damage with Ear-Piercing Scream (DC16 Save or Dazed. 3 Damage on passed save)
14:59, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 6 using 1d6 with rolls of 6.  Ear-Piercing Scream Damage.
14:57, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 17 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 12.  Defensively Cast Ear-Piercing Scream (DC17).

This message was last edited by the player at 19:01, Tue 31 Oct 2017.

Dakash's held action strikes true, and his weapon seems to fly into another vulnerable spot on the monster that *looks* like a zombie, but isn't. The 'vital' location isn't really, though, and the weapon seems to have little effect.




It seems like a joke that weapon damage is double, leading my CRITICAL HIT to do less damage than a normal strike. I rolled a 1, which is doubled to give me a measly 2? Bah. I should take another vacation.


22:33, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 26 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 20.  scimitar attack [held action].
22:34, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 20 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 14.  crit confirm?
22:34, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 10 using 1d8+2 with rolls of 1,7.  damage [double for crit].

This message was last edited by the player at 12:24, Thu 02 Nov 2017.

Leonia steps back from her foe. Taking a pinch of brimstone from a component pouch, she tries to enhance another Acid Dart, but all she manages to do is consume the brimstone.

01:55, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 7 using 1d20+6 with rolls of 1.  Ranged touch attack.
Yuck!
01:54, Today: Leonia Sunstorm rolled 8 using 1d6+3 with rolls of 5.  Acid Dart damage.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:20, Sun 05 Nov 2017.

As Leonia moves away from the zombie, the creature swipes at her with its blade. This time she can't dodge in time, and the sword slices clean through skin and muscle. Another one like that and the world might well be deprived of one of its promising young wizards.

Aside from Leonia's bad luck, however, everybody else retreats in an orderly fashion, and indeed at this point it looks like the entire group can safely leave the fight if they all decide to forego attaking the zombies.

Leonia takes 11 points of damage. Discretion is looking more and more like the better part of valor.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:59, Mon 13 Nov 2017.

Leonia withdraws, wishing she had more offensive spells in her repetoire.

Aran takes the opportunity to get some distance from the zombies, withdrawing from the thick of combat, but ready to launch more blasts of fire at his enemies.

As the entire party deftly withdraws from combat, the zombies try to follow, but soon start wavering and stop. The plant releases a high-pitched noise, and the zombies respond with a low moan.

Whatever else is going to happen, however, is between the creep cluster and its minions, as the group has had enough zombie pumpkins for a while.

After a short break, the party resumes slowly advancing through the swamp. After a while, Midnight hoots, attracting Leonia's attention to a spot between the trees. A very light shimmer in the air indicates the presence of something, and she quickly spots a thread, connected to another thread, connected to another thread, soon enough realizing that the party has been slowly approaching the lair of some kind of spider.

Presumably of the giant, man-eating kind, because really, what else could one expect to find around here?
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:12, Wed 22 Nov 2017.

Leonia hits herself with a charge from the Infernal Healing Wand. Over a minute passes, and she is almost completely healthy, although her soul feels a little stained.

HP 14/15

"Zombies and plants and spiders. I'd almost prefer these worgs we've heard about." Dakash was only partly serious, though his tone was light and he hadn't taken any real damage from their last encounter, so it was actually hard to tell his feelings on the matter.

"At the very least we should mark this place on a map, for future reference. Though the plant host may be mobile, it seems like it's set itself up in a fairly good hunting ground, so to speak, and is therefore unlikely to wander far in the near future. Perhaps we can clear it out - if someone else doesn't while we're gone."

"In all honesty, knowing that spiders are nearby makes me wish we could rest so I can rememorize spells useful against such monsters" Leonia laments.

"Fire, "

Aran chimes in, with a wicked spells.

"Spiders don't like fire. I've got plenty of that."

Akane scratches her cheek pensively: "We could set up a camp but... I don't think we can get eight hours of uninterrupted rest. Forget the predators, and there's a bunch of them: we know thre are bog nixies here. They aren't very strong, especially if you can catch them alone, but they can be very tricky, and if they catch us asleep... I don't like our odds."

"So we don't rest here then. We mark these places on our map - the zombies and the spiders - post warnings to other travelers outside the danger zone, and warn cartographers when we reach civilization again."

Dakash was disappointed that they could not deal with these things right now, but also knew the inherent danger of going into a known deadly encounter without being fully prepared for the worst.

"We still have worgs to worry about on the path between here and our destination. I think it best if we reserve our strength for them, for now."

Leonia says "we're not expected to solve the world's woes in one week. Move past the spiders and we can concentrate on why we are out here."

Aran nods in acceptance of this plan. "Alright then. I do like Dakash's idea of setting up warnings for travelers though. If we can't handle the threats now, we should at least make sure we can minimize danger to those traveling through here."

Akane nods in agreement. "Right, let's avoid the nest then. This way should be fine... I think."

As she lead the others through a slightly less damp area of the swamp, she continued:
 "Not much point in setting up warnings  it until we kill the nixies, I think: they'll just remove them. Also, not sure how smart those mushroom zombies are, but they might mess with them too."

OOC: Next encounter is in a few in-game hours, please roll Perception.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:13, Fri 19 Jan 2018.

Leonia tries to remain alert.

Perception 20 on d20+10.

After several hours of carefully traversing the swamp, it looks like our heroes are thoroughly los... Um... Well on their way to finding the Nixies. At some point.

This part of the swamp, while still wet, noisy, and full of various kinds of vegetation, seems strangely devoid of predators, all things considered.

Just as Akane makes an idle comment to that effect, a rustling behind a mass of plans alerts the group that something is hiding there.

A child, possibly in her early teens, flops face first out of the bushes. Looking up at the party with big brown eyes, she asks: "Are you bandits?"

Perception 13 or better will reveal that this girl is actually a halfling trying to disguise herself as a child.

Leonia smirks. "Nice disguise. What's a young halfling doing way out here? Acting as bait for real bandits?" She pulls out her crossbow.

Perception 25 on d20+11.

"What? No! I'm not... I'm just an innocent little girl. See? Pigtails!" She looks at Leonia and then at the others: "You're not buying this, are you? Ugh. Alright... Fine... I'm Lilly. I disguise as a little girl to steal people's stuff. Their stuff is better than mine, so I take it." She's clearly not kidding when she says other people's stuff is better than hers: her clothes have definitely seen better days, and her backpack looks half-rotten and ready to fall to pieces.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:27, Sun 28 Jan 2018.

Leonia casts Detect Magic, to see if all was as it seemed.

As Leonia casts her spell, Lilly scrambles to her feet: "Whoa! Hey! Stop that! What are you doing?"

OOC: Detect magic, first round of concentration: Leonia positively detects the presence of at least one magic aura within the chosen 60' cone.

Leonia answers "checking for illusions, to see if the picture you are presenting is the  True Image." Leonia hopes the others are ready for a fight.

"So, I take it your plan was to try and steal our stuff, little halfling?"

Aran turns a fiery gaze to the halfling woman.

"Come now, child...young one..." Dakash corrects himself as his companions ready for a quick defense, "your ruse is shown. If there are more of your friends lying in wait, they would be wise to simply show themselves and walk away. We have not the time or patience to deal with common bandits this day."

Lilly frowns: "Using magic? Around here? Aren't you afraid of the blue humps? Or the fireflies?"

Turning to look defiantly at Aran, she continues: "Yeah, big guy, I'd totally steal from you. Your stuff is better than mine, so I should have it. Fair's fair."

"But really, there's only innocent little me here, no bandits. People don't stick around me much." She shrugs.

OOC: Detect magic, second round of concentration.
Leonia cannot precisely identify the exact number of magical auras, as they seem to fill her entire field of detection. That is rather unusual.
Similarly, identifying the strength of the aura(s) is problematic: if it's a single big aura it's at least of moderate intensity, but it could also be a large number of overlapping faint auras. That is also rather unusual.
It could mean that the party is entirely surrounded by incorporeal creatures. That is probably not a good thing.
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:55, Fri 02 Feb 2018.

"Cautious, perhaps. Ive theorized that a communal group like bog nixies can do a collective illusion springing from many point-sources, overlapping into a solid, cohesive creature like yourself, Lilly. I'm starting to come to the conclusion that you are a manifested mouthpiece for such a community. Either that, or we're surrounded by a number of incorporeal threats. Of the two, I'd much prefer the nixies" Leonia continues to concentrate.

"Yeah, sorry elf girl, no luck. Them's the fireflies you're seeing, and if you don't stop casting spells I'll be getting your stuff from your bodies." Lilly pauses for a moment, then: "On second thought, please continue."

OOC: Third round of concentration, Leonia can now see that her field of vision is filled with auras, too many to count, and the interference from all this magic... Creatures? Makes it impossible to see if Lilly has a form of magic aura of her own.

It looks like a large number of incorporeal creatures, and, while it would take several more turns to scan the entire area it seems reasonable that they don't just fill Lenia's cone of detection, but rather they are pretty much everywhere.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:33, Sun 04 Feb 2018.

Based on her knowledge, Leonia tries to determine what she is sensing.

Knowledge Arcane 28 on d20+10.
Knowledge Religion 23 on d20+9.
Knowledge the Planes 25 on d20+9.

The auras appear to be diminutive incorporeal undead with Supernatural powers of some kind or another. It's probably some kind of ghost, or close enough that the distinction, while interesting to debate in an academy, makes no difference on he battlefield.

If Lilly is orrect that these things are attracted by magic, it might be a good idea not to aggravate them further: facing one of these things would be moderately challenging. Facing dozens or hundreds would be moderately suicidal.

A ghost is an incorporeal creature, and as such it can only be harmed by magic (+1 weapons, spells, spell-like and supernatural abilities) or other incroporeals. They take only half damage from corporeal sources, including spells.

A ghost is an undead, thus it can be harmed by positive energy, whether channeled or cast. This damage is not halved.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:51, Sun 04 Feb 2018.

Leonia cancels her spell. "It appears Lilly here is correct. I sense multiple ghosts surrounding us, and magic seems to agitate them. Lilly, if we manage to get away from here I can at least repair your gear. Do you know what these things truly are?"

Dakash does not see what his arcane companion does, with her magical spell-sight, but he understands the threat that undead can pose to travelers such as they, be it intentional or not. He inclines his head to Leonia and asks if his 'special talents' will be necessary to end this discussion.

Lilly looks askance at Leonia. "What happened to me being a piece of mouth for the folk fair moxies? Nobody never been calling me a piece of mouth before. Now, a nice piece of a-"

"I think we should table that particular discussion for now. Can you tell us what  you know about these things? If you please?" Akane promptly interrupts her.

Shooting an annoyed glance at Akane, Lilly replies: "You're no fun. Get that rod off your piece, sometimes, you might like it. Meh. Things elf-girl seen, them's the fireflies. Ghost butterflies, if you can believe it."

Akane blinks, then blinks again: "Ghost. Butterflies. As in, butterflies that became ghosts. I don't know if I can believe it, actually. Ghosts are usually created when the dead soul perceives that a great injustice was done to them. What kind of great injustice can possibly turn a mindless insect into a ghost?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:13, Mon 05 Feb 2018.

Lilly simply shrugs: "Big magic event thing, long time ago? That's the legend anyway. If you want to fix my stuff, I won't say no. I don't carry my stash around though."

Aran shoots Akane a sideways glance. "Or you know, maybe calling them mindless."

The Ifrit then sighs and folds his arms. If magic was off the table, this would be an extremly bad day for him if it turned into a fight. "Can we just... go? This place gives me the creeps."

Lilly looks from Aran to Leonia: "This way then."

Lilly guides the party through the underbrush on to something that looks like an overgrown path, probably animal in origin. The dim light fades even more as the move deeper into the swamp. Lilly's hair, which looked fiery red when they met her, seem to dim and fade in the penumbra.

As she leads the way, slowly and carefully, checking the terrain with a stick before setting fot on it, Lilly takes her time to make some small talk. "What's a group of you rich people doing here anyway? You don't look like you need to wish fish."

Akane frowns: "Wish fish? As in, wish for fish? Or fish for wishes? Wait, you mean from the nixies? Huh... That's a way of putting it."

Akane casts Prestidigitationm then summons a deck of cards. The images on them are unlike those on any normal deck of cards, clearly meant to be visual aids for her tale.

Flip. A black sky with tiny dots of light. "Back when all the stars were young, before our bardic tales were sung... Sorry, wrong story."

Flip. A wizard in red robes surrounded by books and arcane implements. "Back when arcane magic was new, wizards were inventing new spells by the day, to the point that some spells used to have their inventor's names in them."

Flip. A cleric pointing her divine symbol, and a pillar of energy coming down from the sky. "The most powerful spell in existence back then was the divine Miracle. Which some don't even consider a spell, strictly speaking, but it was still the most powerful act of magic a mortal could call forth. Those who didn't have the favor of a deity, however..."

Flip. A large, muscular outsider, with red skin and eyes like fire. "They could always try to summon a genie."

Flip. A wizard, holding a parchment in front of the efreeti. "Back then, Afrit were always eager to answer a summon... And to strike bargains. Even more so than devils."

Flip. The same wizard, now looking like a desiccated husk, but apparently still alive, hunched over an altar of some kind. "And wizards were often careless in their bargains. Often they would seek divine aid to undo their mistakes... With varying degrees of success."

Flip. A different wizard fighting an efreeti. "Until the day some wizard decided that the power the genie held should be wielded by arcane spellcasters directly."

Flip. The same efreeti, now dead, in the wizard's laboratory. "With careful analysis, and studying the genies' powers directly from their source, wizardkind found a way to replicate the effect of an efreeti's wish. Nowadays, sufficiently powerful wizards can cast spells that replicate a genie's wish, as well as less powerful, more limited wishes, that ar easier to cast and less expensive in terms of materials."

With a "fwhomp" and a small burst of fire, the deck disappears. "And wishes are expensive indeed, as well as difficult to cast. Only very experiences wizards, or exceptionally gifted sorcerers, are able to express their wishes and have them turn reality. Which is why our employer is looking for the nixies."

Throughout Akane's story, Lilly has been concentrating more and more on the story, and less and less on the way, and the speed at which she's been leading the party has reduced accordingly. "He thinks he can carve a new wish spell out of a nixie? Like that guy in your story?"

Akane nods. "A much cheaper one than the current options, yes. And if, in the process, he can save all the people who try to get a wish from a nixie from falling prey to the fey, well, wouldn't that be nice?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:50, Fri 09 Feb 2018.

As Akane's story went on, Aran began to grow visibly more agitated. His eyes flashed a fiery-red and he growled in anger.

"Don't ever show me that again! What's wrong with you?"

Leonia looks sideways at Aran. "I used to get bored during history lectures, yeah, but never angry. Just what is your problem, young man?"

With a strange smile, Lilly interjects: "Kid's got a temper. I'd be mad too, somebody had me grampa cut up for spell components."

In his Anger, Aran forgot completely that he was supposed to be pretending to be human. Lilly's interjection reminded him, though it did little to stay his anger.

"I mean, is that Nixie actually dangerous and hurting people? We don't need to attack it if it's just for the sake of getting spell components, right?"

Akane shoots a glare at the halfling: "Okay, first of all, what was that supposed to mean?"

Still with that strange smile, she replies: "Little Lilly's being silly. Never mind me, tails-girl. Really."

Akane blinks, then blinks again, then turns to face Aran: "And second of all: what's wrong with me? What's wrong with you! Are you seriously trying to defend wish-twisters, of all evils? I've met demons with better morals than Afrit! They prey on the deepest desires of the people who seek their help, and turn their hopes and dreams to ash. I've met daemons that weren't as morally bankrupt! Bog Nixies may be marginally better, at least they use their prey for food, but don't expect me to lose any sleep about killing one of them, and even less about using the body to actually do something useful."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:58, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

"What? You're wrong! Ughhhhh!" Aran's eyes flash once more and he drops into a defensive stance.

Um... initiative?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:07, Mon 12 Feb 2018.

"We have been tasked with finding and catching some of these bog-nixies, not slaying them all, if I recall. What's gotten into you?" Dakash isn't caught flat-footed, but he is off his guard with this new line of conversation going on around him.

He pays close attention to the 'little girl' while all this is happening.


23:50, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 27 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 19.  sense motive (?).

Yes, I remember what Zhor said about the hearts also being needed but I don't want to bring that up IC right now.

Wary of 'Lily', Leonia casts Detect Magic again. She then ambles along with the others while maintaining concentration. Midnight flies above, scouting the area.

Lilly smirks and takes a couple of careful steps backwards. Dakash notices that she seems to be enjoying herself. It could be that she shares Aran's views.

Akane drops into a martial stance, but her whip and her dagger remain on her belt. "A bard is always ready for a dance."

Leonia detects multiple auras again, not unlike the last time. Not unlike the last time, it might be dangerous to keep the spell up too long.

OOC: Aran, if you are intent on having a fistfight, you may roll initiative.

Akane is perfectly willing to go a few rounds.

Here's the rules:

All creatures are competent with their natural attacks, including unarmed attacks.

The unarmed attack of a human (or similar creature) inflicts 1d3 points plus strength modifier in nonlethal damage.

Nonlethal damage heals at a rate of one point per character level per hour.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:25, Wed 14 Feb 2018.

As Aran began to square off at Akane, a little voice in the back of his head spoke to him.

Remember to pick your battles, son.

His father's words rang true in his mind. This was not worth it... this would only reinforce everything Akane was saying about his people and that's not what he wanted.

Aran relaxed and sighed. "So, you hold every Ifrit accountable for what some bad ones might have done? Should I hold every human accountable for every bandit that's slain innocent people  trying to get somewhere no the roads? Should I blame every half-orc for the few that turn out to be total jerks and take on after their more aggressive parents? Should I blame every elf or dwarf, or nixie, or WHATEVER for the actions of a few bad ones?

There are a lot of Ifrit. Wishcrafters are rare, and bad ones are even rarer. If someone was wronged by them, there's reason to be mad, but those few wish twisters as you called them are just jerks. Everyone has jerks. Right now, you're being one."

After his rant, Aran simply folded his arms and turned his attention away from Akane.

11:48, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 10 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 2.  Intimidate Check [To Akane].
11:47, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 7 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 3.  Diplomacy Check (To Everyone but Akane).

In reply to Mysterious Ancient Wizard (msg # 179):

Leonia points a loaded crossbow at Lilly. "Akane has never acted like this before. I suspect you are the cause. Drop whatever mind manipulation you are causing, or gain a pound of weight the hard way" Leonia threatens.

"Yes...the time for games has passed, little trisckster." Dakash sides with his companion, adding his considerable frame and presence to her threat - though he does not hold a weapon other than a harsh glare and a clenched fist.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:14, Fri 16 Feb 2018.

Akane sighs: "I'm a bard Leonia, we are rather hard to charm, as a rule. Making us mad? Not quite as hard. Please put down the crossbow, Lilly didn't charm me."

Lilly nods, though she doesn't look too worried: "What tails said."

Akane shoots a mild glare at Lilly, before looking at Aran: "Aran... I think you might have misunderstood me. I'm specifically talking about Afrit here... Eefrit, if you prefer that term. Unlike their mortal descendants, they aren't 'bad', or 'foul-tempered', or 'jerks', as you put it. Just like a fire elemental is 'fire', an efreeti is 'evil'. Full outsiders are an aspect of Creation: their nature is fixed and must be dealt with as such. Back me up here, Leonia, you're the scholar."

Silence stretches for long seconds, until finally Lilly breaks it: "And what about them mixed bagsies you want a-killing? Are they asses of cremation too?"

Akane turns to look at her incredulously: "Bog. Nixies. How hard is it to remember TWO! WORDS!? And they are neither stubborn equines nor rear ends, though setting them on fire is probably a fine way to get rid of them."

She sighs exasperatedly.

Lilly raises an eyebrow: "So, what are they then?"

Akane looks away when she asnwers: "They are fae, and fae are... Complicated. They are immortals, and immortals are often tied to their nature. Mortals can transcend their nature, they can choose good over evil. for instance, or vice versa. Fae... Whether or not they can transcend their nature is anybody's guess. Bog nixies are known to lure mortals to their deaths, however. They do eat their prey, which makes them marginally better than other other evil creatures... But they are evil nonetheless."

In reply to Mysterious Ancient Wizard (msg # 182):

Leonia shakes her head at Akane. "The theory is hotly debated. Personally, I believe that if you have self-will, you have the ability to choose your nature. Sure, you are influenced by your peers, family, and environment, but every thinking being can choose their own morality. Nothing, not even Outsider nature, fixes a person's behavior on one-and-only-one course."

Akane turns sharply to look at Leonia with a delighted look on her face: "Oooh... Spoken like a true heretic! Make Asmodean Good Again! Not that he was ever good... I don't know why I said that."

Then she clears her throat and continues: "Anyway! Are we still on the same page about killing the nixie? Otherwise we may as well call it a day."

Aran sighs.

"I don't mind fighting a threat to remove it. I DO mind mutilating and defiling something's corpse just because it's 'Evil'. If it's as simple as removing parts once the deed is done, that's one thing. But if this is something you wouldn't do to a human who has chosen the path of evil... which is WORSE than an outsider because they chose that path instead of being forced into it, then I don't want to do it to a Nixie."

Aran turns his attention to Lily.

"Also, Lily, are the the Nixie we're looking for?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:42, Mon 26 Feb 2018.

"Ama whatnow? How dare you, call me a mixedie! Hey, silent boy, don't just stand there, defend my honor! We friends ain't we?" Lilly winks at Levithian as she says that.

Levithian looks at her ccnfused: "Did you just... Try to cast a spell at me? I don't think it worked."

OOC: "Roll init."

Aran 17 + 8 = 25
Dakash 20 + 2 = 22
Akane 17 + 5 = 22
Leonia 10 + 4 = 14
Levithian 10 + 2 = 12
Lilly 4 + 5 = 9

IDK why I chose red for Lilly, when so many people already use it... I'll change it later when she unshapeshifts :P

Also, there goes half of my plan to get rid of Levithian. Then again, Lilly would have assumed him to be a humanoid, identifying him correctly is kinda tricky.

Eh.

This message was last edited by the GM at 08:31, Mon 05 Mar 2018.

Dakash observed everything - he was very perceptive, after all - but trying to tie all the loose ends of this multi-person conversation together was becoming more and more difficult as time passed.

However, hearing Levithian's comment, and seeing the action and reaction of Lilly, he decided to err on the side of caution [with a dash of aggression thrown in for good measure], drawing his scimitar and buffing himself with an aura of holy energy. Just in case.


Cast Shield of Faith on self. Prepare to defend Leonia or self if necessary.

Keep Liberating Command on the back burner for now.

Aran sighs, disappointed and embarassed,  as he holds his open palm towards Lily.

Readied Action to cast an elemental ray at Lily if she does attempts to cast a spell again.


14:51, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 16 using 1d20+4 with rolls of 12.  Elemental Ray vs Touch.

Akane pulls out a dagger, and looks around warily: "I don't think it's safe to cast spells here."

Leonia protects herself with Mage Armor, saying "I know, but sometimes risks are necessary. "

Casts Mage Armor.

Levithian, apparently agreeing with Leonia, summons his dragon aspect.

Lilly just looks incredulously at them: "You people are crazy... I'm outta here! Have fun with the fireflies."

With that, she tries to run.

Leonia tries to bean Lilly with the stock of her crossbow but fails to connect.

Crossbow AoO,improvised = 1 on d20-4.

Levithian's dragon form lunges forward, trying to take a bite off the escaping fae, but his teeth snap on empty air, and the nixie quickly makes her way through the trees and underbrush.

Then, a ball of light approximately the size of a fist materializes right in front of him.

Followed by another.

And another.

The fireflies hover there as if confused.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:27, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

Akane's voice is barely a whisper: "I think we should leave..."

<orange>Roll Knowledge (Arcana), or Int if you don't have it.<orange>

Leonia starts edging away. "I think you're right..."

Knowledge Arcane 23 on d20+10.

14:34, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 16 using 1d20+5 with rolls of 11.  Knowledge: Arcana Check.

Having no idea what the lights were going to do next, and not wanting to test Lil's theory that they were going to 'have fun' with them, Dakash tensely awaits some sort of action or direction from Leonia, while wondering where their talkative opponent has run off to.

Leonia Withdraws from the area, trying to avoid any personal attention from the firefly ghosts. She can try to follow Lily AFTER avoiding the ghosts.

The fireflies seem to have taken an interest to the group, and follow, slowly.

As the party leaves the area, however, the lights begin to fall behind, with trees hiding them from sight for increasingly long stretches of time.

Eventually, they no longer reappear.

By then, however, darkness has fallen. The only options are to set up a camp or to wander the swamp at night. Neither is particularly pleasant.

Leonia says "Let's find a camp site that's defensible. I'll need eight hours of rest to rememorize spells, so I can take first watch with Midnight. Dakash, you're good with the second watch? Levi for third watch and Aran for 4th? That sound good?"

Pulling a rather large tent out of her backpack, Akane replies: "Zhorr used to tell me that, back in the day, they always let Lia or the cleric take last shift, since they didn't need to rest before praying, while he and the other book moths needed to rest just before studying. Oh, and they usually let their bards make breakfast, since we don't take nearly as much time to ready our spells. I think Dakash should take the last watch. Oh gods... This is going to take a while."

The last sentence is uttered as she surveys the clearing where the camp is going to be set up: wet, mushy terrain does not make for a good camp site, and collecting sticks and dry wood in a swamp is almost a quest of its own.

"You know, I never understood that whole 'Preparation' thing. What's up with that anyway?"

Aran shrugs as he tries to help Akane to prep the site.

"And for the record, I'm still mad. You MIGHT be right about Efreets being evil, but torturing them is evil too. There's not any getting around that, no matter WHAT your reasoning. And like I said, humans are worse. When humans do evil things, they are always making a choice. No natural laws or cosmic circumstance of their birth makes them do things. But I highly doubt you'd be so eager to go and torture and rip out an evil wizard's heart if you had the choice, would you?

So yeah, if we're gonna go after Lilly, fine. Shes a threat and a danger to anyone in the area. If we're gonna take her heart, that's fine too. But we don't need to be jerks about it. Just kill the bad guy and take what we need. No messing around or anything like that."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:47, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

OOC: I seem to have missed this reply... My apologies.

Akane shrugs, and starts collecting branches and leaves: "I doubt the old geezers tortured those Afrit for their magic. It's not like they were hiding some kind of spellbook, after all: wish magic is part of them, like our magic is part of us. I can't explain my magic to Zhorr, and if somebody decided to take a ruby knife to my hide to discover its secrets, I expect they would find my corpse far more cooperative than my living self. If nothing else, I suspect the loud screaming and incessant struggling would prove rather distracting. Hold this."

With that, she hands a few relatively large leafy branches to Aran, and starts working on them with her dagger and the help of some Prestidigitation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:31, Wed 11 Apr 2018.

Dakash seems torn between two opposing viewpoints. It is not long before he voices his concerns.

"We cannot make a habit of agreeing to complete a task for someone and then change our minds when we encounter an obstacle. This is specifically why ones like us are employed for these tasks; we are problem solvers. The fact that this creature has a personable attitude at our first encounter does not make up for the number of deaths and amount of woe they and their kinds have spread across the region." He seems determined to press forward, ghost fairies or not.

"Just wish the girl was amenable to discussing the fireflies with Zhorr. I'd bet he'd be more interested in that subject that taking apart a fey like Lilly. She might even get something out of the exchange,aside from not dying." Leonia muses aloud.

As she talks, Akane keeps waving her arms in regular patterns in front of the branches held by Aran. With each pass, a little water drips down from the tips of some leaves, then a wave of warm dry air coaxes some more humidity from the wood.

Without taking her eyes off the work, she replies: "We can probably find safer sources of information than a man-eating nixie. I don't think she tried to infiltrate our group to make casual conversation."

She eyes the result of her work critically: "Eh, good enough, I guess. This should work."

Handing over the branches to Leonia and Dakash to split the workload, she collects some more and hands them to Aran: "I mean, she's obnoxious, has a bad sense of humor, and apparently can shapeshift in a number of nasty critters. I'd call her a fey after my own heart, but you know the problem with cannibals: when they call you a tasty little morsel, they don't mean it in the good way."
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:17, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

Aran sighs.

"Akane, your cantrips don't seem to be attracting the butterflies. I wonder if that's something we can use to our advantage?"

Akane blinks, then blinks again: "Huh... I wonder why though."

A word and a gesture later, she's scanning the surroundings with detect magic.

A few seconds later she calls out: "Um... Leonia? Would you mind checking the area for magic again?"

Dakash makes an offhand gesture, summoning his own divine ability to detect magical energies. "I admit, most of my own divine power is more useful in direct conflict...but I sense nothing in the immediate area. I hope these things cannot teleport, or turn themselves invisible."

He remains vigilant, though, with a spell of protection readied in his mind, and his will poised to send out a pulse of positive energy should the swarms attack from multiple directions.

Akane frowns, then resumes drying branches for the tent: "Maybe they aren't everywhere? I mean, we did fight that plant zombie thing without any showing up. If we can get Lilly alone without the fireflies, it's going to be a much easier fight."

"That's the challenge then, isn't it?" The blue warrior-priest couldn't contain his disappointment. "She fears the bugs, and therefore so should we...or at least show them a healthy respect. But we cannot detect them until they are upon us, and we must search blindly for a woman who can disguise herself magically. So..." He began to see why so many fierce warriors tended to spit on the ground. It was cathartic.

"So we discover what made the ghost bugs and undo it? Not likely. Find another target for them while we look for her? Not appealing. Daylight, nighttime, neither seems to give an advantage. There must be some reason it was even suggested we could finish this task, if it wasn't for our arcane powers or physical brawn, wouldn't you think?"

Akane grits her teeth: "All we need to do is catch her when there are no fireflies around. We know it's possible, we just have to be careful. Either they are only active during part of the day, or they aren't everywhere. Or both. I really don't want to go back to Zhorr and tell him we failed... Lia does this sad little pout, then tells you it's not your fault, and you've done your best... And then six months later you find that twenty people died and you could have stopped it, and you just feel horrible for months..." She stops her tirade blushing slightly. "Sorry."

"Well, we know that magic lures them, so if we take our time we can probably figure out the spots where we're less likely to find them. Run around, cast some cantrips, and if they show up retreat and find a different area. We'll have to spend the next day or so figuring that out though, but I don't think we're in a rush."

Aran now happily begins engaging with the kindling, preparing to start a fire by lighting the gathered wood with a spark spell.

With a little bit of magic, and a good amount of work, the tent is eventually raised and the sleeping spots set up, with branches and leaves to keep them away from the mushy terrain.

A light evening meal is quickly prepared, and consumed with equal celerity. "Alright... Time to go to bed. I was thinking: mages and priests require an hour to prepare their spells, but bards and sorcerers only require fifteen minutes, so we can save some time tomorrow morning if one of us creative types prepare breakfast, after refreshing our spells. Should we go over the guard shifts one last time?"

OOC: I am currently waiting on the exact guard shifts to post the events for the night.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:45, Mon 30 Apr 2018.

Leonia muses aloud "perhaps a spell that travels, like Dancing Lights, can lure the butterflies away from an area we are in. An experiment we may need to try at some point. Actually, what of an illusion of butterflies following Lilly if we encounter her again? It might unsettle her enough to make a mistake."

Akane considers it for a moment: "I could sent a silent image after her... But then I wouldn't be able to do anything else during the entire fight. Well, I can still coordinate a dance-fight, I suppose... But I wouldn't be able to attack or cast other spells."

OOC: Concentrating on a spell is a standard action that does not provoke attacks of opportunity, which means Akane will only have a move action available on each turn. It's still a potentially viable idea if Lilly considers the firefly a real threat: at the very least it should make it easier to get a flanking bonus.

Aran nods in agreement.

"It's the best plan we've been able to come up with so far. For now though, we should get some sleep. I'll take the last watch, so Leonia and Dakash will have some time to 'prepare' their magic."

Aran scoffs playfully as he lays down to relax and warm himself near the fire.

"Well, when faced with an enemy in their own territory, I have never seen it come to pass that success is met by letting them choose the time and location of the battle. If we wish, I can attempt to track this bog nixie, at least to places she's been, and perhaps those places will also steer us clear of these undead sprites she seemed to be wary of as well."


Dakash Szagdala rolled 12 using 1d20+7 with rolls of 5.  Track (if necessary) otherwise take 10.

Not sure the DC or parameters of this so...

"Then I'll take first watch, with Midnight to watch my back." Leonia says as she pulls out a spellbook to study.

Dakash is fine with second or third, though he prefers to see the sunrise. The preference of other spellcasters getting the rest they need is given higher priority than his desire to usher in a new day with prayer.

OOC: Guard shifts: Leonia 30 (+midnight 28), Dakash (?), Levithian (1), Akane (9), Aran (?).Leonia's shift passes without many surprises; at one point, she gets a definite feeling of being watched. As she carefully inspects the surroundings, however, all she notices is a little lizard-like animal scampering away from the big scary elf.

Leonia casts a Detect Magic, in case the Lizard is a polymorphic Lilly, come to spy on them. When the time comes, she awakens Dakash.

First round: Leonia finds that magic auras are present within her line of detection.

Leonia hands flash into a spellcasting pattern.

Initiative 11 on d20+4.


"Dakash, wake up!" she hisses.

A few moments later, Dakash wakes up. By the time he gets his bearings, Leonia is no longer sensing any magic auras.

Groggy, foggy, soggy...all these things came to mind as the big blue warrior-priest rose from his slumber. It was much like the feeling he got when he first realizes in each incarnation that he's been in others before - disorientation and confusion. But his mind quickly focuses and he rises to a crouch, hand on his weapon.

"Sorry to wake you, Big Guy. Lilli stopped by to see what we were up to, but she left before I could Stun her. She was polymorphed into a small lizard-like creature and scampered away just now."

He chuckles as he shrugs on his chain shirt. She always seemed to have a nickname for him of some type or another. For a moment, Dakash considers creating light by cantrip, but remembers the ghost bugs are supposedly attracted to magic.

"A small lizard will be nearly impossible to follow in this landscape. Is she toying with us, like a will-o-wisp, hoping to draw us into danger? This little creature disturbs me; I can begin to see why they may be dangerous to passers-by." He finishes his preparations in mere seconds and stands ready for action.

"I suppose we could chase after her and cast cantrips, hoping to draw our mutual enemy upon us both. Or sit around for another night and hope she gets curious again."

"Go back to sleep. I will wake you when it's your watch. I think she was just spying, trying to see if she could catch us unawares." Leonia says.

"If you insist. I wonder...if Lev is a summoner...could he bring in a  creature with the ability to track her by scent? Just a thought." He lay back down, choosing to keep his chain shirt on for the odd remaining hours of rest he'd get, then quickly fell back into a dream-filled sleep.

Leonia's shift ended without further surprises, and Dakash did not find any reason to awake Levithian before the appointed time.

As he woke up Lev for his shift, he floated past him the idea of using a summoned creature to track down Lilly.

Lev regretfully informed him that... He wasn't a very good summoner.

He then bade Dakash goodnight and started his watch.

OOC: I am sticking to Levithian's established background, which indeed has him not be as much of a summoner as one might expect.

Even without that, however, summoners can only have creatures out for a few minutes at a time (20 minutes at level 20, last time I checked).

Which is still about an order of magnitude better than your average spellcaster, but insufficient for that particular purpose.

Next post will be back to present tense... And the promised fight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:30, Tue 15 May 2018.

Buzz. Buzz. Slish. Splash.

Slish. Splash. Slish. Buzz.

Spash. Buzz. Slish. Splash.

Slish. Slish. Buzz. Flap.

Wait... Flap?  That's a new one.

Flap. Flap. Flap flap flap flapflapflapflap...

The first thing that Levithian sees is a large... Thing... The size of a human child, With bat wings, insect eyes, and a beak (or maybe a proboscis?) shaped like a giant needle.

The second thing Levithian sees is the beast's companions, multiple smaller things shaped just like it.

All of them flying at him.

"Wake up! We're under attack!"


OOC: Roll init, roll knowledge arcana to idendity.

Even though she was expecting something like this, Leonia is sluggish in awakening.

Initiative 5 on d20+4.
Knowledge Nature 29 on d20+9. Natural 20.
Knowledge Arcana 29 on d20+10.

07:54, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 27 using 1d20+8 with rolls of 19.  Initiative.

Aran swiftly responds to the call to wake, and glares at the threat with contempt.

OOC: Order of Initiative:

Aran 27
Stirge 3 21
Giant Stirge 19
Stirge 1 18
Stirge 5 17
Akane 16
Stirge 2 13
Stirge 4 13
Dakash 10
Levithian 6
Leonia 5

Aran is up first: he has a chance to take out most of the stirges in a single shot with a burning hands, if he still has one. Unfortunately, unless most of them die on the spot, there is a very good chance he'll then end up a tasty snack.

Aran chants momentarily in Ignan and a fiery shield appears around him. He then casually makes his way towards the Stirges.

Casting Shock [Fire] Shield. If I get surrounded by stirges, I will release the fire shield to do 1d6 Damage to them.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:06, Fri 18 May 2018.

The stirges seem worried for a moment by the flames surrounding Aran, but go back to their aggressive posture as the flames focus into a pane and disappear. Not having magical senses, they cannot see the invisible force shield that they have transformed into.

What they can see is Aran, who appears to be offering them a tasty meal, and the stirges are more than happy to oblige him.

Three of the small creatures, and the large one, descend on the sorcerer and sink their needle-like proboscises into the closest exposed part of his body they can find.

Akane reacts clapping her hands hard, which focuses everybody's attention on the fight, then she pulls out her dagger while moving a few steps closer to Aran.

The remaining two stirges just join their comrades in taking advantage of the free meal being provided. The first one joins its brethren, but the last one seems at a loss as to where exactly it should attach.


OOC: to reiterate, you can only take free actions on your turn.

As it turns out, stirges have +7 to their attack, not +1, so all of them except the last one hit Aran.

Lucky him...

Aran loses 5 Constitution points, which also lowers his maximum and current hp total by 4.

Everybody now has the benefits of Inspire Courage, which is a +1 to hit and damage rolls, and a +1 bonus against charm and fear effects.

With the action already begun, Dakash turns and hurls his scimitar at one of the 'bugs' still circling the wizard, though his desire to kill it in one shot is at odds with his desire to *not* hit his ally. The result is a spinning blade that arcs gracefully through the air like a boomerang, missing everything.

The priest moves up to stand a few paces from the wizard, believing he knows the fiery effect about to take place, and catches his sword as it spins back into his open hand. He just needs to be close enough to step up and heal the man if he needs it, or catch him if he passes out first.


Rolled a 9 to-hit. Spent 1 daily blessing for an easy shot and missed.

Move to about 10' from Aran.

Levithian points a finger at the large stirge, barking a single word of power. A small orb of liquid flies off and impacts the largest of the stirges, hitting one of its wings. The creature winces in pain and flaps it quickly, removing most of the acid, but an angry red mark indicates that it didn't get off unscathed.

Leonia positions herself to get the stirges in a cone effect. She fires off a Color Spray, hoping that Aran has stronger willpower than a bunch of stupid vampire-birds.

Casting Color Spray Vs Stirges, Aran. Will Save 16 to negate.

OOC: Do I need to make the Save rolls for the Stirges and Lilli?

Aran has a will of fire. Leonia's hopes were met, and met well.

The young man was weary from the stirges' onslaught as his initial plan to protect himself and simultaneously mount an offense against them backfired. Knowing full well his attack will leave him significantly harmed, Aran vengefully unleashes his shield upon the stirges surrounding him.

"Hrm! Fine then!"


Aran passes his saves and he takes 3 fire damage. The Stirges must save vs. 17 or take 6 fire damage fire damage. Aran's HP are now 3/8

11:30, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 21 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 18.  Reflex vs. Color Spray. Also, am I second level? When did I get second level?

14:59, Today: Aran Kalisar rolled 2,4 using d6,d4 with rolls of 2,4.  Shock Shield + Volatile Conduit damage.


This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Fri 01 June 2018.

All the small stirges fall to the ground as Leonia's colorful spell hits them

The large one manages to land somewhat more gracefully than its brethren, its wings twitching, and just sits there while Aran unleashes fiery fury on it and the little ones.

One of the stirges is burnt deeply, its skin cracking and oozing fluids. Another stirge is burnt to an inch of its life, and the remaining ones get roasted between rare and medium-

The giant one, however, seems relatively unharmed by Aran's flames.



OOC:

Stirge 1 status:
Bloodied 2/5.
+ unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 5 rounds (Leonia)
+ blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds
+ stunned for 1 round

Stirge 2 status:
Wounded 2/5.
+ unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 4 rounds (Leonia)
+ blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds
+ stunned for 1 round

Stirge 3 status:
Staggered 5/5.
+ unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 6 rounds (Leonia)
+ blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds
+ stunned for 1 round

Stirge 4 status:
Dying 6/5.
+ unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 4 rounds (Leonia)
+ blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds
+ stunned for 1 round

Stirge 5 status:
Wounded 4/5.
+ unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 6 rounds (Leonia)
+ blinded and stunned for 1d4 rounds
+ stunned for 1 round

Giant Stirge's status:
Wounded 3/22
+ blinded and stunned for 4 rounds (Leonia)
+ stunned for 1 round

Akane can scarcely believe her eyes when all of the stirges drop to the floor in various degree of unconsciousness, even more so when Aran makes roast birdbug out of them.

Yelling something in a language that is most definitely not Common, she tries to charge at the giant stirge, but the mushy terrain forces her to approach more carefully than she would have liked, and in the end she just takes a swing with her dagger, slicing through its skin and leaving a deep gash.

She finishes with a flourish, once again refocusing the rest of the party's attention on the combat.

OOC: Another 4 damage to the giant stirge, and another round of bardic performance.
Everybody please roll Perception.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:48, Mon 04 June 2018.

Guessing the large stirge was Lilli, Leonia fires an acid dart at the giant stirge.

Perception 14 on d20+11.

Ranged touch attack 26 on d20+7. Point-Blank shot, Inspire courage.
Damage 5 on d6+4. Acid damage.

She says "concentrate on killing the big one. The others will still be easy to kill for the next 30 seconds or so."

Seeing an opening in the swarm of enemies, Dakash steps forward in the mucky footing to deliver a shield bash that would (hopefully) move the large stirge from it's place beside the wizard, so that the warrior priest could be on hand to heal him in the next few seconds.


Move to flanking position if possible for the +2 bonus(?).

12:51, Today: Dakash Szagdala rolled 11 using 1d20+3 ((8)).
Unsure what dmg is but I am not disappointed with the mediocre roll.

It is at this point that a woman in a really shiny breastplate suddenly appears from behind a tree (literally appears, as in, her invisibility breaks) and shoots an arrow at Leonia.

The arrow's path seems to curve slightly to better hit Leonia, though fortunately in the end it's still a graze.

"Ugh! That's so rude! Why won't you people just lay down and die?!"

Leonia gets sniped, and thus denied her DEX bonus to AC. The arrow hits despite the relatively poor roll. 3 damage.

Aran's turn.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:55, Sat 09 June 2018.

"We're trying to save lives, Lilly! It actually feels kinda good!" With that, Aran throws his head up to his ears and unleashes a fiery magical scream upon his enemy.

3 Damage ear burning scream vs. Lilly. Save halves. Save or Dazed for one round.

The spell does not appear to have any effect on Lilly. Her ears do not catch on fire as one might otherwise expect, nor does she appear to be affected by the sound of Aran's scream.

Sensing that Lilly's bow has the Seeking property, Leonia silently curses, having already expended her Mage Armor for the day. Instead she opts for Offense as Defense, and turns towards Lilly. She DID have a second Color Spray memorized, and Lilly was the lucky recipient.


Cast Color Spray at Lilly. DC 16 Will check to overcome its effects.
AC 14

Caster Level check 4 on d20+2. That cannot be good........
This message was last edited by the player at 21:58, Sun 24 June 2018.

With a momentary reprieve from the swarm's attack, thanks to his magic-producing friends, Dakash takes the opportunity to move closer to the wounded wizard and grant him a moment's respite from his wounds.


Convert Burning Disarm to CLW. Heal Aran for 6 HP. If he needs more help I can use a swift action to add 50% to that, bringing it up to 9 total healing. 

Akane moves closer to Dakash, taps him on the shoulder and utters a word of power. Dakash suddenly feels much lighter on his feet. Expeditious retreat for 3 minutes.

"Take her down fast, I'm almost out of battledance juice."

Lilly shakes her head: "Look, this is much easier if you don't resist... Here, let me help." She smiles at Leonia and snaps her fingers.

Leonia smiles back. "I love that about you. Always willing to help." She lowers her arms from potential spellcasting.

Not knowing what magic tricks their quarry was using, Dakash assumes he will be targeted next, and so with a silent nod of thanks to the wizard he dashes forward through the muck, intent on striking the little wizardess that was causing them so much trouble.


Move as far as I can in the terrain toward Lilly. If ER helps me make it there, swing in melee; if not, throw sword again, using another blessing for the day.

Missed either way.

A silent thunderclap fills the air, followed by a bright flash of darkness. A moment later, the clearing is clear, and the party falls awake.

OOC: Fight's over. Lilly is nowhere to be seen. Neither are the stirges, or Levithian. You no longer remember anything about Lilly or Lev, except for Dakash, who rememebrs everything, but like a distant dream.

You lose the Cantrips and Orisons Class Features. You can still use your 0th level spell slots to cast spells, but only once per day, just like other spells.

The Ioun Stone that gave you an extra cantrip or orison gives you the ability to use that spell as a 1/day SLA instead.

If you try focus on the goal of the mission, you vaguely rememeber that you were supposed to collect rare ingredients, but you couldn't find them.

If Prestidigitation is on your spell list, you add Minor Wish to your spell list, as a 5th level spell, with a material component of 200 gp.

It works like Limited Wish, except that all the spell levels in its description are 2 lower.

If Miracle is on your spell list, and Prestidigitation is not, you add Limited Wish and Minor Wish to your domain spells as an 8th and 6th level spells respectively. You also gain a new spell by the name "Least Wish": it is a 1st level domain spell that works exactly like Prestidigitation.

If you don't have domain spell slots, you instead gain the ability to cast any wish spell spontanously by converting another spell of at least the same level, but only once per day per spell.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:56, Sat 07 July 2018.

Akane gingerly raises a hand to her forehead: "...ow. Does anybody remember why we are all up? And maybe why I seem to be out of spell and dance fight power? And maybe why my head feels like it's going to split in two?"

"Yes..." Dakash rises from his [apparently] impromptu resting place and circles the area warily. He seems to be on his guard for something no one else can see, or remember.

"There was a fight. And many small enemies. We are missing one of our number." He frowns in obvious concentration, but says no more.

Akane blinks, then grits her teeth: "Somebody played with my memory? Crap... I'll have to ask..." She trails off with a puzzled expression, which quickly becomes panicked, until she finally exclaims: "Zhorr! And Lia! Zhorr and Lia. For a moment I couldn't remember their names... OK, we are out of here. I don't care if we have to walk through the night, nobody's taking THOSE memories."

She casts a light spell on the pommel of her dagger, and a moment later she raises a hand to her head. "Gods my head is killing me... What's wrong with my magic?"

OOC: 3.x spontaneous casters were still spontanous with their cantrips, so Aran will still be able to mix and match his cantrips at will, even though they are now a finite resource.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:12, Sat 14 July 2018.

"Missing one? Are you sure?" Leonia asks the blue-skinned warrior. "All I know is that I feel somewhat off-kilter. Like something has changed in the way arcane power flows through me. It's hard to explain..."

Aran frowns as he comes to, contemplating his connections to his arcane powers. "Yeah, I feel weird too, " he replies to Leonia. "Who are we missing. This is everyone we came with, right?"

Akane looks around: "I count four of us... Weren't we four to begin with? Gods my head hurts. Also, for some reason I feel like I should be able to cast basic spells like 'light' over and over and over... Which is ridiculous, because that's not how magic works. The hell??"
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:02, Mon 16 July 2018.

When Akane finally leaves the shade of the swamp to greet the setting sun, she is looking around for something to kill. She feels dirty, smelly, and tired. She has, at this point, discovered that her cantrips are a limited resource just like her other spells, something that feels both right and unsettling at the same time, so she has conserved her Prestidigitation for times of need.

Also, somebody messed around in her head, so she is more angry than she can describe. Considering she's a Bard, and half of her job is describing things, this is rather telling.

Somewhat surprisingly, the party was not challenged by anything as they made their way through the swamp. However, it took longer than expected, and everybody is tired and jumpy.

Fire and tents are set up, and a light meal prepared and consumed before arrangements for the nights are decided.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:36, Sat 21 July 2018.

Dakash is restless during the time that passes between the end of hostilities that he *knows* happened, and the setting up of a campsite. He wants to tell the others what he knows, what he remembers, but at the same time can't be entirely convinced within his own mind that he isn't currently under the effects of some spell or illusion, and everyone else is in the reality he's left behind.

Such is the pressure of having a multi-planar soul bound to your body.

"So...you all remember that there were spiders we avoided a few days ago, right? And that there are worgs stalking these lands that we have alternately discussed hiding from and fighting to get them out of the way, right?" He stirs the embers of the fire idly as he stares at their redness.

"How would I be able to tell, or tell you, that we are in an elaborate illusion right now? Or that we were, and now we aren't?" He poses the riddle to them openly, as fully two-thirds of his group are practiced spellcasters in their own right.

Akane sighs: "I think Zhorr and Lia might be able to help, but since you are the only one who seems to remember most of what we actually did, you'll have to do most of the talking. Right now, however, I thnk what we really need is a good night's sleep."

The night passes questly, and the return trip to Carp is surprisingly devoid of bad news. By the time the village is in sight, Akane is telling herself not to be silly, a peaceful return trip in no way means that something bad happened or is going to happen soon.

She keeps telling herself that right until the moment she sees bridge.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:35, Mon 23 July 2018.