dintiradan:
New MapTool install, so gimme a sec.
dintiradan:
Turn off avatars, turn off smilies, and there was something else, right?
GM Lilith:
turn on Use Tooltips For Inline Rolls
dintiradan:
How is everyone?
Sarachim:
I'm pretty good, and yourself?
BJ Earles:
I'm doing okay. You?
GM Lilith:
nice. we got everyone here
sylae:
sorry had to get clean
sylae:
hnow we can get down and dirty
Braidvine Bow:
Let's get this party started!
BJ Earles:
(I might be a little loopy tonight. I'm not running on much sleep.)
GM Lilith:
btw is there any particular party formation or anything you folks are travelling in that i should organise you into before the session? like, zombies bringing up the front or anything like that?
BJ Earles:
Yeah, zombies up front, me right behind them I suppose.
GM Lilith:
don't worry about it i've got like 5 hours of sleep under my belt myself and am awake only thanks to caffeine
Sarachim:
I'd be somewhere in the middle, since I'm made of glass
BJ Earles:
Most of us are made of glass...
Sarachim:
I'm, like, extra-fragile glass.
GM Lilith:
yeah roxy's actually doing better than half the party in the sense of Actually Having A Parry Score
Sarachim:
Goddamn it, people. :P
Jered:
I would also like a marching position that takes the fact that I'm only useful at range into account. That said, being protected is not super crucial anymore. :)
sylae:
Parry? What's that? :P
BJ Earles:
...When a dedicated caster is your toughest character, you know you have problems. :P
Audrey Martel:
All but one of us are dedicated casters :p
Audrey Martel:
It's an experiment!
Jered:
(Also, if there's any tracking or whatever to be done, I'd probably be in the lead. Rearguard is also fine.)
Sarachim:
We're high-level dudes, now. We can do an all-caster party.
Sarachim:
We have summoning and stuff.
Audrey Martel:
I'm just waiting for something to inevitable eat the roc and take all of our bravado with it :p
Audrey Martel:
inevitably*
sylae:
Summon Bigger Bird?
Sarachim:
Nonsense. Everybody knows you can't stop the roc.
Jered:
Nothing beats roc. Good ol' roc.
BJ Earles:
(Trying... really... hard... not... to ... spew...)
GM Lilith:
okay. any other pre-session business or are we ready to do the recap and get started?
GM Lilith:
(you get nauseous when you're sleep deprived too huh? condolences)
Sarachim:
I was gonna do more bird puns but I guess I'm ready to start
Jered:
Other than requesting a kraken fight so we can add a zombie kraken to our roster, I'm good.
BJ Earles:
(I meant my drink.)
BJ Earles:
I second that.
BJ Earles:
And ready to roll.
GM Lilith:
neato. anyone have a recap ready or shall i?
Sarachim:
We sailed to an unknown island, where some Stone Age people had a parasite-infected shaman. They told us that further south there are pale goblins who sail metal ships and have lots of problems in their lives.
Sarachim:
We gave them a stern lecture about Ammat-Xan and parasite safety, then went on our way. Now we've landed at a creepy island covered with clouds and very, very angry birds.
Sarachim:
It's probably Lentoir.
Leila Rithorn:
Elementals, not birds.
GM Lilith:
That about covers it, I think.
GM Lilith:
Your ship is moored in a small bay on the coast of a remote island, far to the south of all your homelands. There may once have been a harbour here: narrow pillars of cracked stone and rusted metal stand here and there, sticking out of the ground or the shallows, the last remains of some ancient construction. According to the best charts and records available to you, this is most likely the legendary island of Lentoir: in any case, there was certainly once a civilisation here and it now appears to be gone.
GM Lilith:
Thanks to Audrey's horse, your party should be able to carry about eight days' supply of food and water for everyone without having to slow down or leave behind any of your other gear. The sailors aboard your vessel watch you uneasily as you begin to pack for your journey. They whisper among themselves until one speaks up. "We can stay here for thirty days. No longer. After that, we'll have to turn back while we still have provisions for the return journey -- with or without you. No amount of money will make us starve to death on the shore of a forsaken island."
Jered:
How bad is the 'storm' now?
Sarachim:
"Fair enough. Don't leave early."
Leila Rithorn:
I look at the sailors and silently weight the costs and benefits of a zombie crew.
Audrey Martel:
"If we're here for that long we'll probably be dead anyways.:
GM Lilith:
It's still windy and raining heavily. Judging by the cloud cover above you, it's likely to get less intense as you progress further inland, at least.
Jered:
"Are you all gonna stay with the ship, or find cover inland?"
Leila Rithorn:
I get my zombies formed up in a line at the front and stand by to march when everyone else is ready.
Sailor:
"Can't say as I much like either option. This storm's bad, but nothing I've heard about this damned island is good either. Better the devil you know, I say."
Sarachim:
What's the landscape like? Is there anything to hint which way we should go?
Jered:
I shrug. "Suit yourself. Don't die or anything until we come back."
GM Lilith:
From where you're standing and what Jered and Leila have seen while scouting on her roc, Lentoir looks pretty barren -- the driving rains have turned the thin layer of silty topsoil into ankle-deep mud, but there's no other water to be seen, and the only forms of life visible are scattered patches of dark red moss and a few stunted, twisted trees. In terms of potentially interesting locations, Jered spotted what looked like some partially intact buildings, perhaps the remains of a town or city, some distance to the southeast of your current position, and a familiar red mark in the sky to the southwest.
Sarachim:
"Red marks mean someone's alive, at least. I suggest we try that first."
Audrey Martel:
"Anyone here's supposed to be living underground anyways."
Leila Rithorn:
"I concur. We should see if we can wipe the red from the sky here first."
Leila Rithorn:
To the southwest then.
GM Lilith:
You set out to the southwest, making slow but steady progress. Sure enough, the rains and wind quickly begin to let up as you go further inland -- after a few hours of travel, it's falling lightly enough that Bekora should be able to use her magic without interference.
Lib:GM:
draws King of Diamonds
GM Lilith:
As you proceed toward the mark in the sky, you pass by a large stand of trees in the evening of your first day's travel. Even considering that it's winter most of the trees you've passed by have looked half-dead, but these ones look healthy and green and are heavily laden with shiny round black fruit.
Leila Rithorn:
I don't know much about plants, but I reach out and pick one anyway.
Jered:
I investigate, curious. Do I recognize the type?
Sarachim:
"Jered, you know from trees. Your thoughts?"
Leila Rithorn:
"Anyone know these?"
GM Lilith:
Roll Survival for it, Jered.
Audrey Martel:
"Probably cursed. Like everything else."
Jered:
| Survival Roll: 9 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| You Aced! | |
Jered:
(11. Woo, Woodsman is relevant!)
GM Lilith:
Leila picks a fruit. It comes off easily.
Jered:
"Huh. Never seen 'em before. Shoulda brought Rel along."
Jered:
"Nothing seems to be eating them, though. Maybe they're bad for you, maybe there's just nothing here to eat the fruit. I dunno."
Jered:
"We've got enough food, though, right? Leave 'em alone until we really need 'em, I guess."
Rokhsana:
"You know that, Audrey, or are you just speculating?"
Rokhsana:
"We might as well pick some now. We might not come this way again, and even if they're poison they'll be useful to study."
Rokhsana:
I start filling one of our empty food bags with fruit.
Leila Rithorn:
I shug and put one in my pack anyway. "Perhaps someone will know."
GM Lilith:
You pack up some of the fruit to take with you, keeping them separate from the rest of your food just in case.
GM Lilith:
Continuing on your way now, I assume?
Audrey Martel:
Audrey just shakes her head. "First rule of weird stuff, don't touch anything."
Leila Rithorn:
(Not again.)
Jered:
"Eh, poking with a stick is usually fine. Usually. I don't see any thorns or anything, so they'll probably just get a rash."
GM Lilith:
You travel a little while longer before finding a relatively dry spot under a few of the less-sickly trees to make camp. You rest for the night and set off again in the morning.
GM Lilith:
I'll need Vigor rolls from everyone -- Bekora and Audrey get to make theirs at +2 due to their edge and racial bonus respectively.
GM Lilith:
The zombies don't have to roll. :P
Jered:
| Vigor Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| You Aced! | |
Leila Rithorn:
| Vigor Roll: 17 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| You Aced 2 times!!!! | |
Audrey Martel:
| Vigor Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 7 |
| Wild Die Aced! |
Leila Rithorn:
...Niiiiice.
Bekora Tiquo:
| Vigor Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
Rokhsana:
| Vigor Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| Vigor rolled a 1 |
GM Lilith:
Going to reroll that one or keep it, Roxy?
Jered:
(Read that as "House Martell".)
GM Lilith:
Based on your first day of travel, Lentoir's "curse" doesn't seem as bad as the rumours claim. As the day goes on, though, Rokhsana begins to notice a prickly red rash developing all over her skin, and starts to feel somewhat tired and ill.
Jered:
"See! What did I tell you?" I sigh and see if there's anything I can do to help. Healing roll?
GM Lilith:
Hmmm, you can try, but you'll need to roll well.
Jered:
(Erm, assuming we notice this.)
Jered:
| Healing Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| Healing rolled a 1 |
Rokhsana:
"Stop touching me, boy, it's only a rash." I'll roll healing as well.
Jered:
Hmm. Nah, no benny, I just met you. :P
Rokhsana:
| Roll modified by Fatigue=-1 |
| Healing Roll: 14 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| You Aced! | |
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana's pretty sure her rash isn't characteristic of any natural poison or disease she recognises, but she does her best to treat herself anyway. She applies soothing salves to her skin and takes a mixture of medicinal herbs to boost her metabolism and help flush out whatever she might have been exposed to. It's only a symptomatic treatment, but she does feel much better afterwards.
Rokhsana:
"Let's get a move on. We don't have all the time in the world, here."
GM Lilith:
I'm going to need a round of Notice rolls from the party now.
Rokhsana:
| Roll modified by Untrained Skill=-2 |
| Untrained Roll: -1 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| Untrained rolled a 1 |
Leila Rithorn:
| Notice Roll: 14 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| You Aced 2 times!!!! | |
Audrey Martel:
| Notice Roll: 3 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
Bekora Tiquo:
| Notice Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| Notice rolled a 1 |
sylae:
(i just suck at dice today :()
Jered:
| Notice Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
GM Lilith:
As you continue on into the early afternoon, Leila and Jered notice something odd ahead. Something's moving under the ground, creating disturbances that are just visible on careful inspection. Whatever they are, there are about eight to ten of them and they seem to be approaching the party.
Leila Rithorn:
"Wait, I see something... I think."
Jered:
"Something's coming."
Rokhsana:
"How close? How fast?"
Leila Rithorn:
"Whatever it is, it's underground."
Leila Rithorn:
"I can't say what it is."
Rokhsana:
"Well, two can play at that." I summon an Earth Elemental.
sylae:
I sigh and unholster my revolver.
Rokhsana:
| Rokhsana casts SummonAid Roll modified by Trait Modifer=1 |
| Spellcasting Roll: 10 |
Wild Roll: 10 |
| Wild Die Aced! |
| With the following effect:Summons 1 medium ally |
Leila Rithorn:
I ready my rapier and buckler.
GM Lilith:
They're moving at a fast walking pace, and at this rate they'll have reached you in under a minute.
Jered:
I notch an arrow. "What am I supposed to aim at? Okay, we gonna wait for them, or try run away?"
GM Lilith:
(Time to quickly stat out an earth elemental. :P)
sylae:
I look around for a tree, or rock, or something, to stand on
Rokhsana:
(I think the manual has stats for that)
Rokhsana:
(Near the back, IIRC)
GM Lilith:
There are a few rocks sticking out of the earth large enough for Bekora could climb up onto.
GM Lilith:
(Yeah, it does, I just gotta implement them in MapTool. :P)
sylae:
I climb up onto the nearest rock, then
Audrey Martel:
I will ride out ahead, towards the things but trying to stay out of any kind of weapon range.
Leila Rithorn:
I'll send the roc out to fly low over them. Maybe we can get them to surface.
Earth Elemental:
Character Sheet Button added. Roll Trait Button added. Burn Bennie Button added. Use Weapon Button added.
Jered:
Bek's got the right idea. I climb on a rock as well.
sylae:
(was there ever any doubt)
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana moves her hands in arcane patterns, and a hulking stone figure rises up from the ground.
Rokhsana:
I got a raise, so it should have Hardy.
GM Lilith:
Bekora and Jered take defensive positions atop nearby rocks, while Audrey rides ahead and Leila sends her roc out toward the source of the disturbances.
GM Lilith:
(Yep, sure does.)
GM Lilith:
(There we go, that'll remind me.)
GM Lilith:
Is that everyone?
GM Lilith:
Giant brown beetles, each one about four feet long with a round body and large claws on its front legs, burrow out of the mud and skitter toward Audrey and her horse, apparently attempting to surround them.
Leila Rithorn:
I sigh at my ally's blunder and hit one of the beetles with Rend Life.
Jered:
I'll try Entangling the group on the left.
Leila Rithorn:
| Leila Rithorn casts RendLife |
| Spellcasting Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 19 |
| Wild Die Aced 3 times!!!! |
| With the following effect:3d6 bolt damage with AP 4 = 20 plus 4 with a raise. |
Braidvine Bow:
| Braidvine Bow casts Entangle |
| Spellcasting Roll: 6 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| With the following effect:Entangles all targets under a medium burst emplate |
Leila Rithorn:
(Dang, I'm just acing all over the place so far.)
Rokhsana:
I'll aim a Bolt at Beetle 2
Bekora Tiquo:
I grumble and shake my head, pulling out my bow. "no sense wasting ammo if they're that far away". Barbed arrow at 5
Bekora Tiquo:
| Reloading Shortbow fires a barbed arrow with Shortbow at Scavenging Beetle 5 (distance 14.991260112949199 = Medium Range) Roll modified by Medium Range=-2 |
| Shooting Roll: 7 |
| You Aced! | |
| The attack does 17 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 20 |
Rokhsana:
| Rokhsana casts Bolt Roll modified by Active Powers=-1 Trait Modifer=1 |
| Spellcasting Roll: 12 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| With the following effect:3d6 bolt damage = 13 plus 7 with a raise. |
GM Lilith:
One of the beetles collapses, felled by what you now know to be Leila's magic.
Leila Rithorn:
"Disgusting creatures."
Scavenging Beetle 6:
| Agility Roll: 7 |
| You Aced! | |
GM Lilith:
Another is felled by an arrow from Bekora, while two more are tangled up in vines from Jered's magic bow.
Leila Rithorn:
(do tangled enemies get defensive penalties?)
Audrey Martel:
| Audrey Martel casts Concussion |
| Spellcasting Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
| With the following effect:Bumps and Bruises plus 3d6 damage to one target =9plus3with a raise |
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana manages to obliterate another beetle with her magic.
GM Lilith:
(Nope, just Pace and Agility and Strength-based skills, by the look of it)
GM Lilith:
Which one was that targeting, Audrey?
Leila Rithorn:
Okay, moving the zombies closer and having the roc take a swipe at one of them
Audrey Martel:
We'll say #1
GM Lilith:
Audrey stuns one of the beetles with a burst of force.
Zombie Roc:
| rakes its Talons at Scavenging Beetle (Parry 5) |
| Fighting Roll: 4 |
| The attack does 21 damage if successful against a Toughness of 5If you hit with a raise your damage is 23 |
GM Lilith:
Leila's roc takes a mighty swing at the nearest beetle, but catches only mud in its talons.
GM Lilith:
That everyone?
Leila Rithorn:
Did the elemental move?
GM Lilith:
Don't think so.
Leila Rithorn:
Okay, that's... yeah.
Scavenging Beetle 1:
| Roll modified by Fatigue=-1 |
| Spirit Roll: 4 |
GM Lilith:
(That still uses up their action, at least. :P)
GM Lilith:
The two entangled beetles claw through their bonds and follow their hungry brethren in swarming over Leila's roc.
Scavenging Beetle 6:
| clamps down with a Bited6 at Zombie Roc (Parry 3) |
| Fighting Roll: 10 |
| You Aced! | |
| The attack does 10 damage if successful against a Toughness of 16If you hit with a raise your damage is 14 |
Scavenging Beetle:
| clamps down with a Bited6 at Zombie Roc (Parry 3) |
| Fighting Roll: 5 |
| The attack does 6 damage if successful against a Toughness of 16If you hit with a raise your damage is 9 |
GM Lilith:
They take a few small bites out of the tremendous creature, but it neither notices nor reacts.
Leila Rithorn:
Could I have the roc fly straight up, out of the range of the beetles?
Rokhsana:
Firebolt at Beetle 6
GM Lilith:
I guess. It'd still take opportunity attacks this turn.
Leila Rithorn:
All five of them?
Bekora Tiquo:
I jump off my rock, run forward a bit, and fire a shot at the original beetle
GM Lilith:
Unless the rest of the party kills some of them first. :P
Audrey Martel:
| Audrey Martel casts Concussion |
| Spellcasting Roll: 5 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
| With the following effect:Bumps and Bruises plus 3d6 damage to one target =6plus2with a raise |
Leila Rithorn:
I'll wait to see what happens.
Rokhsana:
| Rokhsana casts Bolt Roll modified by Active Powers=-1 Trait Modifer=1 |
| Spellcasting Roll: 6 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| With the following effect:2d6 bolt damage = 10 plus 9 with a raise. |
Bekora Tiquo:
| Reloading Shortbow fires a barbed arrow with Shortbow at Scavenging Beetle (distance 10.681712203268836 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| The attack does 3 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 12 |
Jered:
I take careful aim at #4 and fire two arrows at it. Take Aim/Double Shot/Trademark Weapon for net +1:
Jered:
| Reloading BraidvineBow fires a barbed arrow with BraidvineBow at Scavenging Beetle 4 (distance 8.467924799025392 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| The attack does 11 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 16 |
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana incinerates a second beetle, while Jered pierces one through and through with a pair of arrows. Bekora and Audrey's attacks unfortunately prove less effective against the creature's tough shells.
Leila Rithorn:
Rend Life on 7, and have the roc attack the numberless one.
Rokhsana:
Hey, can my elemental make a running roll? I forget how running works.
Leila Rithorn:
| Leila Rithorn casts RendLife |
| Spellcasting Roll: 8 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| With the following effect:3d6 bolt damage with AP 4 = 12 plus 3 with a raise. |
Zombie Roc:
| rakes its Talons at Scavenging Beetle (Parry 5) |
| Fighting Roll: 5 |
| The attack does 16 damage if successful against a Toughness of 5If you hit with a raise your damage is 23 |
GM Lilith:
Roxy - yeah, but it counts as an action so it's -2 to whatever else you do that turn, in exchange for +1d6 to movement.
Earth Elemental:
| lashes out with a Fistd6 at Scavenging Beetle 7 (Parry 5) |
| Fighting Roll: 6 |
| The attack does 23 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 31 |
GM Lilith:
(I'll go ahead and redirect the roc's attack to the other beetle, since the elemental took care of the closer one.)
Leila Rithorn:
(That works.)
GM Lilith:
The undead roc catches a beetle in its talons and tears it apart, while Leila drains the life from another and Rokhsana's earth elemental simply stomps the last one underfoot.
Audrey Martel:
"Huh. That wasn't so bad."
Rokhsana:
"That wasn't so ba- yeah, what she said."
Leila Rithorn:
"Hm. Not very strong it seems. They might not make worthy servants after all."
Jered:
"Well, that's that." I check to see if there are any more coming, then investigate the corpses.
Jered:
| Notice Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| Notice rolled a 1 |
Leila Rithorn:
I move in to look at what remains. I'm more interested in if I can get them up and running again.
Bekora Tiquo:
I walk up and retrieve my two arrows, if they're still in decent condition
Jered:
I also try to retrieve my arrows. Yeah, that.
GM Lilith:
Jered observes that the beetles are very dirty and very dead. If he had to guess, he'd say they were giant cockroaches of some kind, looking for food and having had the misfortune to stumble across the party instead.
GM Lilith:
(Jered fired four arrows in total, right?)
Jered:
Just two. The first round was a magical effect.
GM Lilith:
Jered manages to retrieve both of his arrows, but Bekora's are unfortunately damaged beyond use.
Leila Rithorn:
Is there enough of the creatures left for some reanimation?
GM Lilith:
Leila looks over the corpses. They were once living creatures, so it should theoretically be possible to reanimate them.
GM Lilith:
She'd say four of them are in good enough condition to be worth trying to revive.
Bekora Tiquo:
(ooooh, am i the only one thing zombie giant cockroach cavalry?)
Rokhsana:
(we'd need more Riding skill in the group for that)
Leila Rithorn:
Hm. 4 corpses at 4 PP each, that's 16 PP, and that is exactly how much I have left. Should I blow it all right now?
Jered:
(Yeah, I'd assume the riding penalty for a tunnelling mount would be pretty severe. :P )
Rokhsana:
I'd risk it. We never have more than one fight per day. :P
Leila Rithorn:
Heh. Yeah, okay, four targets with the extended duration.
Jered:
Reduce, reuse, reanimate!
Bekora Tiquo:
(great, I can just tell lilith is doing a Mr. Burns finger pyramid now)
Rokhsana:
Oh, whatever will we do if one of our casters is temporarily unable to cast?
Rokhsana:
If only we had a ridiculous caster surplus!
Leila Rithorn:
Um, I don't seem to have an option for 4 long life zombies. I'll just use the short life option and take out the remaining PP.
Jered:
Yeah, as the sole muggle I'm the important one here.
Leila Rithorn:
| Leila Rithorn casts Zombie |
| Spellcasting Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| Spellcasting rolled a 1 With the following effect:5 hours duration for 4 Zombies if cast with a raise |
Leila Rithorn:
| burns a bennie ♦ ♦ Roll modified by Active Powers=-1 |
| Spellcasting Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
Leila Rithorn:
...Um, if that was modified by the active power (which it shouldn't have been) that should be a 4, right?
Leila Rithorn:
Okay, keeping it then.
Leila Rithorn:
They're up for 5 hours.
Leila Rithorn:
Leila Rithorn Turning Off Power Zombie
Rokhsana:
"Hmm, impressive. But we really should get going."
GM Lilith:
Leila reanimates four of the dead beetles, infusing them with enough power to accompany the party until around nightfall.
GM Lilith:
(Your zombies get a bonus to Strength and Fighting, right?)
Leila Rithorn:
"Hm, not my best work, but they'll do for now. At least they'll be useful if we run into any of their cousins."
Rokhsana:
Rokhsana Turning Off Power SummonAid
GM Lilith:
The rest of the day continues uneventfully, and you make camp with six days' worth of provisions remaining, plus the mysterious fruit. You estimate that you're about halfway to being directly underneath the mark in the sky now.
GM Lilith:
Leila, are you going to try to keep any of the beetles up and about with further spellcasting or just let the poor things rest?
Leila Rithorn:
Um, after resting how many PP do I have?
GM Lilith:
Well, you regain one per hour, but at the time the spell expires you'd have 5. It'd be almost time to make camp by that point, though, so you could rest there for say, eight hours and have 13.
Leila Rithorn:
In that case, I'll try the long-term version on two of them. That'll cost me 8.
Leila Rithorn:
| Leila Rithorn casts Zombie |
| Spellcasting Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
| With the following effect:7 hours duration for 2 Zombies, or the same number of days with a raise |
Leila Rithorn:
Meh, I'll keep that.
Leila Rithorn:
I can just leave the other two behind.
Leila Rithorn:
Leila Rithorn Turning Off Power Zombie
GM Lilith:
Okay then. Leila returns two of the four beetles to unlife once again, and you set out on another day's journey toward the mark in the sky. Another round of Vigor rolls from the party, if you please.
Jered:
| Vigor Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
Leila Rithorn:
| Vigor Roll: 9 |
Wild Roll: 8 |
| You Aced! | Wild Die Aced! |
Rokhsana:
| Vigor Roll: 5 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| You Aced! | |
Leila Rithorn:
(Can't touch this.)
Bekora Tiquo:
| Vigor Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
Audrey Martel:
| Vigor Roll: 13 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| You Aced! | |
GM Lilith:
Audrey's horse seems to be slowing down a bit, and Audrey notices some sores beginning to form around its mouth and nose.
Audrey Martel:
"Stupid horse."
Leila Rithorn:
"If this is going to continue, it could greatly hinder our progress."
GM Lilith:
The rest of you seem to be doing okay for now: if Lentoir truly is cursed, you've seen no definitive sign of it so far.
Leila Rithorn:
Could I tell if this was some kind of magical effect?
Rokhsana:
"Let me see if I can do anything for 'im. . ." I'll try to treat Martel.
GM Lilith:
Leila -- sure, roll Arcana for it.
Rokhsana:
| Healing Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 17 |
| Wild Die Aced 2 times!!!! |
Leila Rithorn:
| ArcaneLore Roll: 5 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
Jered:
"I-- never mind, Rok's got this."
Rokhsana:
"Horses are basically people, but smart enough not to talk so much."
GM Lilith:
Leila doesn't sense any magic as such, but there is a strange energy in the air -- it reminds her a little of the corrupted red elementals in Iskania's tower. Rokhsana treats the horse's symptoms and administers a mild stimulant, and it soon picks up the pace again.
Leila Rithorn:
"Normally I would protest at being compared to a lowly animal, but I must confess I find horses to be very agreeable creatures."
Leila Rithorn:
"I do hope they are treating Mahdi well back in Wireld."
Leila Rithorn:
(er, or was it Halitarn we left the horses?)
Audrey Martel:
"Bah. They're dumb animals. Ride them until they die, then get another."
Leila Rithorn:
(Right, meant Halitarn then. I'm the one with little sleep and bad memory, not Leila. :P )
Jered:
"There's good eating on one of those."
Leila Rithorn:
"I see that humans and goblins are more alike than I orginally thought." I smirk at Jered.
GM Lilith:
A little before noon on the third day of your journey, while Leila's beetles are still clinging to unlife, you come across a large group of humanoids. There are about a dozen of them, travelling together in a tight cluster. All have thin, patchy hair (apart from the dragonborn, whose scales seem to be disintegrating and flaking off instead), and all are covered in sores and ulcers in various stages of growth or healing. Many have visible deformities: a hunched back, a severe limp, a missing eye. They wear ragged clothes and carry simple, rusty metal knives, which they're using to saw and hack branches off trees as they pass by.
GM Lilith:
They don't seem to have noticed you yet, although if you continue straight ahead your path will bring you close to them.
Audrey Martel:
"Well, they look like shit."
Rokhsana:
"Yep. We'd better say hello."
Leila Rithorn:
"There seems to be quite a few of them, and they are armed. I advise caution."
Audrey Martel:
"Let's. . . not say hello."
Leila Rithorn:
I get the zombies lined up for defense.
Audrey Martel:
"Let's just avoid them."
Leila Rithorn:
"Our group would be rather hard to hide."
Jered:
I raise my hand and open my mouth, then look at Audrey. "What? Why? Aren't they exactly what we're looking for?"
Rokhsana:
"They look like they'll drop dead in 20 minutes no matter what. They're hardly a threat."
Bekora Tiquo:
I make sure Giken Nomang is loaded and ready, if needed, "Let's try to stay out of trouble if we can. No sense throwing a spanner into the gears without cause"
Rokhsana:
"Plus, the islanders said the people here weren't hostile. It'd be stupid not to try talking."
Audrey Martel:
"They look like they've lived on this poison island their whole lives. Who knows what that does to them. They don't look like they've got an Ammat-Xan parasite, either way."
GM Lilith:
Okay, so what's the consensus? Approach, avoid, or just carry on ahead and leave the ball in their court?
Rokhsana:
I vote for approach.
Leila Rithorn:
I'm for 'leave the ball in their court'.
Bekora Tiquo:
leave the ball
Jered:
"Bah! We're here to learn about what happened. If you're all too chicken to say hi, I'll go."
Audrey Martel:
i say avoid
GM Lilith:
Is anyone going to actively stop Jered from heading out to greet the people of Lentoir?
Leila Rithorn:
"We could approach them, but we should not spook them if possible."
Audrey Martel:
"We're not here to learn anything. We're here to stop that thing." I point to the red stain in the sky.
Jered:
"That's not why we came here in the first place, though. Anyway, I'm off. I'll be safe, don't worry."
Rokhsana:
I'm following Jered and helping.
Jered:
(Good, 'cause Jered sucks at diplomacy. :P )
Leila Rithorn:
I'm hiding behind my wall of undead. Good luck.
Bekora Tiquo:
I sigh, "Better keep that boy out of __too__ much trouble", and follow
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana and Jered approach cautiously but without making any attempt to hide their presence. When the humanoids see them, they look startled and whisper among themselves. Finally, one goblin man steps forward, one hand raised with palm open and holding a knife in the other but keeping it lowered. He looks to be roughly middle-aged, although given his state of health it's hard to say anything for sure.
Rokhsana:
"Good morning. I'm Rokhsana. We're explorers and we don't mean any harm."
Lost One:
He listens to Rokhsana's words, pauses for a few seconds looking deep in thought, and replies haltingly in a peculiar but mostly comprehensible dialect. "You... not valkyries. But not us also. Who?"
Rokhsana:
"Sailors. From across the ocean." I point north.
Lost One:
"Still people, then, on other places? Better than here?"
Rokhsana:
"Well, every places has its unique charms, but yeah. Much better."
Jered:
"Well... we've got a lava titan back home. That sucks."
Lost One:
"Not know outside. Those who leave, not come back. Maybe better. Maybe dead."
Rokhsana:
"What happened to this place?"
Lost One:
"Curse of Zeymir. Long ago. War, because..." -- he points to the stain in the sky -- "... because great wall in sky. We try to fight, they hide behind wall and curse. Cowards. Enemies forever. Forget much, but never forget that."
Lost One:
"People from southern island. Build great wall, to hide in sky and throw curses on earth."
Rokhsana:
"There's another island south of here?"
Lost One:
"Yes. But no Zeymir there any more. Above sky now. Still watching. Valkyries serve them, hunt us."
Jered:
"What are valkyries? Ooh, maybe they're the storm thingies we fought?"
Rokhsana:
"What's that red thing in the sky? Did the Zeymir do that too?"
Lost One:
"Valkyries tall. Strong. Fast. Hunt all of us who come to surface. You see, you run, maybe some of you survive."
Lost One:
"Red thing is us fighting to break down great wall. Still hope to strike against Zeymir. If we defeat them, maybe break curse."
Rokhsana:
"I see. So, tell me, is this related to someone named Ammat-Xan?"
Lost One:
"Yes! Ammat-Xan is saviour of Lentois people! Promises to break great wall, defeat Zeymir, lead us to time of peace and plenty! You friends of Ammat-Xan also?"
Leila Rithorn:
(...Awkward.)
Rokhsana:
"We've heard lots about her. Could we talk to the person who marks the sky for you? Or people, if there's more than one?"
Lost One:
"Yes! Prophet! We take you to Prophet, yes?"
Bekora Tiquo:
"...yes" I stutter, "Some of us have been blessed by Ammat-Xan itself, and seek others like us. Do you know of any?"
Bekora Tiquo:
(sniped as hell :|)
Rokhsana:
"Yes, we'd like to meet the Prophet."
Jered:
(That's why you just type "Um.". :P )
Audrey Martel:
"I told you these guys were probably assholes."
Rokhsana:
(Sorry, didn't mean to monopolize.)
Leila Rithorn:
"Be nice, Audrey. After all, they are taking us to see their leader."
Audrey Martel:
"Their asshole leader."
Lost One:
"Must be sign! Victory close at hand! Zeymir will fall, Lentoir will rise! Yes! Come with!" He runs to the southwest and beckons for you to follow, before gasping for breath after a few steps and returning to a walking pace.
Leila Rithorn:
"Their likely very vulnerable leader."
Audrey Martel:
"At least it'll be easy."
Bekora Tiquo:
"Well, that was simple. Might as well use these parasites to our advantage, eh?" I shrug, following the dudes.
Leila Rithorn:
I and my peeps follow as well.
Jered:
I follow, mind still slowly processing.
Rokhsana:
As we walk, I think back on my research into A-X and the Firmament. Did anything like the Zeymir ever come up?
GM Lilith:
You follow the diseased humanoids to the southwest, toward the mark in the sky. They still seem somewhat reluctant to intermingle too closely with your group, but they keep within sight of you (and you within sight of them).
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana -- hmm, roll Religion for it.
Rokhsana:
| Religion Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
Rokhsana:
Eh, I'll keep it.
GM Lilith:
The name "Zeymir" is new to Rokhsana -- it's not one that's appeared in her previous studies of Ammat-Xan and the religion that's sprung up around the entity. However, it is widely believed among the Blessed Children that the Firmament was built by mortals in furtherance of some kind of sinister plan.
GM Lilith:
After a couple more hours of travel, Leila's beetle zombies are once again ready to give up the ghost, so to speak. Is she going to revive them again?
Leila Rithorn:
In spite of their probable usefulness, I think I'd rather keep the power points. I'll let them go.
GM Lilith:
The beetles collapse, the magic animating them spent, and Leila leaves them behind.
GM Lilith:
You travel until nightfall and make camp, while the Lentois make their own camp a short distance away. The goblin who spoke to you before steps away from his comrades to approach your group once again.
Lost One:
"You have food to eat?"
Audrey Martel:
"Nope. Shoo."
Rokhsana:
"Only enough for us to journey to the Prophet and back. . . but maybe you can help us. Are these safe to eat?" I show him the fruit we picked earlier.
Leila Rithorn:
"We found those growing a few days northeast of here on some unusually healthy looking trees."
Lost One:
He shakes his head violently. "No, no. Not good. No surface food, not on Lentoir. Very bad. All cursed. We eat food from home underground."
Lost One:
"We come here for wood only, for furnace. But valkyries still hunt."
Lost One:
"Anyway, you are warned. Not eat, no matter how hungry. Eat food, become worse than us."
Leila Rithorn:
"Is that so. You've seen this happen for yourself?"
Audrey Martel:
"Told you."
Lost One:
"Yes. People who eat food from up here get sick faster. Sometimes take time, but always happen."
Lost One:
"Stay long on surface, bad. Eat food from surface, worse. Stay home when we can."
Leila Rithorn:
"I see. Thank you for the information."
Rokhsana:
"There's one other thing I wonder about. We saw a surface town east of here. Do you know anything about it?"
Lost One:
"Not good. Many, many valkyries. Maybe home for them. Stay away."
Rokhsana:
"Ah, okay." I think carefully for a moment. "I shouldn't do this, but you've been so helpful. . . " I give the lost one a day's worth of my rations.
Leila Rithorn:
"What kinds of creatures are these valkyries. You tell us they're dangerous, but in what way?"
Lost One:
The goblin eagerly accepts Rokhsana's gift. "This from good place? Thank you. Good friends." He samples a biscuit and soon begins eating it with more enthusiasm than you've ever seen anyone eat hardtack before.
Lost One:
"Very good. Thank you, friend. I take this back for all to share, but first I tell you about valkyries."
Lost One:
"Walk all over surface always but never get sick. Healthy like you but taller, faster, stronger. All same size, all same face. When they see us they tell us drop everything, go back home. Kill us if we not run, sometimes if we do."
Lost One:
"Big knives and fire for weapons. Too strong to fight. Our knives not cut them. Always run."
Leila Rithorn:
"Do they tend to hunt in groups or alone?"
Lost One:
"Groups. Sometimes five, sometimes ten."
Leila Rithorn:
"That sounds fairly problematic. And you say you most often encounter them near the ruins to the east, correct?"
Lost One:
"Yes. Worst place. Stay away."
Leila Rithorn:
I nod. "I understand. Thank you for the information."
Lost One:
"Yes, friend. Thank you for food."
Jered:
I groan. "We're gonna go there next, aren't we."
Leila Rithorn:
I think for a moment. "Perhaps, perhaps not. We may not need to."
Rokhsana:
"Yeah, that's a maybe for now."
Leila Rithorn:
"There is one possible way to find out."
GM Lilith:
The goblin turns away and hurries back to his people's camp, clutching Rokhsana's food tightly.
Rokhsana:
"But if they really do come from the Zeymir, and the Zeymir live beyond the Firmament, then they're out best chance to learn something about Ammat-Xan while we're here."
Leila Rithorn:
"I could have a ghost scout out the ruins first. I believe that to be the best course of aciton."
Bekora Tiquo:
I shake my head as the golbin scuttles away. "What a horrible place. Instead of killing criminals, they should just send them here," I mutter.
Rokhsana:
"A penal colony on a far-off, hostile island? Well, I guess it could work out okay."
Leila Rithorn:
"Best not give the Wireldi any ideas, Bekora."
Rokhsana:
I frown. "Wireld has been quite generous to Port Jynt, you know, and asked very little in return."
Audrey Martel:
"I'd miss the hangings."
Leila Rithorn:
I give Rokhsana a very sinister glare. "I do not consider the lives of two friends to be of such low value."
GM Lilith:
(Says the necromancer. :P)
Leila Rithorn:
(Yup. :P )
Rokhsana:
"I beg your pardon, Leila, that is not what I meant. We're very grateful for James and Kepling's sacrifice. We ought to honor their memory by promoting friendship between our two cities."
GM Lilith:
While this is going on, does anyone have any other business to take care of with the Lentois or anything else before morning?
Jered:
I'm trying to avoid getting drawn into a spat for once. Otherwise, nothing.
Leila Rithorn:
"...It doesn't matter now. I will let the matter drop." I turn in for the night.
GM Lilith:
You rest for the night, and by dawn the Lentois are already packing up their own camp and preparing to leave. You know the drill: Vigor rolls all around.
Audrey Martel:
| Vigor Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| Vigor rolled a 1 |
Jered:
| Vigor Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| You Aced! | |
Bekora Tiquo:
| Vigor Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
Leila Rithorn:
| Vigor Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
GM Lilith:
(man, Ageless sure is paying for itself today)
GM Lilith:
Audrey, you already got a 4. :P
Rokhsana:
| Vigor Roll: 3 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
Bekora Tiquo:
(yay not getting island cancer)
Audrey Martel:
or not, then :p
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana's rash and feeling of malaise are returning. The rash seems to be blistering slightly this time.
Horse Martel:
| Vigor Roll: 23 |
| You Aced 2 times!!!! | |
Rokhsana:
"I'm getting too old for this." Healing.
GM Lilith:
The rest of you are still feeling well enough, though.
Audrey Martel:
(keep this up and i'll have to give you a name, horse)
Rokhsana:
| Roll modified by Fatigue=-1 |
| Healing Roll: 22 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| You Aced 2 times!!!! | |
GM Lilith:
Once again, Rokhsana manages to keep the worst of her symptoms at bay for now.
GM Lilith:
With a little under five days' supply of food left between you, you continue following the Lentois toward their home.
GM Lilith:
Notice rolls, everyone.
Leila Rithorn:
| Notice Roll: 8 |
Wild Roll: 10 |
| You Aced! | Wild Die Aced! |
Rokhsana:
| Roll modified by Untrained Skill=-2 |
| Untrained Roll: -1 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| Untrained rolled a 1 |
Jered:
| Notice Roll: 5 |
Wild Roll: 7 |
| Wild Die Aced! |
Audrey Martel:
| Notice Roll: 3 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
Bekora Tiquo:
| Notice Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
GM Lilith:
Leila is the first member of the party to spot movement to the southeast, followed a moment after by Jered. A group of seven humanoid figures are visible, partially concealed by a stand of trees between you but not apparently making a conscious effort to hide or showing signs of having noticed you. They're tall, androgynous and move in an oddly birdlike manner -- sudden starts, steady and purposeful progress, sudden stops.
Jered:
"Here we go. Valkyries."
GM Lilith:
There's something else strange about them too: not only are they all of the same height and build, but their faces all look completely identical.
Audrey Martel:
"Can we at least avoid these ones?"
Leila Rithorn:
"They are just as described. It is... fascinating."
GM Lilith:
The Lentois see them a few seconds after you do, and use a series of frantic hand signals to, evidently, warn each other to stop and move away from them.
Jered:
"I guess we do what they do until we have to fight?"
Leila Rithorn:
"Agreed. We should avoid them."
Rokhsana:
"For now, yes. We can't deal with them and the Lost Ones at the same time."
Rokhsana:
"But later, when we're alone, we have to talk to them.
Bekora Tiquo:
"Yeah, save them for later. Can't throw too much on the plate at once"
Leila Rithorn:
Guess we follow the lead of the lost ones.
GM Lilith:
So everyone's pretty much in favour of avoiding them for now? If so, roll Stealth.
Jered:
| Stealth Roll: 9 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
Leila Rithorn:
| Stealth Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 11 |
| Wild Die Aced! |
| Stealth rolled a 1 |
Jered:
(11 'cause Woodsman I think.)
Bekora Tiquo:
| Roll modified by Untrained Skill=-2 |
| Untrained Roll: -1 |
Wild Roll: -1 |
| Critical Failure on Untrained roll! |
Leila Rithorn:
(Good grief, how many times have I aced this session?)
Rokhsana:
| Roll modified by Untrained Skill=-2 |
| Untrained Roll: 5 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| You Aced 2 times!!!! | |
GM Lilith:
(We're rollin' Stealth.)
Audrey Martel:
Does Horse roll stealth too? :p
Audrey Martel:
| Roll modified by Untrained Skill=-2 |
| Untrained Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| You Aced! | |
GM Lilith:
Bekora, you, uh, you gonna keep that roll? :P
Bekora Tiquo:
I'm not sure I can do much better, and I'll prolly need the bennie in a minute :P
GM Lilith:
(That goes for you too, Audrey. :P)
GM Lilith:
Oh. Well, if Bekora's taking the critfail, never mind. :P
Bekora Tiquo:
I will if Audrey does, otherwise no
Bekora Tiquo:
(just dont want to waste it if i'll need it)
Audrey Martel:
I got a three. surely, a three is enough. :p
Audrey Martel:
(I am keeping it)
GM Lilith:
As she glances back at the valkyries to see if they've noticed the party, Bekora walks headfirst into a low-hanging tree branch. Instinctively, she lets out a string of invective cursing the tree, the island of Lentoir and all that lives upon it.
Leila Rithorn:
(That's our Beky.)
Bekora Tiquo:
"BACK IN MY DAY TREE BRANCHES GOT OUT OF THE WAY--oh crap" I look over at the bird people
Audrey Martel:
"We running or fighting?"
GM Lilith:
The valkyries' heads swivel around to face the party, moving a little too fast and too far to look natural. The nearest one calls out in a calm, clear, monotonous voice.
Valkyrie 6:
"You have been detected and identified as vermin. Vermin are not permitted to occupy the surface. Vermin are not permitted to possess items from the surface. Discard your possessions immediately and return to your shelter, or corrective action will be taken."
GM Lilith:
Upon hearing the Valkyrie's words, the Lentois break into a run.
Rokhsana:
I pour out the poison fruit from earlier. "There, done. Are we good?"
Leila Rithorn:
I bristle at being called vermin.
Jered:
I bristle slightly less, being more used to it.
Bekora Tiquo:
I remain unbristled, having been called that and worse before.
Valkyrie 6:
"Discard your remaining possessions immediately for inspection and quarantine, and return to your shelter. This is your final warning."
Leila Rithorn:
"Our remaining possessions are not from this island."
Audrey Martel:
"Running or fighting, guys. We can't talk to these ones."
GM Lilith:
The valkyries take up positions behind the trees and rocks, watching you intently.
Rokhsana:
"Fighting, then." I summon an Earth Elemental again.
Valkyrie 6:
"Noncompliant vermin identified. Extermination protocol engaged."
Leila Rithorn:
"Fighting looks rather inevitable I'm afraid."
Jered:
I make a rude hand gesture at the valkyries. "They're supposed to be fast, right? Fighting."
Rokhsana:
| Rokhsana casts SummonAid Roll modified by Trait Modifer=1 |
| Spellcasting Roll: 6 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
| With the following effect:Summons 1 medium ally |
Bekora Tiquo:
I take cover behind the tree I walked into and draw Giken Nomang.
Leila Rithorn:
I'll get in a Rend Life and hope it's effective. Targeting number 6.
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana calls forth another elemental from the ground.
Leila Rithorn:
| Leila Rithorn casts RendLife |
| Spellcasting Roll: 9 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| With the following effect:3d6 bolt damage with AP 4 = 13 plus 4 with a raise. |
Bekora Tiquo:
I'll fire off a shot at 1. Charged and all that.
Rokhsana:
Can I act again, since I announced that spell before combat started? Or does it count as my action this round?
GM Lilith:
I'll count that as your action.
Jered:
(I'm assuming this is party round.)
Bekora Tiquo:
Action Spent Reloading Revolver
Zombie Roc:
| rakes its Talons at Valkyrie 5 (Parry 6) |
| Fighting Roll: 7 |
| The attack does 23 damage if successful against a Toughness of 5If you hit with a raise your damage is 31 |
Bekora Tiquo:
| Reloading Revolver fires a Revolver at Valkyrie 1 (distance 15.14261441031161 = Medium Range) Roll modified by Medium Range=-2 |
| Shooting Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| The attack does 7 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 12 |
Giken Nomang:
| Giken Nomang casts ChargedShot |
| Spellcasting Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| With the following effect:+2 damage and AP to next shot |
GM Lilith:
Leila reaches out with her mind to tear at a valkyrie's life force, but finds nothing. Whatever these things are, they don't seem to be alive, at least not in the same way other living things are.
Jered:
And I'll move and double shot at #3. Total penalty of -1.
Leila Rithorn:
"Hmm. They're constructs, not alive. Like golems and such, but they look much better built."
GM Lilith:
Bekora takes a shot at one of the valkyries, but it flies harmlessly just to one side of the thing's head.
Jered:
| Reloading BraidvineBow fires a barbed arrow with BraidvineBow at Valkyrie 3 (distance 10.596913382447935 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| The attack does 8 damage if successful against a Toughness of 8If you hit with a raise your damage is 11 |
Audrey Martel:
This is for #7
Audrey Martel:
| Audrey Martel casts Concussion |
| Spellcasting Roll: 10 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| With the following effect:4d6 damage to one target =20plus3with a raise |
Jered:
Huh, weird, that didn't go through, did it?
GM Lilith:
Leila's zombified roc has considerably more success than Leila herself. Even if they're not "alive", it seems being torn apart by monstrous talons can "kill" them just as well as it does anything else.
Jered:
| burns a bennie ♦ ♦ |
| Shooting Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 11 |
| Wild Die Aced! |
| Shooting rolled a 1 |
GM Lilith:
Audrey blasts one of the valkyries to pieces with brute magical force, while Jered punches through another's body with a pair of arrows -- it seizes up, stops moving and topples over.
GM Lilith:
That everyone?
GM Lilith:
The beings' hands undergo a bizarre transformation, folding up and retracting into their wrists. From the left arm of each one extends a blade about a foot long and made of a dull white material, while at the end of the right arm is simply a gaping hole. The process takes maybe a second or two, and throughout it all, no blood or any other sign of injury or discomfort is visible.
Valkyrie 2:
| swings an ArmBlade at Zombie Roc (Parry 3) |
| Fighting Roll: 5 |
| The attack does 14 damage if successful against a Toughness of 16If you hit with a raise your damage is 15 |
GM Lilith:
One of the valkyries cuts a deep but meaningless wound into Leila's roc.
Valkyrie 4:
| fires a SilphionRay at Blessed Zombie 1 (distance 8.403190947758107 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 2 |
| The attack does 13 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 16 |
Valkyrie:
| fires a SilphionRay at Blessed Zombie 4 (distance 6.826851218721357 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 18 |
| You Aced 2 times!!!! | |
| The attack does 4 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 13 |
Valkyrie 1:
| fires a SilphionRay at Blessed Zombie 2 (distance 6.82010230112113 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 1 |
| Shooting rolled a 1 The attack does 13 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 18 |
GM Lilith:
Blinding flashes of light erupt from the valkyries' weapons. One of the attacks hits its mark, burning straight through one of Leila's zombies with a ray of searing energy.
Rokhsana:
Firebolt at Valkyrie 1
Audrey Martel:
| Audrey Martel casts Concussion |
| Spellcasting Roll: 10 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
| With the following effect:4d6 damage to one target =38plus4with a raise |
Leila Rithorn:
"Hey! Those are not easy to replace!" Rend Life.
Leila Rithorn:
No, sorry, Shadow bolt.
Rokhsana:
| Rokhsana casts Bolt Roll modified by Active Powers=-1 Trait Modifer=1 |
| Spellcasting Roll: 16 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| You Aced! | |
| With the following effect:3d6 bolt damage = 8 plus 3 with a raise. |
Jered:
"Dibs that one!" I take two shots at #4, total bonus +1:
Bekora Tiquo:
"Ooooh, you're going to give me your arm!" I yell, firing a shot at the genesis Valkarie
Leila Rithorn:
| Leila Rithorn casts ShadowBolt |
| Spellcasting Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 4 |
| With the following effect:2d4 plus 1 bolt damage = 20 plus 4 with a raise. |
Bekora Tiquo:
| fires a Revolver at Valkyrie (distance 16.270205557549104 = Medium Range) Roll modified by Medium Range=-2 |
| Shooting Roll: 7 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
| You Aced! | Wild Die Aced! |
| The attack does 7 damage if successful against a Toughness of 7If you hit with a raise your damage is 9 |
Jered:
| Reloading BraidvineBow fires a barbed arrow with BraidvineBow at Valkyrie 4 (distance 10.703845521878696 = Short Range) |
| Shooting Roll: 5 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
| The attack does 15 damage if successful against a Toughness of 8If you hit with a raise your damage is 20 |
Giken Nomang:
| Giken Nomang casts ChargedShot |
| Spellcasting Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
| Spellcasting rolled a 1 With the following effect:+4 damage and +2 AP to next shot |
Rokhsana:
Elemental running roll:
Earth Elemental:
| lashes out with a Fistd6 at Valkyrie (Parry 6) |
| Fighting Roll: 2 |
| The attack does 15 damage if successful against a Toughness of 8If you hit with a raise your damage is 19 |
GM Lilith:
Audrey blows another valkyrie to pieces, while the combined efforts of Rokhsana and Bekora manage to bring down a second and Jered shoots down a third.
GM Lilith:
Leila aims a burst of pure darkness at the final valkyrie, engulfing it completely. When the shadows clear, it is lying motionless in the mud.
Leila Rithorn:
I run up to one of the more intact ones and start studying it intently.
Leila Rithorn:
| ArcaneLore Roll: 1 |
Wild Roll: 2 |
| ArcaneLore rolled a 1 |
Leila Rithorn:
Um, I'm gonna bennie that.
Leila Rithorn:
| burns a bennie ♦ |
| ArcaneLore Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
Bekora Tiquo:
I follow, in particular looking at how its arm-weapons function
Rokhsana:
I'll look over Leila's shoulder and offer helpful advice.
Bekora Tiquo:
| Engineering Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
Leila Rithorn:
Bah. Roxy, a little help?
Rokhsana:
| ArcaneLore Roll: 3 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
Jered:
"Hah! That's what you get for picking a fight with people who aren't half dead!"
Audrey Martel:
I'll take a look at the piles of valkyrie bits too. What are these?
Audrey Martel:
| ArcaneLore Roll: 3 |
Wild Roll: 1 |
Leila Rithorn:
(Okay, our info-gathering sucks today.)
Audrey Martel:
eh, i've got three bennies
Jered:
I look at a 'corpse' curiously as I'm trying to recover my arrows. Arcana. :P
Jered:
| Roll modified by Untrained Skill=-2 |
| Untrained Roll: -1 |
| Untrained rolled a 1 |
Audrey Martel:
| burns a bennie ♦ ♦ |
| ArcaneLore Roll: 2 |
Wild Roll: 3 |
Bekora Tiquo:
Yeah, I'm gonna bennie my roll, actually :P
Bekora Tiquo:
| burns a bennie ♦ ♦ |
| Engineering Roll: 4 |
Wild Roll: 5 |
Bekora Tiquo:
(fine then, dice :()
Jered:
(Four arrows shot this combat.)
GM Lilith:
The party examine the remains of the valkyries. Rokhsana concludes that while some of the parts may have been crafted with magical assistance, the beings themselves are not animated by magic as she knows it but by some other force. Bekora, for her part, observes that their bodies are made of metal alloys that are both light and strong, probably beyond the capacity of any individual or civilisation she's aware of to make, and filled with strange tiny devices that are definitely beyond the capacity of anyone she knows of.
GM Lilith:
(Don't forget, Bekora, you can also use Machine Empathy.)
Bekora Tiquo:
draws 7 of Diamonds
Leila Rithorn:
"I see. They were not biological in nature. That would make sense."
Jered:
"Can we keep their heads? Then the next time we come across another group, when they're all like 'drop your possessions' we can be like 'okay here you go' and throws heads at them."
Rokhsana:
"That seems. . . needlessly provocative, Jered."
Leila Rithorn:
"That is unlikely to be productive. I doubt creatures like these could be intimidated at all."
Rokhsana:
"If they can even be provoked. They don't seem to think like real people. It's like whoever made them gave them simple instructions to follow, like summoned spirits."
Leila Rithorn:
"Like golems. That is what these remind me of."
Rokhsana:
"Perhaps Jered has once again stumbled across a good idea. We should keep as many pieces as we can carry."
Jered:
"Let's bring the heads anyway. Maybe the 'lost ones' will work with us more."
Rokhsana:
I gather up as much of a complete valkyrie as I can carry, with special focus on the head and arms.
Leila Rithorn:
"That... might actually be productive."
Jered:
"Like, have we ever met someone ripping apart the sky who _wasn't_ stubborn?"
Audrey Martel:
"Or whatever magic created them can still be used against us."
GM Lilith:
Rokhsana gathers up as many valkyrie components as the party can comfortably carry.
Bekora Tiquo:
"That's correct. They exist to protect the Firmament, made by the people on the other side. I couldn't determine much more than that, but I //might// be able to tinker some with the light-beam arms" I pick up an arm and set it aside for later tinkering
Rokhsana:
"Hmm. . . if they're protecting the Firmament, and *we're* protecting the Firmament. . . oh, if only we could reason with them!"
Leila Rithorn:
"Good. The more of this magic we can turn to our side, the better."
Rokhsana:
Rokhsana Turning Off Power SummonAid
Leila Rithorn:
I guess we're headed in the direction the lost ones ran in now.
Bekora Tiquo:
"Perhaps if we had a way to talk to the machine's creators, we could get somewhere. I doubt these machines can comprehend much more than...pest control"
Rokhsana:
Yeah, let's do that.
Jered:
I want to see if the lost ones dropped anything. Maybe we can be nice and bring that along too.
Rokhsana:
"We could try that old city, if only we could get close enough. There might be a person controlling them from there."
GM Lilith:
Jered looks for items dropped by the Lentois and finds a few bundles of twigs and branches near where he last saw them.
Jered:
I put them on Horse. :P
Jered:
(Also, did I recover my arrows? I shot four this combat. Is it 50% chance?)
Audrey Martel:
"Get yer own horse."
Leila Rithorn:
"Ah, yes, the city. I suppose I should get my servant to scout it out sooner rather than later." I get my ghost's attention and tell it to head east to scout out the ruins and report back on anything unusual it finds. I also stress that it needs to go undetected at all costs.
GM Lilith:
(You recovered three of them.)
GM Lilith:
(And yeah, it's a 50-50 chance.)
GM Lilith:
Having overcome the valkyries, you all resume travelling southwest, while Leila directs her ghost to examine the ruined city to the east. The group of Lentois humanoids you were following has put as much distance between them and where you were as possible, but they can't move very fast and you know the general direction they were going in. Sure enough, after some time you manage to get in sight of them again.
GM Lilith:
They seem astonished to see you alive and well. The goblin who's been acting as their representative calls out in surprise when he sees you.
Lost One:
"Friends! All alive! But how? We heard fighting!"
Rokhsana:
"Yeah. We won."
Jered:
"'Cause we're awesome. Also, here's your stuff."
Leila Rithorn:
"It was nothing we were unequipped to handle."
Lost One:
The Lentois take back the wood they dropped, thoughtfully collected by Jered. "Outside Lentoir not just good place but strong place. Thank you, friend."
Lost One:
"Now, we keep going home. Even with strong friends, not good to stay here."
Rokhsana:
"Good idea. Let's go."
Leila Rithorn:
"Yes, let us proceed."
GM Lilith:
You continue tollowing the Lentois to the southwest.
GM Lilith:
By late afternoon, you reach an enormous, circular platform of rusted metal set into the ground, with a wheel sticking out of the centre. Four Lentois work together to turn the wheel, opening a hatch and revealing a tunnel leading down into the darkness below, with rungs set into the wall on one side.
Lost One:
"Welcome to home of Lentois. Prophet sure to be happy to meet you."
Rokhsana:
"Thank you for inviting us." I start climbing down the ladder.
Bekora Tiquo:
"...not what I was expecting." I climb down
Jered:
I inspect the platform curiously before heading down the ladder.
Audrey Martel:
"Well, shit. Sorry, Horse, you get to stay up in the poison. Don't eat anything."
Audrey Martel:
I search around for somewhere to tie up Horse.
Leila Rithorn:
I look down the hole. "Hm. I suppose the roc will need to stay here. It looks like it would be rather awkward down there."
Leila Rithorn:
I instruct the other zombies to go first and then climb down myself.
GM Lilith:
Audrey finds a tree nearby, and leaves her horse tied to it with a full feedbag.
Audrey Martel:
"Also don't get killed by valkyries."
GM Lilith:
Leila leaves her roc above ground as well, hopefully ready to stand guard over the horse if necessary.
Audrey Martel:
I awkwardly descend the ladder with my pegleg.
GM Lilith:
Led by the Lentois, you climb down to see their home and their Prophet.
Audrey Martel:
doubleplusgood
BJ Earles:
Interesting so far.
Bekora Tiquo:
yay session
GM Lilith:
Welp. I hope you enjoyed the killer robots. :P
BJ Earles:
They were easier than I expected.
Audrey Martel:
I'm sure we will enjoy them considerably less in the future :p
Rokhsana:
They were more like killed robots. :P
Audrey Martel:
I dunno, if they'd had a chance to laser-cannon us, it looks like it would have hurt a lot.
dintiradan:
Tell me, when we go destroy the factory that's creating them, will it have conveyor belts or lasers? :P
sylae:
So, next player to get injured, we're totally giving you a robot death laser cannon arm, ok
Audrey Martel:
I can lose another limb! :P
BJ Earles:
I think Beky would be into that sort of thing. :P
sylae:
i already have giken nomang
sylae:
but i'm totally gonna try to get an arm working
dintiradan:
I already have a d10 in shooting. Maybe I can swap Trademark Weapon's specified weapon? :P
sylae:
if lilith-senpai will let me (◕‿-)
GM Lilith:
well, i mean, the rules say you can take a new trademark weapon if you lose one, so it seems fair enough to let you swap over if you don't. i'm gonna limit switching to once every few sessions though, you can't just swap over every round depending on what weapon you want to use :P
Rokhsana:
IIRC, it takes two weeks to get your new trademark weapon behaving all trademarky.
dintiradan:
but seriously no chopping off jered's arms he needs those
GM Lilith:
yeah, two weeks seems fair
BJ Earles:
BTB, how much EXP we talking for this session?
GM Lilith:
Hmm, gonna say 2 XP.
sylae:
I mean we don't need to make it Trademark, just take out all the bits that are for arms, and throw a handle and trigger on it
sylae:
and some batteries
GM Lilith:
We did pack a lot into 4 hours this time, though.
sylae:
or whatever Mote has :P
dintiradan:
but then you aren't a cyborg
dintiradan:
What we need to do is give Audrey a laser peg leg.
GM Lilith:
So, you've also learned a little more about the Firmament this session. Still convinced protecting it is the right thing to do?
Audrey Martel:
About as sure as we were before. :p
Sarachim:
I wish I'd bennied that Religion roll.
BJ Earles:
I'm not sure we've ever been convinced protecting it was the right thing. It seemed better than the alternative.
Sarachim:
Stupid wasted bennies.
BJ Earles:
*It just seemed better
dintiradan:
All we've learned is that there are assholes on both sides of the fight. Not a big surprise in one of your campaigns. :P
Sarachim:
Anyway, destroying the Firmament's not going to do the Lost Ones any good, since it won't really alter their ability to fight killer robots.
Audrey Martel:
Besides which, screw them, everywhere else has been getting screwed over :p
GM Lilith:
On the bright side, this being such a big campaign, you might actually get a chance to fight all of those assholes this time. :P
Sarachim:
So, since we're here, should we talk about what we're going to do with the Prophet next time?
GM Lilith:
If you'd like to. :P
BJ Earles:
Well, in that case, let's deal with A-X first, then break down the firmament ourselves. :P
sylae:
things that have caused lava titans: ammat-xan: 1 firmament: 0
Sarachim:
Perhaps we could offer to kill all the Valkyries in exchange for the LOs letting us take their parasite away.
Audrey Martel:
It would probably be easier to just kill the LOs. They kinda suck.
Sarachim:
You heartless bastard.
GM Lilith:
Well, I'm glad I successfully made them pathetic. :P
Audrey Martel:
"Hindrances: Major: OneLeg Minor: Mean, Ugly"
BJ Earles:
I think we need to talk to this prophet, see if he can tell us any more about A-X than we already know. We can decide what to do after that.
Sarachim:
We can't kill them *now*. They're, like, five minutes away from submitting to the Dominion of Wireld forever. :P
dintiradan:
Who do we give the parasite to, though? It's either one of the suspicious Wireldi or the necromancer.
Sarachim:
I didn't give myself a d12 in Spirit by accident, you know.
Sarachim:
This is some serious long-range planning going on. :P
Audrey Martel:
Yesss, Horse.
BJ Earles:
Necromancer. Definitely the necromancer. :)
Audrey Martel:
Kepling was Yay Powers. Audrey is Boo Weird Shit. So not Audrey. :p
BJ Earles:
Hey Lilith, would my racial "+2 bonus against mental attacks" work on the parasite compulsions?
GM Lilith:
yeah sure. not like you're using it for a whole lot else
GM Lilith:
it probably would have come up with the Lamia if you guys had decided to look for her, but you didn't :P
BJ Earles:
Cool. That actually makes me really good at resisting them then. d8+2 is nothing to sneeze at.
Sarachim:
d12 plus Elan is still better, though.
dintiradan:
d8+2 > d12, but yeah, Elan changes the math a bit.
sylae:
why dont we just kill the parasite
sylae:
unless y'all want it
BJ Earles:
No way is Leila trusting Roxy with a parasite.
Audrey Martel:
I mean, we saved the other guys cuz they were important.
sylae:
but i can just tell that, if we ever have an Ultimate Showdown with ammat xan, parasited people are prolly gonna be no good
sylae:
because, mind powers or something
dintiradan:
Well, parasited people with d4 Spirit will be no good, yes.
BJ Earles:
It's not that I want it exactly (though I am curious what abilities it would grant Leila), it's that normally we don't want to kill the person it's attacted to.
Sarachim:
Even if the LOs are individually weak, fighting our way out from the middle of their underground base after assassinating their leader seems daunting.
Audrey Martel:
Well, we didn't want to kill the tree because halitarn woulda been pissed. We didn't want to kill Iskania cuz we were in no shape to do anything then. The Prophet may not have such a compelling reason.
dintiradan:
Jered'll probably want to treat these guys the same as the islanders. Warn 'em, then move on. Can't stick our fingers in every hole in the dyke.
GM Lilith:
i am trying really hard to not reply to that
dintiradan:
I regret nothing.
sylae:
yeah, i mean we're only seeing a handful of these incidents popping up, there's prolly a hundred we aren't ever going to get near
GM Lilith:
ok i give up i can't do it
GM Lilith:
stay away from my holes, dinti
sylae:
we cant handle them all :P
GM Lilith:
ok so yeah. anyway. ammat-xan. bloodstained sky
Sarachim:
The campaign's about half-over. And there's probably some more like Eldest Daughter who we can kill without feeling too bad about it.
dintiradan:
Huh? Whatever do you mean, Lilith? I was merely using a well-known children's story as an analogy.
dintiradan:
Don't worry, this Dutch boy's not gonna put his fingers in anyone.
Sarachim:
Anyway, just warning them and moving on seems bad because once we leave, we won't ever get a chance to come back and check on them.
GM Lilith:
still kinda surprised you actually went through with killing eldest daughter tbh
Sarachim:
Or even ask other people to check on them for us.
dintiradan:
afk for a bit
Audrey Martel:
well, for one, you used dyke instead of dike :p
BJ Earles:
In my personal defense on killing ED: Evil.
sylae:
clearly we need to form up a vigilante army to handle these people for us
sylae:
get the npcs to pull their weight for once
Audrey Martel:
vigilante whos?
Audrey Martel:
Lost ones? :p
Sarachim:
Also, if I may get all metagamey for a moment: normally when we resolve an island/parasite, we get 3XP. When we did that little podunk island from last time, Lilith only gave us 2XP. So I'm like 90% sure that we're not finished with them yet. :P
Audrey Martel:
They were also not as big a deal, though. . .
BJ Earles:
IIRC, they're red spot looked pretty severe though. We'll need to revisit that soon or...
BJ Earles:
It could get very, very bad.
Audrey Martel:
yeah, we'll stop by after lentoir
BJ Earles:
...We may regret not doing that when we were there the first time.
Audrey Martel:
woo, probable slaughter of indigenous peoples
Sarachim:
You know, I'm pretty sure that I held back with them because stomping around like we owned the place would have felt too Columbusy.
sylae:
we could totally just milk it. come back every other session for 2 XP
sylae:
i mean we off the healer dude, it's 3 xp once
sylae:
just farm this quest until we're level 50 or something
GM Lilith:
time is actually a factor i'm keeping track of in this campaign. just saying :P
Audrey Martel:
why not just bring him along, give him a stern talking-to every session :p
dintiradan:
(back) I was considering spelling it 'dijk', but I figured that would just confuse everyone. Decided to leave it ambiguious and see what would happen, 'cause I'm like that.
Sarachim:
NPCs don't like us for some reason.
BJ Earles:
NPCs never like us.
GM Lilith:
hey, the Lentois like you just fine so far
dintiradan:
no one likes us / no one likes us / no one likes us / we don't care
GM Lilith:
and so does Eshi
Audrey Martel:
until we try and take their toys away. . .
BJ Earles:
Eshi is... a weird case.
Audrey Martel:
wait, eshi's in power -because- of us
Audrey Martel:
we just need to be setting up puppet governments wherever we go!
Audrey Martel:
then everyone will love us!
Sarachim:
Shh! We're not supposed to tell them we're doing that!
dintiradan:
What we need is a visual novel with Eshi.
dintiradan:
"N-n-notice me, Iskania-senpai!"
Audrey Martel:
what ,do we play as iskania? :p
dintiradan:
I dunno. You decide.
GM Lilith:
fun fact, sarachim asked me if i'd let him play as iskania when he was first trying to decide on a replacement character for sir james :P
dintiradan:
You want to make a VN, right? :P
BJ Earles:
We could divide up into teams of two and "advise" each of our puppet govenments while running things behind the scenes... Oh wait. :P
Sarachim:
I considered playing as Iska- yeah, what Lilith said.
Audrey Martel:
"cruelly manipulate your admirers to do your bidding" is a bit too on-the-nose for VNs. :p
GM Lilith:
if he'd wanted to go through with it i'd probably have run it by the rest of you just to make sure the party was actually willing to work with Iskania :p
GM Lilith:
wow nalyd are you ever reading the wrong VNs
Audrey Martel:
don't touch the things
dintiradan:
Well, Sir James was already domineering enough... :P
Sarachim:
Hey, somebody has to herd all these cats. :P
GM Lilith:
oh well. now she's running around as an npc somewhere on a solo quest for power. i'm sure that'll never become relevant again
dintiradan:
S'cool. But there's a difference between herding cats and moving pawns. :P
Sarachim:
I promise James would never do that. :P
Audrey Martel:
iskania shows up at final boss fight, tpks party, becomes new god of mote
Sarachim:
Wait, fuck- I assumed we left Iskania securely locked up somewhere.
Sarachim:
Why the fuck did you guys just let her wander off?
Audrey Martel:
no, she's just. . . around. doing her thing. what, was -eshi- gonna lock her up? :p
Sarachim:
Damn it, I can't even die for five minutes without everything going down the tubes!
GM Lilith:
well, she might :3
BJ Earles:
Oooh-kay, this conversation has taken a nose dive, so I think I'm gonna split. Thanks for the session Lilith. See ya'll next time.
GM Lilith:
aw i scared him off
Audrey Martel:
i'm getting huge error popups every five seconds and my audio died and firefox won't start so i need to restart my computer :p