Strange Aeons: In Search of Sanity II [IC - Group #1]

[Blackhawk101]

“It is a haunt and undead in nature. I was not sure of the trigger but destroying the cage ended the effect.”
BJ will try to recall any useful information about haunts that might pertain to this situation.

Spoiler

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knowledge religion check

[PSinger]

Dorn doesn't waste time wondering what. He rushes right in past the others and right up to the cage, smashing the cage and the birds within as best he can.

Spoiler

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(1d20+3)[23], damage (1d8+5)[11] + [roll]1d6[/roll vs evil

[lostsole31]

With a mighty swing, Dorn totally destroys the little cage, the birds, and display.

There is a stunned pause, but nothing happens. After a few minutes of small talk to be sure, either there was no haunt in this "version," or the simple destruction of - whatever - is all that was needed to cleans this area.

What do you do in here now?

[Blackhawk101]

If there is sufficient room, BJ will enlarge to remove elk and corpse from the wall so it can be examined .

[lostsole31]

Brother Jaume will need help - the awkward nature needs more strength than he is able to easily bring to bear.

The corpse is exactly the same as he and Brother Jaume remember. The same dead body, including the other dead body in the room. Of course, that also means you get the following from each one....

Spoiler: Double-Dipping the Treasure

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Masterwork Silver Dagger
amulet of natural armor +1
(2) potions of cure light wounds

So, besides just Brother Jaume (who seems to jump at everything; but yes, BJ, cast a vote if interested in something) ... who is interested in what? The two NPCs (Heck, Nadya) are interested in what is here as well. Heck is particularly interested in the amulet to keep his little self alive. Nadya thinks the dagger is pretty, but isn't sure she'd use it, so is willing to take a potion to hold. ("To hold" because she feels that if she had it, it would be her responsibility to not hoard it as "her own" but use it if someone drops and no healers are around.)

[Blackhawk101]

BJ would like the amulet since he has no armor and is a front line cleric.

[pfm1995]

Jean is happy to leave the items for the rest of the party to divide, while he helps Brother Jaume with the elk's head.

[PSinger]

Dorn is interested in the dagger as a backup weapon.

[lostsole31]

Akbar, did you have interest in anything?

[Swami Monsoon]

Akbar wouldn't mind one of the potions...

[lostsole31]

Brother Jaume gets the magical amulet; Dorn the silver dagger; Akbar a healing potion, and Nadya the other healing potion.

Brother Jaume and Jean manage to lower the body to the ground. Now what?

[Blackhawk101]

“To the library and beyond?”

[lostsole31]

"I am always one for a library," says Lord Hanley.

Nadya, on the other hand, looks less than impressed at the prospect, until Lord Hanley lets her know that you have to go through the library to, (and here he sighs), "find anything 'interesting.'"

Not getting the condescension in his voice, she brightens up at that. The party gets into formation and heads into the halls beyond.

C8, Central Hallway: This L-shaped hall runs from a collapsed space in the west to a small waiting area outside the asylum administrator's office. Nadya, Jean, and Javert notice mucuslike smears on the tile floor. Dorn easily points out what was noticed before in his previous "reality," that these antiseptic-smelling smears form a trail that runs between the doors of areas C9, C10, and C13. Next to the door to area C14 is a nameplate that reads: "Administrator Eliege Losandro."

What now?

[Swami Monsoon]

"Remember that if things are truly different here and now, the library will be well guarded. My group finally came to terms with the rat people, but we can't be sure it, uh, stuck..."

[Blackhawk101]

“Agreed. Everyone be on their guard.”

[lostsole31]

Okay, but which way?

[Blackhawk101]

“What do you say Jean? Clear the rooms on the right and then the left? You have the lead.”

[pfm1995]

"Let's start with the rats. Hopefully they remember at least some of us." Jean says, beginning to make for the door.

[PSinger]

"Just remember," warns Dorn, "the ratling possessed sorcery mixed with brutal targeting that the weaker ratlings of the library did not. We didn't talk the ratling leader down. He simply seemed to escape while invisible."

[lostsole31]

"And just be aware," adds Gaye, "that little bastard ratling sorcerer kept sniping from on top of a desk on the far east side of the room."

The door is checked and Jean opens the door. On the other side of the door is a Rodent of Unusual Size(R), and another 10' behind that one! But with Former-G2's intel the party was ready enough not to be surprised.

Begin Round One ...

R1T23: One of the ROUS' (DR2) runs up into the corner by the door and tries to nip at Jean but because of cover can't quite get him.

R1T20: A piece of rock from inside the room zooms at DR1 and misses. ???

R1T19: Dorn, as before, two dire rats. You know they usually carry disease with their bites, but are otherwise weak. You don't see the (likely invisible) ratling sorcerer). What do you do?

Spoiler: Central Hallway Map

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[PSinger]

Dorn casts a spell on himself, but otherwise stands ready.

Spoiler

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Cast expeditious retreat.

[lostsole31]

R1T19: Dorn casts a spell on himself, but otherwise stands ready.

R1T18: Jean, you are facing down an ROUS. What do you do?

[pfm1995]

Shifting into a gliding, half-focused combat stance, Jean swings his scimitar at the nearest rat and sends a thought twirling towards Javert. "Find the invisible one."

Spoiler: Rolls

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Attack - (1d20+7)[17] Damage - (1d6+6)[7] Will also use Disturbing Blow.

[lostsole31]

R1T18: Shifting into a gliding, half-focused combat stance, Jean swings his scimitar at the nearest rat and sends a thought twirling towards Javert. "Find the invisible one."

Spoiler: Jean

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You didn't expressly state it, but your fluff leads me to believe that you are now in leaping spirit stance, so that is what I have you doing.

It is a devastating cut, but DR1 does not yet drop.

R1T13: DR1 attacks Jean and misses.

R1T12: Akbar, you are well away from the battle and any vantage for it. What do you do?

[Swami Monsoon]

"Hey, guys, remember us? No need to start fighting again...."

Akbar's voice trails off after Jean's sword strikes the giant rat with a gristly thud. So much for that. He casts a spell to protect himself and waits for whatever else might come out of the library.

Spoiler

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Mage Armor

[lostsole31]

R1T12: "Hey, guys, remember us? No need to start fighting again...." Akbar's voice trails off after Jean's sword strikes the giant rat with a gristly thud. So much for that. He casts a spell to protect himself and waits for whatever else might come out of the library.

R1T11: Nadya delays ...

R1T10: Brother Jaume, what do you do?

Javert on deck, DR2 in the hole ...

[Blackhawk101]

“Jean, try to move in so we can bring numbers to bear!
Thesimple warrior takes a defensive stance and readies his staff.

Spoiler

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take a full defense action

[lostsole31]

R1T10: “Jean, try to move in so we can bring numbers to bear!" The simple warrior takes a defensive stance and readies his staff.

R1T9: Javert flies in, and in doing so provokes an AOO from both ROUS'. DR2 hits for 3, and DR1 hits for 1. Javert shrugs it off and continues and upwards until he flaps at the height of the top of the tall desk inside.

Spoiler: Javert >>> Jean

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"I don't see any sign of him up here!"

End Round One, Begin Round 2 ...

R2T23: Despite cover and his martial stance, DR2 still manages to nip Jean on the side of his abdomen for 1.

R2T20: Another bit of rock bounces towards DR1 and misses.

R2T19: Dorn, what do you do?

Spoiler: Central Hallway

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Jean on deck, DR1 in the hole ...

[pfm1995]

Jean makes another cut down at the rat in front of him, hoping to finish it's miserable little life and buy them more room to work with.

Spoiler: Rolls

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Attack - (1d20+7)[8] Damage - (1d6+6)[10]

If that attack is successful, Jean will 5ft step into the room. He'll also use Spilled Salt against the next attack to come his way. (And yeah, I had meant to dip into Leaping Spirit Stance. Whups. Thanks.

[PSinger]

Dorn casts a spell on Jean (following him as needed). Jean's figure is limned by a ghostly radiance of holy power.

Spoiler

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Cast shield of faith on Jean (+2 deflection).